He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and said, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 (NABRE)
Jesus again reverses our expectations.
We are exalted when we allow God to lift us up, which requires us to recognize that we are in need of exaltation to begin with. This is the essence of humility. It enables us to be self-reflective and merciful observers of the people around us. We are able to meet each other in our shared, fallen humanity. We are more patient and more gentle. We are led away from an arrogance that closes us off to the help with which God sustains us, and come to a place of openness to the outpouring of grace that Our Lord is so willing to grant to us. Humility opens wide our palms to receive the grace of God. It is the invitation to God for His movement in our souls.
Thank your for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 