A Reflection for the Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
“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” (Lk 18:9-14).
What is it about tax collectors in Christian Scripture? Just about everybody treats them with contempt. Won’t even sit down to a meal or a glass of wine with them. They were always gathered with the worse sinners, following Jesus around as if he had something to say to them, too.
O.K., come April, I get it. The taxman is not exactly a friend to the Clarke clan either. And in Jesus’ time, these guys were more of an in-your-face phenomenon. They were lifting the coin right out of your pocket with a smile and their lousy prehistoric spreadsheets. They were not making many friends.
You know who seems to really love them, though? Jesus.
I know, he loves everybody, but there is something special about his affection for tax collectors, one of whom he goes out of his way to collect himself. They figure more than a few times in his life and parable-telling.
I know, Jesus loves everybody, but there is something special about his affection for tax collectors, one of whom he goes out of his way to collect himself.
Maybe because they were so despised, so marginalized, so bereft of acceptance and friendship, Jesus was especially aching to reach the tax collectors of his time and no doubt ours.
Today’s Scripture is no exception to the form. Jesus allows us to listen in on the prayer of both the self-righteous pharisee and the humble tax collector. The former, already enthusiastically exalting himself in prayers, spies the tax collector—a sinner to look down upon!—then takes the self-love up another notch. “So glad I’m not that guy. Thank you, Lord, for making me so wonderful.”
The Pharisee’s “prayer” is full of passionate intensity, not for God or his community but for himself.
The tax collector, a fellow who knows a little something about accounting, is acutely aware of his own wrong-doing and brutally honest with himself. A sinner, he mutters a simple, breast-beating plea for mercy.
In a reversal typical of his parables and his life, Jesus holds up the tax collector as the spiritual exemplar in these dueling models of prayer; the pharisee, already rewarding himself, concludes his prayer in unknowing futility.
The Lord is offended by sin surely, but he seems to despise more the arrogance and self-righteousness of false piety and those who lift themselves up by putting others down.
How we love to find fault with others and clear our own consciences through comparison. The Lord is offended by sin surely, but he seems to despise more the arrogance and self-righteousness of false piety and those who lift themselves up by putting others down. It is mercy that God wants—for ourselves, for others—more than sacrifice.
Other readings today note the mysterious dichotomy of God’s love and wrath in treating sinfulness. “It is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.”
The Lord sure hates sinning and seems poised to punish those doing it, but his mercy is also without limit. It need only be asked for, as the tax collector does, and offered, as we’re implored to do as we go about earning our daily bread.
Get to know Kevin Clarke, Chief Correspondent
What are you giving up for Lent?
Cutting back on the dread red meat and the drink, with some small dispensation allowed for himself, St. Patrick.
Do you cheat on Sundays?
This was a phenom I never really heard of growing up on the East Coast. Is it a Midwestern thing? So no, I don’t tend to do that though my wife, from Indiana, insists that it’s A-OK and I believe the kids favor her position.
Favorite non-meat recipe
Squash, jalapeño, red pepper, tomato and onion that has been lightly sauteed in butter and olive oil, thrown over some pasta, add Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.
Favorite Easter hymn “Now Thank We All Our God,” but if they can be considered Easter hymns I’d love to include “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace.”
Favorite Easter photo
Yes, this “angelic” child is covered in red wine and chocolate liquids of varying viscosity.
