Dear Preachers:
So, what is wrong with the Pharisee s prayer? He is a good man who does more than religious obligation requires. He observes the evils of the world around him and gives thanks to God that he is not part of it, like the rest of humanity, greedy dishonest, adulterous . He is a very good man. What s more he thanks God for his good behavior and upright life. Why, he even exceeds the religious demands of first century Judaism! His prayer sounds right: a good man thanking God for his good behavior. What s the problem? We know there is a problem because Jesus is obviously telling this parable with a critical eye towards the good Pharisee.
We also note that in the second reading Paul enumerates his own accomplishments in the faith, I have completed well; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In fact, he is even looking forward to his reward, the crown of righteousness awaits me . Why is not Paul criticized for extolling his good life the way the Pharisee is?
A real estate friend recently quoted the famous dictum of his profession, There are three things that count when buying a house: location, location and location. We can apply a similar guide to the two characters in today s parable. Location is a clue to what is happening. Notice where the Pharisee and tax collectors are located as they pray.
The Pharisee went to the Temple, but he isn’t there praying with his community. He is by himself praying prayers in the first person singular. His prayer is full of I s — I am not I fast I pay tithes Etc. He has not come to be with and pray with his Jewish brothers and sisters. He is not praying for his community, or those in need. He is detached from anyone else. He has taken up his position, and it is not a place that includes others — the needy, sick, sinners, outcasts etc. He also separates himself spiritually from others. There was only one required fast each year — the Day of Atonement. But he fasts twice a week. He is in crediting God for his laudatory life — at least it seems so, but the prayer s focus is on himself, not God. God really does not play any part in his life. He doesn’t need God at all to be an outstanding and recognized religious person.
The tax collector s location is also apart from others, but for a different reason. He would have been despised by his community. After all, tax collectors were Jewish men who made their living, a very comfortable living, raising taxes from the Jews for the Romans. Note his grammar. He is not praying in the first person, singular — I . He is not the subject of his prayer, God is. God is doing the work and he is a recipient of God s mercy. Oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner. He is not focusing on his actions, good or bad, he is trusting in God s mercy.
Jesus extols the tax collector s humility: he knows himself, does not pretend to be anything other than himself. He relies on God to do for him what he cannot do for himself, Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner. He cannot claim mercy based on his merits. But he can ask for it because he needs it and trusts God will give it to him.
Jesus listeners would have been surprised by this parable. They would have held the Pharisee in high regard by the evidence of his life. But the parable presents our proper relationship before God, not merited by any human action, however grand, but based on God s merciful gift of forgiveness.
The parable is a cautionary tale for religious people, especially those of us in public ministry, ordained or lay. We have to be awake to our own spiritual poverty. In our service to others in need we might set ourselves apart serving them. Not a good location for a disciple of the One who kept company and ate with sinners. The love of God which we profess can turn into self-love. We can look upon the gifts we have from God as rewards for our behavior. Like the Pharisee our prayer can easily become a boast. When the Pharisee left the Temple that day he may have felt satisfied, but he certainly wasn’t any different from the person he was when he entered and began to pray. His prayer was not an openness to God and the change God might want to bring about in him. He may have felt content as he left the Temple that day, but his prayer did not result in any growth in his relationship with God. But the tax collector left changed by God s grace.
Those of us who might feel our location is apart from the upright members of the church, because we are newcomers, divorced, gay, unemployed, poor, racially and ethnically apart, need to hear Jesus words about the tax collector. We might not always experience our worth in the community, but Jesus reminds us of our worth before God — the humble will be exalted. As a church community we need to remember Jesus words as we look around at the folks physically or socially in the back pews of our parish church, or the back pews of our local community.
Note Paul s location. He is writing to his disciple Timothy from prison, anticipating his death. He was ejected, abandoned by his companions. His trust in God is not based on his own merits, but on the Lord who, will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. Like the tax collector Paul is not the subject of the sentence, he is the object, that is, the recipient of Christ s graciousness. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Paul has chosen the right location — he is on the receiving end of God’s graciousness, and he knows it. For that he continually praises God.
Jesus addressed the parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness. The English word righteousness has a negative sound. We don t like people who are self righteous — like the Pharisee. But in the Bible a righteous person is in right relations with God. Is not that what we want? Paul is anticipating the crown of righteousness that awaits him. A righteous person has been faithful to the covenant. Paul credits his righteousness not from any work he can take credit for, but from his faith in Jesus. That faith makes him righteous. He knows it is a gift from God — and so he is not self-righteous. In the parable who turns out to be righteous, or just, in God s eyes? It is a tax collector who is in right relations with God, not because of any work he has done, like the Pharisee s fasting and tithing, but by God s gift — a gift he did nothing to earn.