What Do You See?

 

                                       from      Agnusday.org   Lectionary Comic   agnusday.org

This is a funny take from Luke 18: 9-14   At times I am full of pride like the self righteous sheep here in the cartoon.  "Thank God, I am not such and such...whatever."  Thinking that I, myself, did a good thing without God's grace.  It's all my doing.  I earned God's favor because I am me.

Hopefully, I recognize pride, like the second sheep.  At least sometimes, hopefully more often than not, I know that I am nothing and could do nothing without the grace of God.  "Lord, keep me humble.  Use me to do your will.  I thank You for everything."

Luke 18: 11-14

Tonight is Halloween and if the kids don't start coming I'm going to make myself sick eating all this candy.  But for now, I'm giving thanks.

Am I a too proud Pharisee?

Read Luke 18: 9-14

Read 2 Timothy 4: 6-8

What's the difference?  I know you're going to tell me that the Pharisee in Luke 18: 9-14 is giving credit to himself and not to God.  I don't see that.  Read 2 Timothy 4: 6-8.  Well?

Yeah, yeah...all the commentators say that the Pharisee's prayer was not as acceptable as the tax collector's.  And I'll take their word for it.  But the way these two readings are juxtaposed today on the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, certainly does not portray Paul any different than the proud Pharisee.

But Paul is a Pharisee.  And Paul's later writings show his spiritual progression, so we know him better than this quick look at the praying Pharisee.  But I think the contrast is nil, especially the juxtaposition of the two readings, today.

Let me put it this way;  which am I -- a Paul, or a proud Pharisee?

O God, I thank you for making me Catholic. 
I thank you for placing me in this country, in this time and place.
I have tried to obey your commandments and the Church's.
I thank you that I have not fallen like the rest of humanity--into our modern cultural morass.
I have always tried to do your Will.
Amen