Oct 21, 2013
Sirach
35:12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34:2-3,17-19, 23
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus draws a blunt picture in today's Gospel.
The Pharisee's prayer is almost a parody of the thanksgiving psalms
(see for example Psalms
30,118).
Instead of praising God for His mighty works, the Pharisee
congratulates himself for his own deeds, which he presents to God
in some detail.
The tax collector stands at a distance, too ashamed even to raise
his eyes to God (see Ezra
9:6). He prays with a humble and contrite heart (see
Psalm 51:19). He knows that before God no one is
righteous, no one has cause to boast (see
Roman 3:10;
4:2).
We see in the Liturgy today one of Scripture's abiding themes -
that God "knows no favorites," as today's First Reading tells us
(see
2
Chronicles 19:7;
Acts 10:34-35;
Romans 2:11).
God cannot be bribed (see
Deuteronomy
10:17). We cannot curry favor with Him or impress Him -
even with our good deeds or our faithful observance of religious
duties such as tithing and fasting.
If we try to exalt ourselves before the Lord, as the Pharisee does,
we will be brought low (see Luke
1:52).
This should be a warning to us - not to take pride in our piety,
not to slip into the self-righteousness of thinking that we're
better than others, that we're "not like the rest of sinful
humanity."
If we clothe ourselves with humility (see
1 Peter 5:5-6) - recognize that all of us are sinners in
need of His mercy - we will be exalted (see
Proverbs 29:33).
The prayer of the lowly, the humble, pierces the clouds. Paul
testifies to this in today's Epistle, as He thanks the Lord for
giving him strength during his imprisonment.
Paul tells us what the Psalmist sings today - that the Lord redeems
the lives of His humble servants.
We too must serve Him willingly. And He will hear us in our
distress, deliver us from evil, and bring us safely to His heavenly
kingdom.