No Favoritism: Living as Sacrificial Offerings to God

On this 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the invitation is to enter more deeply into the mind and heart of God. Life is full of moments when we feel close to God and others when we feel distant, but the truth is that God never changes—He has no favorites. While we, as humans, naturally gravitate toward favoritism—choosing certain people, teams, or even children as our favorites—God’s love is steadfast and impartial. This is a reality that is difficult for us to fully grasp, but it is essential to keep returning to this truth: God’s love and mercy are constant, regardless of our spiritual highs or lows.

Paul’s words challenge us to “put on the mind of Christ,” to see as God sees and to think as God thinks. Our struggles and sins often arise when we lose sight of this perspective. The call is to continually realign our hearts and minds with God’s, especially when we feel unworthy or distant. God’s approach to us does not shift with our moods or actions; His love remains the same.

Paul’s conviction at the end of his life—his confidence in the “crown of righteousness”—flows from a life poured out as a sacrificial offering. This is the heart of Christian living: to offer ourselves, as the bread and wine are offered at Mass, to be transformed and given back for the good of others. The call to be “poured out like a libation” is not reserved for the extraordinary moments of martyrdom, but is meant to permeate every aspect of daily life—our relationships, our work, our service, and our prayer.

Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector drives this home. The Pharisee’s outward perfection and public religiosity are contrasted with the tax collector’s humble, honest plea for mercy. The lesson is clear: God sees the heart, not the external performance. True righteousness is found in humility, in recognizing our need for mercy, and in allowing that mercy to transform us into people who pour ourselves out for others. The simple prayer, “Be merciful to me, a sinner,” becomes a daily refrain, shaping our hearts to love as God loves and to live in hope of the crown that awaits those who persevere in faith.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s impartial love is radically different from human favoritism. While we naturally show preference to those we like or relate to, God’s love is unwavering and equal for all, regardless of our actions or status. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and strive to love others without partiality, reflecting the constancy of God’s love in our relationships. [01:36]
• 2. Spiritual highs and lows do not alter God’s nearness or affection. When we feel distant from God, it is not because He has withdrawn, but because our own hearts have shifted. Recognizing this helps us return to Him with confidence, knowing that His love and mercy are always available, unchanged by our failures or successes. [03:18]
• 3. The Christian life is a continual offering of self, modeled after Christ’s total gift on the cross. Just as the bread and wine are offered and transformed at Mass, we are called to place our lives on the altar—our time, our relationships, our work—so that God can transform and use us for His purposes. This daily self-giving is the path to true fulfillment and holiness. [04:57]
• 4. True righteousness is rooted in humility, not outward religious performance. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that God looks at the heart, not at our public displays of piety or our ability to “go above and beyond.” Honest self-examination and a humble plea for mercy open us to God’s transforming grace. [07:32]
• 5. The simple prayer, “Be merciful to me, a sinner,” is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Repeating this prayer keeps us grounded in humility and dependent on God’s mercy, prompting us to ask how we can better love, serve, and pour ourselves out for others. It is a daily invitation to conversion and deeper communion with God. [08:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:19] - Reflections from Vacation and Football
• [00:51] - Seeking God’s Message in Daily Life
• [01:07] - Putting on the Mind of Christ
• [01:36] - God Has No Favorites
• [02:12] - The Reality of Human Favoritism
• [02:53] - God’s Unchanging Love in Our Highs and Lows
• [03:42] - Paul’s Conviction and the Crown of Righteousness
• [04:11] - Sacrificial Offering and the Mass
• [04:57] - Pouring Ourselves Out Like a Libation
• [05:43] - Jesus’ Parable: Pharisee and Tax Collector
• [06:44] - The Tax Collector’s Reputation and Jesus’ Point
• [07:32] - God Sees the Heart, Not the Exterior
• [08:20] - The Power of Humble Prayer
• [09:30] - Profession of Faith

Bible Reading

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) – The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector — He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV) – Paul’s Final Charge — For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Romans 2:11 (ESV) – God Shows No Partiality — For God shows no partiality.

Observation Questions

1. In the parable Jesus tells, what are the main differences between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax collector’s prayer?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean that “God has no favorites”? How is this different from how people usually act? [[01:36]]
3. What does Paul mean when he says he is “being poured out like a libation” at the end of his life? [[04:11]]
4. How does the sermon describe the way God’s love relates to our spiritual highs and lows? [[03:18]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus say that the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, went home justified? What does this teach about what God values in our hearts?
2. The sermon says God’s love is “steadfast and impartial.” How might this challenge the way people view themselves or others, especially when feeling unworthy or distant from God? [[02:53]]
3. Paul’s confidence in the “crown of righteousness” comes from a life “poured out as a sacrificial offering.” What does it look like for someone today to live this way? [[04:57]]
4. The simple prayer, “Be merciful to me, a sinner,” is highlighted as powerful. Why might repeating this prayer help someone grow spiritually? [[08:20]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon points out that we all have favorites—people, teams, even children—but God does not. Can you think of a time when you showed favoritism? How might you reflect God’s impartial love in your relationships this week? [[01:36]]
2. When you feel distant from God, do you tend to think He has changed or moved away? How can you remind yourself that God’s love and mercy are constant, even when you don’t feel it? [[03:18]]
3. Paul talks about offering his life as a sacrifice, like the bread and wine at Mass. What is one area of your daily life—work, family, service—where you could “pour yourself out” more for others? [[04:57]]
4. The Pharisee in the parable focused on his own good deeds and compared himself to others. Are there ways you find yourself doing the same? How can you practice more humility in your spiritual life? [[07:32]]
5. The tax collector’s prayer, “Be merciful to me, a sinner,” is simple but honest. Is there a short prayer or phrase you could use daily to keep your heart humble and open to God’s mercy? [[08:20]]
6. The sermon says that true righteousness is found in humility and honest self-examination. What is one practical step you can take this week to examine your motives or actions more honestly before God? [[07:58]]
7. The idea of being “poured out like a libation” is not just for big moments but for everyday life. What is one small, specific way you can offer yourself for the good of someone else this week? [[04:57]]