Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, many times you point to the two divergent paths I can take. There is a path of selfishness and pride that leads to death. And there is a path of love and humility that leads to life. Teach me always to choose the path that leads to life with you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Prayer of the Pharisee: In the Gospel, Jesus draws a contrast in the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector between two very different kinds of prayer. The prayer of the Pharisee did not rise to God. In fact, the Pharisee “spoke this prayer to himself.” He was self-absorbed and listed all the good things he was doing. He tried to justify himself by comparing himself to the rest of sinful humanity: “I’m not greedy like everybody else; I’m not dishonest like everyone else; I haven’t committed adultery.” This prayer “to himself” and this list of the sins he wasn’t committing did not bring about true justification. There was no true humility, no true thanksgiving, no true praise, no true contrition, and no true reconciliation. The Pharisee was blind to his own sins and imperfections. He had a massive wooden beam in his own eye. Jesus concludes the parable by foretelling a day when those who exalt themselves – like the Pharisee – would be humbled. This means that Jesus does not give up on the Pharisees, who are like the coin lost in the house of God. As the divine physician, Jesus knows what medicine – that of humiliation – will cure the Pharisee of his pride, narcissism, self-righteousness, and self-absorption.

2. The Prayer of the Tax Collector: By contrast, the prayer of the tax collector is marked by humility. He did not raise his eyes to heaven but did raise his heart and prayer to God. His prayer was simple and did not multiply words unnecessarily. He recognized simply: “I am a sinner.” He didn’t try to justify his sins or make excuses for them. He didn’t blame his failings on others. He trusted in his heavenly Father and, as a son, requested good things from his Father: “Be merciful to me.” The tax collector didn’t make promises he could not keep. He didn’t compare himself to others. Jesus tells us that the man returned home justified. His family likely noticed the change. Maybe he was more patient and gentler in his speech. Maybe he was more affectionate and loving towards his wife. Maybe he strove to be more just and fair with his clients. In any case, by humbling himself before God in prayer, he was transformed and justified by God’s merciful grace.

3. The Theology of Justification: One key word in today’s Gospel is that of “justification” or righteousness. The Pharisee thought he was justified and righteous – he represents someone who is convinced of their own righteousness. The tax collector, however, was the one who went home from the Temple “justified,” or “in a right relationship with God.” Luke traveled with Paul, and we hear echoes of Paul’s teaching on justification in the Gospel of Luke. Paul teaches in the Letter to the Romans: “a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Rom 3:28). This teaching is found in Jesus’ parable. “Indeed, the Pharisee boasts about practicing works of the law such as fasting and tithing, but Paul reminds us that no one may boast before God (Rom 3:27; 1 Cor 1:29). The Pharisee represents those who are confident that they are just or righteous (Luke 18:9) or who justify themselves (10:29; 16:15) but, in reality, are ‘ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God … seeking to establish their own’ (Rom 10:3 RSV)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 305). The Law of Moses was unable to justify; humble faith in Jesus, however, justifies us, forgives our sins, and saves us (Luke 7:50; 8:48; 17:19; 18:42; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 13:38).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I can only offer the sacrifice of my life as an acceptable sacrifice to the Father. I unite my sacrifice to yours, asking humbly that you transform my poor offering. Teach me to pray as I should and know that I am righteousness only by your grace and my collaboration with it.

Living the Word of God: How do I act the first couple of hours and the first few days after a good confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Am I kind, generous, and patient? Does my heart lift up more readily and frequently to God in prayer? Can I see visible manifestations of invisible grace – a.k.a. the fruits of the Holy Spirit – in my life?