Luke 18:9-14
Joseph Ratzinger
had some interesting thoughts on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax
collector that have caused me to ponder.
He states that this parable demonstrates two ways of relating to God and
to oneself.
“The Pharisee can
boast of considerable virtues; he tells God only about himself, and thinks he
is praising God in praising himself. The
tax collector knows he has sinned and cannot boast before God, and prays in full
awareness of his debt to grace. The
Pharisee does not really look at God at all, but only himself. The tax collector sees himself in the light
of God, so he knows he needs God and that he lives only by God’s goodness.”
It is so easy to
be the Pharisee in this story. It is so
east to boast of all the good things I do, keeping my eyes on what I am doing
‘for God’ and seeing myself in good light, pleasing to God. It is so easy to rest on my laurels and how
mature I am in the Lord. It is so easy
for that to lead me down a path that no longer needs God, because I believe
I’ve got it all together now. I have
been down that path many times before I knew God and it always led to a dead
end. Jesus confronts people on that path
in Matthew 7:21-23 when they proudly said, “Lord, didn’t we do all these great
things for you?” Jesus told them to get away from him and called them workers
of iniquity. Paul knew he could boast in
his virtues that he lists in Philippians 3:4-11, “A Hebrew of Hebrews,
righteous in the law, and blameless.”
Those virtues lead to a dead end and he came to know they all counted
for nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.
Shining the spot
light on me and what I do for God is empty praise, unfulfilling to the soul,
and leads to futility. Looking at myself
in the light of God, the light that enlightens all people shows me how much I
need God in my life and in everything I do.
It all comes from Him in His goodness and grace; it is full of life and
leads to fruitfulness not futility.
QUERY
Do I look at
myself with a spot light shining on my human endeavors and achievements or in
the light of God that shines on His goodness and grace that comes from a loving
relationship with Him?
Is my heart humble
creating a hospitable environment for God and Jesus to come and dwell within me
and to shine out from me in what I do?
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