The Third Saturday of Lent

(Hosea 6: 1 – 6; Ps 51; Luke 18: 9 – 14)

Someone wrote: “If you want to make progress in charity or rather, if you are concerned not to be lacking in it, your endeavor must never be to be lifted up about anything in yourself, but always to marvel at what is in other people.”

How fitting these words are as a commentary on Jesus’ parable of the tax-collector and the pharisee in prayer in the temple.

The pharisee had accomplished a very good job of lifting himself so high that he could not see nor appreciate the marvel of God’s merciful grace in the publican. This tax-collector, so disdained by his own people, his soul was filled with deep contrition and his eyes were focused on the infinite merciful goodness of God even in a dark corner of the temple. Even in the dark, he could see and God was his light.

How sad that the Pharisee was so blind to the Lord’s mercy and so filled with himself; his blatant self-adoration, gratitude, love filled himself to overflowing. How could he be in need of anything, forgiveness included? As far as God was concerned, He was allowed to listen. The pharisee did need an audience – the pharisee could and did count on God’s presence – but only that. No matter where he chose to stand in the temple, he was in the dark.

In a church, any church, in this monastery church we are surrounded by brothers and sisters whose presence speaks clearly of the marvel of God’s gracious mercy. We are, by God’s love, deeply attracted to Him, seeking communion with Him – this is what it means to be people of faith, people in the Light. It is what we desire and what our God desires for us.

For the grace to see and appreciate the marvel of God’s mercy around us and, of course, to recognize and appreciate it in ourselves, is to be in the Light. “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord!” This invitation, this command, comes from God Himself.