Gospel Reflection For The 9th day of March in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Gospel
Luke 18:9-14
9 And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. 12 I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
Today’s Gospel is very much a continuation of yesterday’s. The religious officials had come to a place of complacent self-righteousness. They were held in honor and esteem and their income came from the people. They worried for nothing financially so long as things remained stable. If Israel did not upset Rome, they had little to worry about. Living as religious leaders, the believed they were more moral, better than others, because they had the opportunity and did observe all the particulars of Torah Law. They “had arrived.” Meanwhile, the poor and common people of Israel lacked the time and the financial resources to pay all their tithes and sacrifices. Many had to take jobs as tax collectors or otherwise in service to Rome. Some had to bury the dead, making them ceremonially unclean. Others turned to prostitution for survival. Even to associate with a gentile made one ceremonially unclean, so most who worked in any kind of business or trade could not live in supposed purity like the scribes and Pharisees.
As I have mentioned before, the tax collector for the Roman state was not only ceremonially unclean for associating with gentiles, but was considered a traitor to his race and religion. Tax collectors were especially despised. For this reason, our Lord seems to have sought out tax collectors, lepers and prostitutes to show that none were beyond redemption.
In our first reading it states, “It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.” This was the revolutionary teaching of Jesus that the Jewish officials could not tolerate. Their Law and self-righteous piety was not helping the people, and every person is made by God, in His image and love by Him. Jesus gave them, not a new teaching, but clarified what the prophets had said all along… the very prophets they rejected.
A few years ago, the words of a priest in a small, rural parish struck me deeply. We were talking about Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and other politicians who call themselves Catholic but who promote abortion and other evil polices. When asked why the Church did not formally excommunicate them, he answered that the Church wants their money. That was blunt! He went further though. He said, “The Catholic Church has all the money it needs. The Church has too much money. They church doesn’t need more money, it needs more faithful Catholics and the courage to stand up for its own teachings.”
Because the wealthy could afford to pay more tithes, make more sacrifices and had the time to spend in the Temple, they were favored under the Jewish law of Jesus’ time. The poor simply could not participate in religious devotion as much as the rich. We must make every effort for this not to happen today, in our Church. How many times have we read about events and such in our Sunday bulletins which carry a price tag for meals, tickets, etc. that many in the congregation cannot afford? Because some of that money goes to a charitable cause, the organizers think nothing of demanding a great deal more than a similar price in the secular world. This prices many… young, working folks, families with several kids, seniors on fixed incomes, etc. out of much of the social life of the Church.
I will never forget back in 2008, when our nation was in the “Great Recession” and my business was near bankruptcy, attending a Knights of Columbus fish fry during Lent. The priest had said it would be a lot of fun and would help the church. I was served barely enough food to feed a child and charged $25. That would have bought my groceries for a week… and, it was lousy, frozen fish and fries! I never attended another event at that parish. I would estimate that 2/3rds of the parishioners in that parish could not afford to attend most any event the wealthy, retired folks who volunteered at the church organized. It was unwelcoming, embarrassing, alienating and unfair. Frankly, I don’t think any event associated with the Church should cost more than $5-$10 per person and kids should always be free. And, a few wealthy folks should step up and anonymously sponsor those who can’t afford $5. The Church should be open to all. Unfortunately, it is usually not and because our priest have their needs entirely met by the tithes of their parishioners, and most who come to the priesthood early in life have no idea the struggles of working people. They went from being provided for by their parents to being provided for by the Church. I recall one priest making a snide remark about a lady who “only gave $100” to the building fund…. Is it any wonder this message about the Pharisee is still relevant today?
A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass readings January-June, 2024. may be purchased as a .pdf directly from me using this link https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-daily-catholic-devotional-reflections.html or in paperback on Amazon amazon.com/dp/B0CPD1DC7Q
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Gospel passages are taken from the Douay Rheims Bible.