(Audio)
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
We run the risk of being convinced of our own righteousness. Upon emerging from the confessional we begin to think and act as if, having been healed, we're good. We think that now we can walk in our own strength. We forget to consciously acknowledge our dependence on God until we begin to even live as though we don't need him. Then, when we go to mass, or to pray, or to give alms, it will all have the same character as the prayer of the Pharisee.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself
He doesn't even really pray to God. He prays to himself, to hear himself, and to know he prayed. This is how he convinces himself of his own righteousness. This is what can happen if our relationship of dependence on God is allowed to devolve into a list of things that we do for God. God forbid! He does not need any of the things we do. He prepares them in advance for us because we need them. Realizing this, we can become more like the tax collector.
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.'
He has no sense of deserving, because no one deserves anything from God. We did not even deserve the goodness of being created. He owes nothing to anyone. Yet the tax collector has a profound sense of his need for God. And he hopes that God will meet that need. He comes to the temple area even though he faces judgment from the supposedly pious Pharisee. He prays in a way that lays bear his heart and his need. May our prayers begin to flow from our need for God and not from self-righteousness.
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
We have plenty of chances to mess this up and to step back into self-righteous religion. But every failure on our part is an opportunity for God to show us mercy. He won't abandon us!
Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Jesus chooses to depend entirely on the Father. Because of this he endures even the cross for our sakes just as the Father wills. He opens the way to healing our independent and disobedient spirits. Even when crosses weigh heavy on us we no longer need to turn inward. He shares the yoke with us. He opens the path to the third day, where all afflictions are healed.
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