| Not Like the Rest of Men |
| (Luke 19:9-14) |
|
| Some
years ago, there was a book called "I'm OK, You're OK." It sold 15
million copies, and appeared on the best seller list for two years. How
do we account for the popularity of this rather simple book whose title
expressed its message? Why did it create the stir it did if the author
was telling us something we already knew. Why did so many people feel
the need to read it? The reason may have been that the idea of our
essential "OK-ness" struck many people as a new idea. |
| Our
deeper apprehension often suggests we are not OK. We sometimes have
difficulty in seeing ourselves in a healthy, positive light. So many
have a poor self-image. They look at themselves and do not see the
intelligent, attractive, strong and happy person that the TV ads tell us
we should be in order to be happy. |
| There
is something that seems to help us feel better, that is to discover we
are doing just a little better than the next person. We may not be in
the best of shape, but then, neither are they. And if we look hard
enough, we can find all sorts of ways in which they are worse off than
us. At least I am better looking than he is, or I do not weigh as much
as she does. Thank God, my marriage is in better shape than theirs.
Some people just like to have a pecking order, just as chickens peck on
those who seem smaller or weaker.
|
| So
do we zero in on each other's weak spots in order to feel better about
ourselves? In fact, some people always seem to be on the lookout for
flaws in the other. Isn't this what the Pharisee in today's gospel tried
to do. He even started his prayer, "Thank God I am not like the rest
of men... I am so much better than the rest." |
| His
prayer was calling on God to witness all the marvelous things that he,
the Pharisee, had done. Ironically, he had done all the right things. He
had broken no commandments. He had fasted and gave up a tenth of his
income. But Jesus tells us that his prayer was not acceptable. In
prayer, we do not lift ourselves above others. In fact, no one who
despises or looks down on another can truly pray. The Pharisee was not
justified in God's eyes. He placed his trust in his own
self-righteousness. He felt no need of God's compassion or his pity.
He was so proud of the fact that he was so good. He was intolerant of
human weakness. In contrast, we see the tax collector hated by all. He
saw what he was—a sinner in need of God. He threw himself on God's
mercy. He took the risk to believe that the Lord is not a judge who
sits impassive and removed, coldly hearing only the facts, seeing only
our acts. On the contrary, as we see in scripture, the Lord is
intensely involved with those who turn to Him. He even takes up their
cause, becomes their advocate. |
| No
one is too lowly to be listened to—no sinner is too far gone to find
forgiveness. The tax collector believed this, and he came before God
just as he was. He was in the right relationship with God. He is a model
for all of us. Christ asks us to be honest with ourselves, to look at
our own dark side, and to admit our need for reconciliation, to admit we
are not perfect, not as much in control, not as complete as we would
think. It demands some humility to admit that we might need to make
some changes to grow, to learn and to especially be forgiven. That tax
collector, sinful man that he was, had no illusions about himself. He
recognized his failures and prayed for forgiveness. |
| The
Pharisee, blinded by the shining self-made image of his own imagined
perfection sought no forgiveness from God, surely each received what he
prayed for. |
| Let
us be like that tax collector who knew that God is full of compassion,
God is full of love and mercy to those who turn to him. He is a God who
stands by our side no matter what and, if that does not make us "OK",
what does? |
|
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