30th Ordinary Sunday – 23rd October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 18,9-14
Dependence Justifies
The parable of the Pharisee and tax collector is exclusive to Luke and is addressed to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.” Jesus points out that God’s view reverses both verdicts. Jesus does not say that the publican is good and the Pharisee is bad and a liar. He does not say that one is fundamentally virtuous while the other is a sinner who managed to hide his sin. Jesus only says that the one who came to God’s house in his own eyes as a sinner went home with God’s favour (justified); the one so sure of his virtue went home without it.
In another sense, the parable describes any self-righteous person. There is a great difference between being righteous and being self-righteous. The righteous person knows that s/he is dependent on God and does nothing without God’s help. The self-righteous person, on the other hand, is so filled with self-importance and pride that s/he cannot see beyond his/her own nose. These self-righteous assume that God is dependent on them.
The parable summons us to a prayer of love and trust in God’s mercy. It frees us from the need to tell God who is a sinner and who is not. It summons us to realize that, even when we are righteous, it is because of God’s grace that we can be so. Only those who can acknowledge their own weaknesses feel the need to turn to God in prayer with sentiments of humility.
