A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 48)
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 24, 2004
“He Went Home Justified”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 // 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18 // Lk 18:9-14
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
The story entitled “The Brown Vest” in Guideposts Magazine (January 2004, cf. p. 70-73) presents a contrast of two characters: the retired engineer, John, who sat on the board of elders and the humble Harvey who served as pastor of the congregation. John worked hard. He served on committees. He gave generously, but he never let slip an opportunity to tell Pastor Harvey what he was doing wrong. “Your sermons aren’t spiritual enough.” was one recurring grievance against Pastor Harvey. Then there was the ever-touchy subject of church finances. John told Pastor Harvey at the board meeting: “We squander too much of our resources helping people who are better off learning to help themselves. We need to work more at spreading the gospel.” Pastor Harvey answered gently: “Of course, John. But I think we must also share with those who are less fortunate.” There was no doubt that the elder John was open and straight. One day the self-righteous John was diagnosed with cancer. Pastor Harvey visited him often in the hospital and at home where he returned for hospice care. One Friday afternoon before John was about to die, he motioned Pastor Harvey closer. He said, “You know, Pastor, for a guy who does so much wrong, you really aren’t a bad sort.”
Today’s Gospel parable (Lk 18:9-14) also presents a contrast of two characters: the self-righteous Pharisee and the repentant tax collector. According to Samuel Oyin Abogunrin: “The parable shows the contrast between the self-righteous religious person and the repentant sinner, an outcast who humbles himself or herself before God. The prayer of the Pharisee is directed to God but is centered on the one making the prayer, thanking God that he is not like the tax collector, whom he regards as a sinner. Rabbinic examples show parallel prayers that illustrate the picture Jesus is here portraying. We offer a few examples. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who have not made me a slave. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, who have not made me a woman. Similarly Rabbi Simon ben Jokai reportedly said: If there are only two righteous men in the world, I and my son are the only two; if there were only one, I am he! The tax collector, by contrast, prostrates himself before God, offering only a simple prayer: God, be merciful to me, a sinner! The tax collector clings to no merit but casts himself before God and asks for mercy. Jesus says, This man went down to his home justified (that is, in a right relationship with God) rather than the other.”
Indeed, the tragedy in the case of the self-righteous Pharisee is that he did not look upon himself as God’s servant but as one who deserved good from God for a job well done. His self-aggrandizing attitude is very much in contrast with Jesus’ exhortation on humble service: “When you have done all you have been told to do, say, ‘We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty’” (Lk 17:10, cf. Jerusalem Bible translation). Besides his pride, the Pharisee is also guilty of contempt for the tax collector.
The biblical scholar, Eugene Maly explains: “We do not bargain with the Lord on our own behalf. We do not list our virtues in the expectation of a generous divine response. That is what the parable in today’s Gospel reading tells us. The Pharisee is depicted, subtly, as an arrogant man who is quite proud of all his accomplishments. His prayer is a listing of his supposed assets. While he does begin with an expression of thanks to God, the impression is given that the man really considers himself ultimately responsible for his goodness … Human life, in the context of relationship with God, is not a state fair contest where we display our wares or talents before the divine Official to see who gets the prize of best in class … The reason is that the divine Judge is himself the ultimate source of all goodness, of all talents … That is why our first approach to God has to be one of recognition of our poverty, of our need for his strength, of sorrow for our offenses … In God’s eyes, our best assets are openness to his Spirit, sorrow for our sins, and acceptance of his love.”
The cutting edge of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is Jesus’ astounding conclusion: “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” (Lk 18:14). According to the liturgical scholar, Adrian Nocent: “The conclusion alone is of interest to us: the tax collector went home justified. The word is important, The just man is one whom God makes just; he receives God’s favor, not because he is already just, but because in his humility he believes that God can be merciful to him and forgive him his sins. The deeds of men, even if these deeds be not all evil, could never be such as to merit forgiveness; only the sacrifice of the incarnate Son has that power. Because of that sacrifice, the Spirit bestows forgiveness on those who believe, and they run home justified.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. In our relationship with God, what role do we usually play: the self-righteous Pharisee who enumerates his virtues and despises the sinner, or the repentant tax collector who beats his breast, praying: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk 18:13)?
B. Do we realize that our true assets are openness to the Spirit, sorrow for our sins, and acceptance of God’s love?
C. How do we translate into life Jesus’ saying: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 18:14)?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father,
help us to be receptive to your Spirit
that we may realize the folly of trusting in our own merits.
Indeed, our self-confident boasting of “good deeds”
will not achieve our justification
nor merit your forgiveness.
Only the sacrifice of your Son on the cross
has the power to bestow forgiveness
and put us in a right relationship with you.
The gift of justification comes from you alone
and is given to the repentant heart.
Transform our insolence into openness to grace,
so that like the repentant tax collector,
we may go home to your welcoming arms
fully justified by the power of your love
and the saving sacrifice of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
the innocently suffering Righteous One on the cross.
We give glory and praise to you
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“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.” (Lk 18:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: In a spirit of repentance, pray slowly and meaningfully three times the ancient-Jesus prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
B. ACTION PLAN: Pray for a person whom we have held in contempt. Ask the Lord forgiveness for despising another and for considering ourselves to be the better one.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US