Breaking the Word

 He then 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 18:9-14)

 

 

Could we say that one behaves according to his attitude towards God? The Pharisee thinks that God is a judge and a rigorous one at that. God gives an account of all what one does and hence one has to regularly give the correct account to God. This is what the Pharisee is doing in this parable. So the relationship with God is more of listing of things. Indirectly this also makes him compare himself with the other. Even moral values become a commodity to be compared with or to be calculated about.

 

The tax collector thinks of God as a merciful God. The relationship is more personal. He does not compare himself with the other persons. He only speaks about his integrity – his life within himself. God is the one who constantly pours mercies on the people. His prayer is only his presence in front of God.

 

Vindication by God is seen in the attitude of the person in front of God in his sufferings, holiness and service. Vindication will not be seen in the outward badges of virtue, and in the minute observance of Jewish laws.  Vindication is seen in the genuine penitence and genuine casting of oneself on the mercies of God. 

  At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them– do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!" … (Lk 13:1-9)

 

 

Pontius Pilate was a cruel and unpopular Roman Governor. He had irritated the Galileans many times. He did not respect their religious feelings. He was brutal in dealing with certain situations. These are the pictures of him which we get from non-biblical histories. This is what we find in today’s reading. When a group of pilgrims came from Galilee to the Temple he slaughtered them fearing a riot.

 

Similarly the tower of Siloam collapsed and killed people. Was it because they were sinners? People try to connect the natural accidents and the events that take place which are beyond their control as the result of the sin committed by them. Such logic does not work.

 

Jesus wanted to see repentance among the Jews. Even if they were not he was willing for one more chance for them to repent. Repentance is the only way for rescue. One of the fruits of the kingdom is the repentance. It is the only way to escape God’s wrath.