Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck
A reflection on Luke 18:9-14
Dear Friends in Christ,
Imagine you’re watching high school basketball tryouts. The gym’s humming with energy and nerves. Two players stand out for totally different reasons.
First, there’s Jake. He’s confident—maybe overconfident. He’s telling everyone how many points he scored last year, how hard he trains, how much better he is than the other guys. When he makes a shot, he celebrates; when someone else messes up, he rolls his eyes. He’s talented, no question. But it’s obvious who’s at the center of Jake’s universe: Jake.
Then there’s Marcus. Marcus isn’t flashy. He fumbles sometimes, and sometimes he misses easy shots. But when he trips, he picks himself up and keeps hustling. When someone passes him the ball, you can hear him whisper thanks. When the coach gives feedback, Marcus listens—not defensively, but with genuine openness. He doesn’t act like he’s above anyone else, but you can tell he loves the game and the people around him.
Tryouts end. The roster goes up. Jake doesn’t make the team. He’s stunned, frustrated, pointing fingers. Marcus does make the team. Coach pulls him aside and says, “I want people who are willing to learn, who care about teammates, humble enough to get better. That’s how teams win.”
Humility Over Pride: How God’s Grace Lifts the Lowly in the Light of the Paschal Mystery
Brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel of Luke 18:9-14; Jesus tells a very similar story. Two men go up to pray—one a Pharisee who lists his accomplishments to God as if to say, “Look how great I am, and thank God I’m not like those other sinners.” The other a tax collector, standing far off, who simply prays, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus’ punchline catches everyone off guard: it’s the humble man—the one who knows he needs mercy—who goes home justified in God’s eyes.
Why? Because, as C.S. Lewis reminds us, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” It’s the difference between being full of ourselves and being open to God’s grace. Jake (from the Basketball tryouts), the Pharisee, is so busy looking down on everyone else that he doesn’t realize he needs help. Marcus, the tax collector, isn’t perfect, but his humility opens the door for him to actually become better—on the court and in life.
But here’s where it connects to the deepest mystery of our faith, the Paschal Mystery. Jesus himself, though he was God, “did not deem equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant… humbling himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2). In other words, Jesus goes lower so that we can be lifted up. The path to resurrection and new life always runs through humility, self-gift, and surrender—not pride or self-reliance.
Living Humility Every Day: Relying on the Spirit to Follow Jesus in Ordinary Life
So, how do we follow Jesus in this way? How do we bring this Gospel into our Monday mornings and our everyday choices?
Honestly, none of us can do it alone. Humility isn’t always instinctive—it takes the Holy Spirit at work in us, reminding us to step back and listen, giving us the grace to admit when we’re wrong, inspiring us to serve before seeking recognition or reward. When we pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”—whether in words or just in how we live—we open ourselves to that grace.
Practically, maybe that looks like…
- Giving someone else the credit at work, even if we quietly did a lot of the heavy lifting.
- Admitting when we messed up, instead of making excuses.
- Asking for help, instead of pretending we’ve got it all together.
- Serving in ways that might never get noticed—because that’s what love does.
If we want to follow Jesus, if we want to share in the life and hope of the Resurrection, then we start here: not with proving, but with surrendering; not with pride, but with the honesty to say, “I need you, Lord. I need you, neighbor. Help me become who you call me to be.”
Today, may the Spirit give us the humility of Marcus, the courage of the tax collector, and the heart of Christ himself—so that we don’t just play to win, but we play to love. Go forth, friends, giving thanks, praise, and glory to our Lord God always. And remember: love and serve those around you, just as Jesus loves each of us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
About Our Guest Blogger
Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.
I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.
My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.
