Homily: 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, YR C
“Comparison-Justification: A Bad Road to Take”
by Fr. William Holtzinger
Oct. 24, 2004

The parable today highlights the disposition that we all carry within ourselves . There are times when it would appear that we have it all together and times when we are all messed up. Jesus lauds the tax collector, not for being honest, but for truly reaching out to God. The Pharisee likely had done everything right, yet he makes a fatal error: he compares himself to the tax collector. In doing so, he reveals his greatest weakness, his lack of desire and need for God. He thinks he’s got it all figured out. It was his blindness to his ultimate need that became an impediment for his justification.

Both Sirach and Paul in our other readings make it clear that God listens to our prayers and grants them. Sirach reminds us that it is not that God listens more to the weak, but that the weak have more need for God, and they act on that need. So God listens. Paul knows in his heart that God will rescue him and bring him safe into God’s heavenly kingdom. This is not arrogant for he speaks about God and not just himself. That is where the Pharisee goofed.

So, let me illustrate this point better. The Pharisee was very exacting about his piety. Indeed we hear that he fasted twice a week and paid his tithe on his whole income. Yet these details make him blind to his other weaknesses. His prayer, in fact was hardly a prayer at all. Recall that he spoke his prayer to himself. He missed a very vital part of prayer: God

He might have just have said, “O Lord, I am glad that I don’t wear that poor ugly hat that the tax collector wears (put on an even uglier hat).

Again he might say, “O God, I thank you that I know the imperfections in myself,” all the while not noticing the glaring issues in his own life. (put on rubber nose)

Again he might say, “And God, I thank you that I can see things so clearly, especially how much better I have it than that miserable tax collector.” (put on rose colored glasses)

(Invite some children in the congregation to comment about what I am wearing.

(take off all the costume items)

The tax collector, while also aware of his failings, did nothing to justify himself and instead spoke directly to God. He humbled himself, offered no excuses for himself, and put himself at the mercy of God.

The issues are of comparison and self justification. Wouldn’t it be nice if we never acted like the Pharisee? But before you compare yourself to either of these persons or justify yourself, I would like to propose that we are like both of these persons. At times we are all messed up and are in serious need of God’s help. At other times, we don’t really need God (we think) because we are doing all the right things.

Maybe we are more like the Pharisee than we think. Have we entertained thoughts like he verbalized? What would they look like today? Imagine if our thoughts could be heard out loud... could we be heard saying:

“Thank God I am not like that liberal who is destroying the foundation of the Church.” or “Thank God I’m not like that conservative who is holding our Church in the dark ages.” or Thank God I am not like that person who has given up the rosary.” or “Thank God I am not like that person who is stuck with useless devotions.” or “Thank God I am not like those pious people who ignore sinful social structures.” “Thank God I know how to vote and those who disagree with me are just stupid.” We could go on and on.

Another example might be in our prayers. Recall the disposition of the Pharisee. When you pray, what does it look like? Is it impersonal? Do you use formal language that you would never use with your family or friends? Do you try to explain away behaviors to God and try to tell yourself that it it really isn’t sin? Have you ever used prayer as a way of manipulating a person who is praying with you? Do you talk about your needs to God and never ask directly?

The attitude of the Pharisee is pretty common today. We’ve all heard people accuse us of being hypocrites. We are accused of being false or two-faced. They claim that churchgoers are no better than those who don’t go to church. They accuse us of being like the Pharisee. Yet, the opposite is true. We are hypocritical in our lives all the time. We sin. Yet, the people who say these things to us are implying that only holy people should go to church. What they are doing is justifying themselves. They are complaining and using their reasons as a scapegoat not to get involved. They have turned the purpose for going to church around. Sinners need God. Sinners need to go to church, not the perfect ones. Those who are purely holy have no need for church or God. But, you see, we all know that everyone is a sinner. And so the argument doesn’t hold any weight.

You see the Pharisee was pretty messed up. While he performed all the external things of a “holy person” he couldn’t bring himself to lower himself before God and admit his true failings. He was certain that he knew what was needed to do and shamed anyone else who didn’t measure up.

Isn’t is great that none of us are like him?