***
Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
The great Prussian King, Fredrick II, reigned for more than 40 years in the 18th century.
One day, Fredrick visited the local prison. Each inmate he spoke with told him how they were imprisoned unjustly. So, he looked at the next inmate and said, “And you, I suppose you’re innocent, too?”
“No, your majesty,” he said. “I’m guilty, and deserve to be punished.”
Fredrick then turned to the jailer and said, “Release this man. I don’t want him corrupting all these innocent victims!”
***
We don’t know what became of that pardoned inmate, but imagine if the king kept an eye on him, curious to see how he used his undeserved freedom.
If the man returned to his old ways, doing whatever landed in him prison in the first place, then shouldn’t his punishment be even harsher? Yet if he understood the value of the gift he was given – and amended his life accordingly – then he should be praised.
Some of us may have already made a connection between this story and the recent pardon of George Santos, who was serving a seven-year prison sentence for identity theft and fraud.
When we think of convicted felons like him, it’s easy to think, “Thank God I’m not like him!” But if we do, then how different are we from the Pharisee in today’s Gospel, who stands before God and praises himself?
“O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity,” he says, “greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.”
While some are physically imprisoned for committing a crime, and rightfully so, this Pharisee is imprisoned by his pride. He needs God no less than we do, but he doesn’t seem to know it.
This does not mean that we should villainize the Pharisee; nor should we praise the tax collector for being a hero. Roman tax collectors were often thieves, inflating the amount of tax due, skimming pennies off of the poor to enrich themselves.
Neither character is an ideal model for Christians.
Much like a Venn diagram, our target is somewhere in between.
***
To his credit, the Pharisee is “religious.”
While fasting was only required once a year – much like Catholics who fast during Lent – this man fasted twice a week! And he paid tithes on his entire income. Imagine every Catholic syphoning 10% off of their paycheck before taxes.
His actions are admirable.
But, in the eyes of God, what matters is not what we do as much as why we do it. The Pharisee entered the Temple that day to tell God just how good he was, patting himself on his back.
That was his reward. How could he love God when he was so full of love for himself?
And yet… we should be like him – fast, tithe, and pray. However, our motivation for why we do it … is love.
As Jesus instructs us elsewhere, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”
***
The stark difference between the tax collector and the Pharisee is the fact that the tax collector is a sinful man … and he knows it. Entering the Temple, he kneels down in a far, dark corner, beats his breast, and prays, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Jesus tells us that this man went home “justified,” meaning he shook the heavens; his prayer was heard. “For there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,” Jesus says, “than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.”
This does not mean that the tax collector could continue ripping off the poor; his prayer must be coupled with a sincere effort to amend his ways. Still, he reminds us, that if we want God to hear our prayers, then we must be humble, sincere, and willing to change.
***
“Release this man. I don’t want him corrupting all these innocent victims!” King Fredrick said to the jailer.
In a sense, that man is all of us.
Christ has released us from the throes of sin and death. So, like the Pharisee, do we live “religious” lives? Do we pray, tithe, and fast?
May we do so with the heart of the tax collector, who never forgot his pardon or need for God.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Shutterstock, Aleteia (2) The Appeal (3) Facebook