There But For the Grace of God Go I

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, October 26th, 2025:
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

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Luke
​18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and regarded others with contempt:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

“I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

There is a saying – “there but for the grace of God go I”.


This little line enters my mind fairly frequently. A homeless person approaches me for spare change, and I think to myself, “my family could be one paycheque away from homelessness”. There but for the grace of God go I. 


I meet someone who is struggling with addiction, and reflect on my youthful years when I was partying every weekend – and there but for the grace of God go I.


I read about a community ravaged by wildfire: lost homes, displaced families. There but for the grace of God go I.


A friend loses a job and must start over. There but for the grace of God go I.


That little saying has become almost automatic, and I have convinced myself that it is my way of feeling empathy for the plight of another. I will dig out spare change; commit to praying for those living with addiction; donate to the Red Cross; help my friend with a resume and job leads. 


Then I prayed with this Gospel reading.


When I look at my brothers and sisters who are experiencing these situations, am I really feeling empathy, or am I placing myself above them and justifying it but giving credit to God and my good works that I am not in their shoes? If I’m being honest, because it comes to me so automatically, I shamefully admit that I may be placing myself above them. Not intentionally judging them, but certainly feeling smug gratitude that my relationship with the Lord is likely what has protected me.  Through praying with this Gospel, I realize this is not humility or reliance on God’s mercy but instead, is quite self-righteous.


Let us pray: Lord, please forgive me. Clear the confusion I have that causes me to think that anything other than total dependence on Your grace is what You seek. Help me to see others through Your eyes – not in self-righteousness but in love and true compassion. Strip me of my pride and give me a heart of flesh, overflowing with Your love for all Your children. Amen.




Sandy Graves