Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading scripture is not easy. First, it’s always a translation of the original text (unless you know ancient Greek and Hebrew), so the language sometimes feels clunky. And while the lessons and messages are timeless, the cultural references in which they are wrapped are…not. But possibly the most challenging bit comes when we do understand – finding yourself on the wrong side of a parable.
That’s the trick with this Sunday’s Gospel story in which Jesus tells of two men praying in the temple. The first is a Pharisee; devout and scholarly. The second is a tax collector, a betrayer of his people and, from the parable’s context, likely a dishonest public official.
The first man fasts, contributes financially to the temple, he does everything right…and he knows it! At first glance, and despite the unsavory note of disdain for his fellow man, he expresses gratitude for his station in life. But digging deeper, something else surfaces. Pride. Self-righteousness. He thinks he is holy by his efforts, his goodness alone. Jesus even takes a subtle shot when he says “(the Pharisee) spoke this prayer to himself.” Dude ain’t even talking to God! He’s patting himself on the back!
Wracked with guilt and a repentant heart, the tax collector humbly begs, “Be merciful to me, a sinner.”
So, like I said. This week’s Gospel story is tricky, because if you are too confident that you are NOTHING like the Pharisee, you might be just like him. Instead, perhaps a good approach is to ask yourself, “How am I like the Pharisee?”
Do I think my grades are my doing alone?
Am I a great athlete by my own efforts?
Is my popularity due to my social talents?
Do I look down on others who aren’t as smart? Aren’t as talented? Aren’t as gifted? Aren’t as…blessed?
Did you catch the twist? We, like the Pharisee, tend to judge by comparing our abilities against others. But they really aren’t our abilities. We are capable of nothing if not for the grace of God. It isn’t us…it’s HIM!
Quite a humbling thought. If it makes you feel a little low, I get it. But God always has another trick up his sleeve.
I like to find connections between the Old Testament readings paired with the Gospels. This week, it was simple. One line stood out: The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds.
As you reflect on the parable, if you find you were the Pharisee, it could make you feel like the tax collector.
But which do you think pierced the clouds?