Homily

The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal. These words from the Book of Sirach (35:21) that begin the liturgy this Sunday offer us a message that is in continuity with what we heard last Sunday: prayer is the horizon in which the Word of God enters us. Not only must our prayer be insistent, like in the episode of the poor widow, but also the attitude in our prayer is important. The evangelist Luke (18:9-14) begins his narration with the well known parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who both go to the temple to pray. Luke writes a premise to this parable, making clear its purpose: Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves and regarded others with contempt.
In truth, this parable is about a situation in which we can all find ourselves. Each one of us, deep down inside, has a high regard for him or herself coupled, however, with a disposition of being rather critical of others. And, I believe that this is an opportune moment to stress this in our time because it has become all too easy to point our finger at others without looking at ourselves. Wrong ideas and deviations arise also because our surroundings often permit or tolerate them. There is no doubt that the falling away of general moral grounding finds each of us responsible, although to varying degrees, and it is difficult for us to get completely out of it.
The parable this Sunday, therefore, is truly relevant today. There are certainly many who believe themselves to be more righteous than others. We could say that the "temple" of this world is full of people who "trust in themselves and regard others with contempt." The Pharisee, who stands upright before the altar and thanks God for the good life that he leads, is not alone. The majority of us stand in his company. The Pharisee has many things to boast about, which the majority would be at great pains to prove. In effect, he is exemplary. That he goes to the temple is good. It is also good that he does not hide away in the back near the door as many used to and still continue to do today in many of our churches. Besides, what the Pharisee says in the temple is true: he is not a thief, a cheat, he does not betray his wife and he is different from that tax collector standing in the back. On top of that, he fasts twice a week and gives a sizeable portion of his income as an offering. These are no small things and not everyone is able to do them. It is indeed right that he thanks God. And so, everything seems to be right with him.
Concerning the tax collector, there is a lot to say, but not in the same way as it was for the Pharisee. That he stands in the back is not so exemplary and it must be for a good reason that he does not dare lift his eyes to heaven. That he beats his chest must also be for a good reason. He calls himself a sinner and, indeed, he truly is. In sum, he is a person who we cannot define as decent. He knows it and is penitent. Here lies the reason that turns the judgment of the parable upside down. Jesus says clearly that the deeds that we can claim to do not count for God; rather, what matters is the disposition of our heart.
This parable is certainly a lesson on prayer, but even more it is a lesson on what kind of attitude we should have in front of God. The Pharisee’s sin has nothing to do with his religious practice (he scrupulously observes all of the laws), but with the presumption, the sense of self-assuredness, the narrow-mindedness and the wickedness that leads him to disparage and judge the tax collector as a sinner. We can see the Pharisee’s sin in his pitiless judgment of the tax-collector. The Pharisee goes up to the temple not to ask for help or to petition for forgiveness. Rather, he feels fully justified to make his offerings to God; his heart is full of himself.
The tax collector, although he had attained a relatively high degree of well-being in life—even if perhaps his profession makes him feared by others—finds himself feeling very needy. He goes up to the temple not with full, but empty, hands, not to make an offering, but a petition. His attitude before God is one of a mendicant looking for alms (we take the occasion to remember that beggars in front of the church symbolize our condition before God, as Saint Augustine wrote). For the evangelist, the tax collector is the model of the true believer. They do not rely on themselves or on their works, even if they are meritorious, but they rely solely on God. Once again, the Gospel presents us with a paradox: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted" (v. 14). It is also written: "Whoever is poor looks for the Lord," not whoever feels righteous. Today the Gospel proposes this truth and profound wisdom for our reflection.