30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.

Lk 18:9-14

How did the Pharisee and Tax Collector stand before God?

The Pharisee went as near as possible to the altar. He stood erect, head high and his arms outstretched toward heaven. You couldn’t hear anything. But his lips moved. What was he saying? “God, look how good I am. I’ve done everything the Law commands, unlike other people, particularly that tax collector behind. He’s a very bad man, you know.” How did you react? He turned me off. I guess he turned you off, too. I’ve got a feeling that he wanted to add something else, but was too modest to say it. And it’s this: “God, don’t you feel lucky to have me?”

The Tax Collector, on the other hand, was way, way behind. He wouldn’t dare get any nearer. He wouldn’t even dare raise his eyes to heaven. His lips were moving, too. And he kept on beating his breast. What was he saying? “God, look how bad I am. I am sorry. But please accept me, not because I am good but be-cause you are good.” Don’t you feel sorry for this man? If I were God, lalambot ang puso ko (literally, my heart would soften) and I would just hug him and tell him, everything is forgiven. In fact that was what Jesus said. The Tax Collector went home forgiven.

How does man stand before God?

We should not even stand before God. We should bow down as a Creature before his Creator. In times past, man offered the first fruits of his land and of his animals. Today, we can offer to him each day that comes. We call this the morn-ing offering. Here is an example: “O my God, I offer unto Thee all my thoughts, works, joys, and sufferings of this day. And I beseech Thee to grant me Thy grace that I may not offend Thee this day; but may faithfully serve Thee and do Thy holy will in all things. Amen.

But man is not just a creature. He/she is a son/daughter of the Father. And be-cause of that, he/she has no second thoughts about asking. When we ask some-thing from God, we extend our hands, not as beggars, but as his children. But that is not all. Children want to tell their parents news about themselves. They also confide to their parents. They seek their advice. Because we are God’s children, we open our hearts to him.

Having said all these things, we should not forget an important fact. We are sinners before the All-Holy God. Remember the first time Peter met Jesus? They were working all night and caught nothing. But Jesus told them to throw their nets again. And Peter did as Jesus commanded. And he caught a great catch of fish. And Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Perhaps, our prayer should be a bit different, “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

One last point. I have heard young people say that one reason why they don’t go to confession anymore is that they are ashamed. Not ashamed of confessing their sins, but ashamed because they promise God not to sin again but find them-selves committing the same sins again. What do I tell them? “Do you remember the parable of the Prodigal Son? All that matters to God is that you return. So reconcile with God as often as you need.”

Finally, a word on humility and contempt.

Humility is truth. When you achieve something, people come and congratu-late you. They say: “Ang galing mo! (literally, you’re good!)” This is the usual response: “Hindi naman. (Oh no!)” Pa-humble effect. This is all wrong. It’s even a lie. Why? Because how could you have succeeded in something, if you’re not good at it. Therefore, how should you respond? Just say, “thank you”.
About contempt. To hold someone in contempt is to look down on him. Mi-namata mo siya. This reminded me of three things. First. The Church in the Philippines has opted to be the Church of the Poor. What does that mean? It means that no one is so rich as to be in need of nothing. And that no one is so poor as to be incapable of contributing something. If that is the case, how can anyone be held in contempt?

The second is from “La Desiderata”. “You are a child of the universe. Listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.” We all have something to share. And therefore, no one is worthy of contempt.

This brings me to the last point. It’s a story about a boyhood memory. This man adored his father. His father was his hero. One day they rode on a train. His father invited him to come with him to where the driver was. In those days, the train ran on coal. The driver was an old man, near retirement. He was dirty, probably because of the coal. He wondered why his father bothered to talk to the man. Later, he told his father what he thought. And his father replied, “Everyone has something to say that you don’t know yet. Everyone can teach you something new.”

And if you are suffering from inferiority complex, listen to this. If it is true that everyone can teach you something new, then it is also true that you can teach everyone something new.

Hold no one in contempt. But let no one also hold you in contempt.


---------------------
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to the welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - finvoc@yahoo.com - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.