Ite, missa est: Sunday, October 26, 2025
When life feels unfair, we often wonder: Where is God? This morning’s readings from Sirach and Luke offered insight. Sirach reminds us: “The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.” And in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Side by side, these passages can feel like a puzzle. If God shows no partiality, how can He exalt anyone? Look closer, though, and the answer emerges: God may not have favorites, but He clearly has a preference — for humility, honesty, and hearts that turn toward Him.
Wrestling with Fairness
We all want to believe that God is fair. Yet we glance around and wonder:
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Why do good people suffer?
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Why do selfish or prideful people seem to thrive?
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Why does life feel so unequal?
It’s tempting to think God must have favorites — that some people are more blessed, more protected, more chosen. But Scripture reminds us that God’s favor isn’t about position, wealth, or reputation. His delight rests on how we receive His mercy and live it out in humility.
Comparison vs. Compassion
Our culture has become overrun by comparison. Social media, in particular, thrives on it — we measure our value by follower counts and compare our real lives to everyone else’s carefully curated highlights. It’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring ourselves against others, of seeing life as a competition rather than a calling.
But comparison quietly erodes compassion. It keeps us sizing one another up instead of lifting each other up. It turns even prayer into performance — like the Pharisee in today’s Gospel, who thanked God not for mercy, but for superiority: “I’m glad I’m not like them.”
The tax collector, by contrast, doesn’t compare. He confesses, lifts his heart to God, and humbly receives mercy. That simple posture — honesty, humility, and self-awareness — is what exalts the heart.
A Challenge for the Week
As you go about your week, notice when you’re tempted to compare rather than care.
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When envy creeps in, pause.
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When judgment creeps in, breathe.
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When your heart measures, redirect it to mercy.
God may not have favorites — but He treasures hearts that turn toward Him in humility and compassion. Perhaps that’s the real measure of a life well-lived.
Closing Thought
Comparison may be everywhere in the world, but compassion can be everywhere in our hearts. Let’s strive to lift others rather than measure them, to be merciful rather than critical, and to see life through the eyes of Christ.
