Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

November 18, 2006

by Reverend Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge

One of the caves under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is said to be the stable in which Jesus was born. There is only one doorway into the church and it is very low: to enter it requires that you make yourself small in stature. You must bend low and humble yourself. It is a most fitting way to enter the church, which celebrates the lowliness of God, the place where the Son of God emptied himself to be born as a man. That doorway is a symbol of the one requirement anyone has to meet in order to approach God in true prayer – and that is to be humble.

Today’s gospel continues last week’s reflections on prayer.  At the conclusion of last week's gospel, Jesus asked the haunting question, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on the earth?" Jesus was talking about faith in God, and in himself, as the Son of God. The truth is that some people have faith only in themselves. They place themselves and their good works at the center of their faith. But the important thing for us to realize is, that the more faith we have in ourselves, then the less faith we have in God. Faith in ourselves leads us to glorify ourselves, rather than to glorify God.

In today's gospel St. Luke gives us an example of how the all too human attitude of self-importance can be an obstacle to our growth in the spiritual life. The Pharisee and the tax collector are two people who were as far apart on the religious ladder of their day as two people could possibly be. The Pharisee on the one hand was a pillar of his religious community. He maintained strict obedience to religious law and kept all the observances. He even went so far as to go beyond what was required by the law and did much, much more. His piety and good works were beyond reproach. In fact, they were absolutely admirable.

The tax collector on the other hand was looked down upon by Jewish society, because he was regarded as a sinner. After all, given his occupation, he was regarded as dishonest, since tax collectors often exacted and collected bribes in addition to the exorbitant taxes. They were also viewed as disloyal because they worked for the Romans collecting taxes from their own people. Consequently, the tax collectors were considered total outcasts of Jewish society. 

We are told that both of these men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not a sinner like the rest of humanity, and gave God a litany of all the wonderful things he had done. The tax collector, on the other hand, stood at a distance, with head bowed, beat his breast and said, over and over again, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner."    

Although both men were truthful in what they said, it was their attitude toward themselves and others and how they came to God in prayer, which set them apart.    

When the Pharisee in the parable presented himself before God in the temple that day, his thoughts were distorted. It obvious his religion and piety were a superficial collection of negative virtues and shallow practices. The Pharisee stands in the front of the Temple and raises his hands to God and prays the prayer to himself. Basically, he says to God: “God, I’m great. I pray; I fast; I tithe, even more than is required. In fact, I’m much better than almost everyone else – all of them are sinners. I’m especially glad I’m not like this tax collector.” Instead of looking at God, he is looking at himself. His boasting was really a self-glorification masquerading as prayer to God. He was absolutely taken up with himself. He had no need of God's justification, because he had justified himself.

At first glance, St. Paul in today’s second reading might also sound a little like the Pharisee when he claims to have competed well and kept the faith. The difference is, however, that he gives the ultimate credit to God who was first faithful to him. He knows that God has stood by him. He expects that God will rescue him and bring him safe to his eternal reward.   

Also in the gospel, we have the tax collector, who is brief in his prayer to God. His condition is desperate, condemned as he is by his job. He knows his unworthiness before God and stays far off, praying with the gesture of mourning and humility. His prayer is to the point: "Have mercy on me, O God, a sinner." Consequently, he is the one who is justified, because his faith was in the right place: not in himself, but in God. Jesus taught in his words and works that righteousness or salvation is an unmerited gift of God to sinners. There is nothing we can do on our part alone that will merit our salvation.   

It is important for us always to be on our guard, because overly careful observance of religious dogma can breed pride. Believing in God is not enough. What really matters is what we believe about God, and how our faith in God affects our view of ourselves and others. The Pharisees believed in a God who was quick to judge and condemn anyone who fell outside the norms of what they considered acceptable behavior, and so they, themselves, were likewise quick to condemn others. But what Jesus teaches us is that those who arrogantly trust in themselves and despise others, reject God, no matter how many religious activities they may have, or how worthy they may outwardly appear to be. Their worship tends to become self-centered, and, as they reject others, they make God in their own self-image.

Hopefully, we can learn from the tax collector the secret of worshipping in a manner that is acceptable to God. We are called to acknowledge our sinfulness and entrust ourselves to the generous mercy of God, which is bigger than any sins we might have committed. Jesus teaches us to never look down on our fellow sinners, but help them in their search for God – for we all travel the very same road. We must be open and welcoming to all, especially to those who are marginalized by society, as we were made aware from the first reading today.. We must constantly remember that God always opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

We hear in sacred scripture, “You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”