“CHRIST: PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE”
Saint Luke 18: 9-14
11th Sunday after Trinity: 12 August Anno Domini 2018
Father Jay Watson SSP
Instead of telling you that you are a Pharisee, let the text ask you questions and let God The Holy Ghost do what He will to your conscience.
Do you trust in yourself? Do you trust in your ability to provide and protect yourself and your family…your loved ones? Do you spend more time in keeping your body and bank account healthy than you do in keeping your Faith and Spiritual life healthy? Do you despise others? Do you think more of the people who are “just like you” than you do of other people? Do you think that your god loves Americans, especially conservative, constitutionalist, liturgical Americans, more than any other nation, party, or people group? I won’t ask if you pray by yourself because few ever do, unless of course they are sick or really think they need something. But when you pray around others do you sometimes think you’re better than they are?
Have you ever been unfair, unreasonable, quick to anger and slow to forgive? Have you ever tried to force somebody else to do things your way? Have you ever had a sexually impure thought? Do you fast? Do you fast during Lent? Do you simply “blow off” the whole Biblical/Jesus mandate to fast as Papist? Do you tithe? Do you give as much financial aid to this parish as you could or should? Do you think your “ownership” rights to the way things are done in the church belong more to those who give the most or who do the most work?
The Paraclete’s verdict is: guilty as charged.
But also, do you come to the House of The Living God with awe and filial fear? Do you moderate your daily profane talk and chattering when you enter into His Holy Nave? Do you confess your faults that are personal to you rather than merely join in with a corporate acquiescence to the Biblical truism that all have sinned and fallen short? Do you smite your breast with contrition?
The Spirit again proclaims guilt.
The Pharisee thought he was righteous. He was not. The Publican knew he was unrighteous. He was. Unrighteousness damns. The sinner cannot save himself.
There is only one Righteous person—Christ Jesus. There is only one Righteous Man—Christ Jesus God and Man.
All parables end up pointing to Jesus. All parables, words spoken by Jesus, direct the hearer to The Word Made Flesh. If the parable doesn’t tantalize your eyes and ears and mouths of faith to taste more of the Holy Scriptures than the homilitician is to be blamed, you are to be blamed, but not The Word. If the story of the hypocrite and tax-collector does not make you crave desperately to eat and drink the Body and Blood of The Righteous One, then again, Kyrie Eleison—Lord have mercy upon us.
Jesus went to the Temple. He went to the temple after He was circumcised. Cut to bleed on the 8th day and presented in the temple—with His blood and word on the 40th. He went to the temple to teach and heal the sick and diseased. He drove out the money changers and false secular followers of man, i.e. Satan, and He forgave sins and planted His truth and life amongst Solomon’s portico. Jesus prayed all the time, so much so that the “12” asked Him how to pray. You pray the exact same “Our Father” this morning. Jesus took the bad actions, evil words, and treasonous thoughts, the entire guilt, as well as the actual trespasses, of all extortioners, unjust, adulterers, pagan false worshippers, and thieving tax-collectors, upon Himself, within Himself and carried it to Calvary. He bled the very Blood of God to wash away the filth of man—of you.
Jesus fasted for six hours on the tree. He drank no cool refreshing water but rather bled a liquid that forgives the world and brings true joy and peace. Jesus did not tithe 10% of His goodness but gave His entire life for you. Because, as Peter writes: “Who His own self bare [y]our sins in His own body on the tree,” [1 Pe. 2.24]
He allowed His own breast to be smote, yes, to be pierced through to His sacred heart.
Has there ever been greater abasement than God The Son suffering and dying while even the sun in the sky was abased with darkness? Has there ever been a deeper humility than the creator dying so that His creatures might be absolved and given forever life in His Body and Blood?
You have been given to pray, to confess trespasses, and to look down at your sinful heart with the tax-collector. Now dear Saints “lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” [Lk. 21.28]
Be exalted now by The Humble One. Have your ears opened and have your mouth opened. “Lift up your heads, o ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and The King of glory shall come in.” [Ps. 24.7]
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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