10-16-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

There are two main characters in the Gospel, the Pharisee, and the tax collector. The Pharisees were lay leaders known to promote strict adherence to the Torah or the Law of Moses. In Jesus’ time, they were respected and called Rabbi, which means, Teacher. The name came from the Hebrew word perusim or separated ones. Because of their learnings, they separated themselves from the ordinary people who do not know the Law. And to a higher degree, from tax collectors, publicans, or sinners.

The big difference between the Pharisees and the Tax Collectors is physical and social. The former separates himself from others; so as not to be contaminated by them. He considers himself righteous and does good work of fasting and tithing. Thus, he takes position close to the sanctuary, with his eyes cast towards it. While the tax collector stays behind, feeling unworthy of God’s blessings with his eyes cast down in humility. He even beats his breast, a traditional Middle Easter gesture of women, also used by men in the most extreme anguish; he boasts of nothing before God and asks only for mercy and compassion.

In the eyes of society, the Pharisees appear to be righteous, no question about it. While the antagonists
(tax collectors) are public sinners, they hold the lowest place in Jewish society. But God sees the heart and not the outside appearance or the façade of men. Jesus sees the hearts of men; in His eyes, the Pharisees received no justification and grace because they did not ask for it. He is full of himself and addresses his prayers to himself, not to God. While the latter went home justified, restored because of God’s mercy, and received forgiveness. Jesus did not separate himself from ordinary men. Because though He was God, He did not put Himself equal to God. But He emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, born in the likeness of men. (cf. Phil. 2:6-8) He received the baptism of repentance from John the Baptist. He eats and drinks with sinners and is not afraid to be seen around them. He established communion with them. In the end: He descended into the dead to bring humanity with Him.

What is righteousness? Jesus simplifies what righteousness is not. It is not self-righteousness. Then He proceeds to describe holiness - humility before God; and trust in His loving mercy. The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. The Jesus prayer captures this disposition perfectly: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. If we can pray this often, we start our journey toward God’s heart. We are all sinners who rely on the mercy and compassion of God. Remember: In life, we have received more than we have given.

A pilgrim once said: The going up is difficult, but more so the going down. It is easy to become proud; and hard to become humble. It is easy to be unforgiving; than to be forgiving. It is easy to be passionate about our work; but difficult to be compassionate to our fellow workers.

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