THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE

[Dawn Marie]

THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE

The Gospel presents us with another fundamental characteristic of the Christian soul: humility.  Charity, it is true, is superior to it because it gives us divine life; yet, humility is of great importance because it is the virtue which clears the ground to make room for grace and charity.

 

Jesus gives us a vivid and concrete example of this truth in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican.  The Gospel tells us explicitly that Jesus was speaking to some who “trusted in themselves as just and despised others”.    The Pharisee is the prototype, the perfect representative of this group. See him!  How convinced he is of his justice, how puffed up by his own merits: I am neither a thief nor a adulterer, I fast and pay tithes.  What more can one expect? 

But this proud man does not see that he lacks the greatest of all things, charity, so much so that he inveighs against others, accuses and condemns them: “I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.”

 

Having no charity for his neighbor he cannot have charity toward God.  In fact, having gone into the Temple to pray, he is incapable of making the least little act of love or adoration, and instead of praising God for His blessings, he does nothing but praise himself.  This man is really unable to pray because he has no charity, and he cannot have any because he is full of pride.

“God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (Jas 4,6). Therefore the Pharisee returns home condemned, not so much by God who always loves to show mercy as by his own pride which impedes the work of mercy in him.

 

The attitude of the publican is entirely different.  He is a poor man who knows he has sinned, and he is aware of his moral wretchedness.  He does not possess charity either because sin is an obstacle to it, but he is humble, very humble and he trusts in the mercy of God.  “O God be merciful to me a sinner.”

And God who loves to bend down to the humble, justifies him at that very moment; his humility has drawn down upon him the grace of the Most High.

 

Saint Augustine has said: “God prefers humility in things that are done badly, rather than pride in those which are done well!” 

We are not justified by our virtues and our good works, but by grace and charity, which the Holy Spirit diffuses in our hearts, according as He will,” yes, but always in proportion to our humility.

 

Taken from Divine Intimacy pg 755 and 756