March 5, 2005

Lk 18:9-14

Jesus 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 was 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 prayed, ‘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."

Humility of heart is not an easy gift of the spirit. It seems simple enough but in the living out of each day there are so many situations that present opportunities for pride or a loss of the preciousness and sense of value for others. I have not had a sense of being better than anyone but I can see how it is so hard to retain the proper relationship with God and not be self deceived into pride or the judgement of others.