October 24, 2010
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Can we take a straw poll? There are two candidates: a pharisee and a tax collector. The pharisee is a lay person who diligently obeys the Torah (10 Commandments) and is a faithful Jew at home, in public worship/prayer and in business. The tax collector collects taxes and tolls for an occupying power -- the hated Romans. He takes a commission for himself. He is perceived as a traitor and is despised. Now cast your vote! Jesus tells the outcome in a parable. Both candidates go to the temple to pray. The pharisee stands in a prominent place and prays by pointing out to God how he is not like other men (i.e. tax collector) and how he prays, fasts and tithes above what is required in the Law. The tax collector bows his head, beats his breast and pleads: "Oh God be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus announces: "The tax collector goes home in right relationship with God." The acclaimed loser is the winner. This is an outrage to his listeners. If Jesus were to tell the story today here in Church adapting it to our contemporary circumstance, many would get up and leave. Jesus is expressing a truth especially to those of us who are inclined to look askance at others, that one does not buy heaven by doing good. Heaven or justification or salvation is always God's gift to us -- undeserved and unmerited. We cannot gain it by our own effort. We see this truth in the life of St. Paul -- a pharisee! He can brag to Timothy that he has run the good race; fought the good fight. He can admit that others have left him down in his hour of need. But Paul acknowledges that he a sinner, a weak man. He can envision and even expect to receive the floral crown of victory -- but only by God's grace in Jesus Christ. Jesus suggests a reversal in our logic of who is worthy. "The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds."
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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
