The Pharisees – we all like to make fun of them. There foolish hypocritic – caught up in the law. Here we have another one.
The Pharisee gives us this prayer of thanks – but it seems to mostly be how great he is – He is not like everyone else – he is good, with no greed or dishonesty – Unlike all those other people – He is pious – fasting regularly and tithing – He is fantastic and wonderful – He has no sins at all to mention– at least according to him. – For everything is about him – how great he is – Of course, it is not just that he is excellent – it is that he is better than everyone else - It is a comparison to everyone else, and him saying he is better. There just might be a touch of pride in the Pharisee!
There is something very wrong with the pharisee – St Cyril of Alexandria, when considering this passage, writes, “No one who is in good health ridicules one who is sick for being laid up and bedridden. He is rather afraid, for perhaps he may become the victim of similar sufferings. A person in battle, because another has fallen, does not praise himself for having escaped from misfortune. The weakness of others is not a suitable subject for praise for those who are in health.”
No one wants to be the pharisee here. - Of course, we are not the pharisee – Our prayer is about more than just how good we are – we want forgiveness of our sins – we want to praise God, not just ourselves - There is no way that we would focus on comparing ourselves to others like the Pharisee does– … -Except for the comparison to the Pharisee that I just made by trying to say we are not the Pharisee!
There is always a temptation to compare ourselves to others to defend ourselves, to justify ourselves, and to say how good we are. It is tempting to go to confession – and begin – “bless me, father, for I have sinned” - “my wife was rude,” “my daughter was impatient,” “my son used the lord’s name in vain,” – “my bossed lied” – and “my nephew skipped Mass on Sunday” – Many things confessed – but nothing about MY sins and MY faults. – This is like going to the doctor and telling him the diseases and symptoms other people have – no healing can come of it.
Then, when confronted with weaknesses and failings, it is easy to downplay them. When asked about one’s faith – someone who never prays will say, “Surely God will let me into heaven – I’m a good person - I’m not like Hitler!” – True, I’m sure they are not – but that is not the question – the question is are you right with God. After all, ultimately, we are called to be “perfect as our heavenly father is perfect.”
It might be true that we do all sorts of good works – giving money to charity – volunteering at St Bridget’s kitchen – at Mass every Sunday – even serving as a lector – but we are not perfect – we all have faults and sins – It is that deadly sin of pride to avoid them, that sin of the pharisee.
But what of the tax collector? There is someone who was particularly disliked – They worked for the conquering empire – the Romans – further, tax collectors in Roman times were brutal – often extracting more tax than was owed and pocketing the difference. He truly is guilty of great sins - If you were making a comparison, perhaps the pharisee is a “better person” than the tax collector.
Yet, who went home justified? The TAX COLLECTOR! Why? There was no comparison to anyone else – no claims about how good he is – but an honest assessment of his sins, not even daring to raise his eyes to heaven. – It is not good actions that have justified him; the pharisee has far more of those – but humility and honesty – and it is because in his humility he can recognize his sins – it is he who is forgiven.
We might not have the sins of the tax collector. But, the comparison is not the point – If we wish to be justified, to receive forgiveness for our sins, we must be humble and honest – like the tax collector.
At the doctor’s office, we tell the doctor our symptoms so that the doctor can help to heal us. In prayer, we ask God for his help, knowing our weaknesses. In the confessional, we confess our sins, not everyone else’s, so that WE might be forgiven. We tire of asking God for forgiveness long before he tires of forgiving.
Let us, following the example of the tax collector, humbly and honestly admit our faults, begging for God’s pardon and asking for his grace. In this humility, trusting God, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”