Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

There is an enormous danger in the sin of self-righteousness.  Those who are faithful Sunday after Sunday may surrender to a superior attitude towards others.  This week’s gospel is warning us about this very real threat.  I am providing for you Father John Kavanaugh’s reflections on this passage for your thoughts this week as we consider our own inclination toward judging and dismissing others.

 

 

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor

 

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 whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

                                                                                                Luke 18:9-14

 

 

     “I made it.  I have it made.  I’ve earned it.  The words may feel very good to say, but they slam tight the doors of reception and gift.  The self-righteous do not need the righteousness of God.  They do not need God’s love.  They need not ask for mercy.  They want nothing from God.  Perhaps they want nothing of God.  What is more, their lives are spent in comparison.  Who is better, who is worse, who is first?  And those who do not measure up to their canons of success are deemed unworthy.  It was to such people, “who believed in their own self-righteousness, while holding everyone else in contempt,” that Jesus spoke this parable.  Far behind the high and mighty man in front singing his own praises was a poor soul in the rear of the temple. He seemed to consider himself unworthy, keeping his distance.  Was he a crook?  An adulterer? Perhaps sad at his own failure, his eyes are lowered.  The word are simple, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’  He is heard and he can hear.  There are no comparisons in his prayer, just the simple truth.  It is he who goes home, not lost in his ego, but one with God.”

 

Father John F. Kavanaugh

The Word Engaged