Homily On 30th Sunday In Ordinary Time C

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C) 28 October 2007 Readings: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19-23; 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector “I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” For a nation still haunted by memories of Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in Southern California, particularly in the northern end of San Diego can be another huge disaster – people are in danger, a thousand of homes and businesses and charring swaths of scrub and forestland are destroyed. More than a half-million people have already been asked to evacuate.1 Then thousands of uprooted people in San Diego County headed for Qualcomm Stadium as emergency shelters, while others jammed freeways or made desperate bids to save their homes with garden hoses.2 With all the pandemonium and firefighters bracing themselves against the heat and flames from burning houses like an inferno, I was reminded of Hephaestus3 both in Greek and Roman mythology who was the god of volcanic fire. Following this, I was drawn to reflect on what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had said to the people in Malibu, California that they need to pray that the wind may slow down since it is No. 1 enemy in dry places like San Diego County. Even the message of Pres. Bush says: “we send our prayers and thoughts with those who’ve been affected, and we send the help of the federal government as well.”4 It is in this context that our gospel today speaks about prayer - its nature and our relationship with God. While it presents both an opportunity and a warning against pride, for Luke, prayer is faith in action. It is to seek God’s mercy and compassion with humility and to show it to others especially those who find it difficult to love or forgive. Humility in prayer enables one to see himself/herself as he/she really is and defines his/her relationship with God. The apostle Peter made this comment: “Be clothed with humility for God resists the proud, and gives graces to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exact you in due time” (1 Pet 5:5-6). If we really want to grow in God’s favor, we have to overcome as much as possible the sin of pride because it is the mother of all sins. 1

Michael Parrish. Automated Phone System Warns San Diego. The New York Times. Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Vol. CLVII., No. 54,107. p A14. 2 cf. Randal C. Archibold. Residents Flee Wildfires in Southern California. The New York Times. Tuesday, 23 October 2007. Vol. CLVII., No. 54,106. p A20. 3 In Greek and Roman mythology, Hephaestus was called Vulcan (which means fire) and was the god of volcanic fire and the forge; he was also called Mulsiber. Because people feared the devastations of uncontrollable fires, temples to Vulcan were built outside of town. According to the Romans, his smoky, flaming workshop was inside Mt Etna, the Sicilian volcano. Hephaestus’ festival in Rome, known as Vulcanilia, was celebrated on Aug. 23 (the first day of Virgo) to protect people from distinctive fire. 4 Sheryl Gay Stolberg. With Katrina Fresh, Bush Moves Briskly. The New York Times. Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Vol. CLVII., No. 54,107. p A14.

I remember a story of a Carthusian monk who explains to an inquirer about the distinctive features of his monastic order. He said: “When it comes to good works, we don’t match the Benedictines; as to preaching, we are not in a class with the Dominicans; the Jesuits are away ahead of us in learning; but in the matter of humility, we’re tops”5 It is interesting to see how the two actors in the story: a Pharisee and a publican6 who represent the two extremes in Jewish society, are described as two travelers who pray in the temple. But the difference lies in the way they lay claim to God’s friendship. 7 A Pharisee is confident enough to justify his own disciplined life in relation to his friendship with God. While a publican lays claim that he is a sinner and does not deserve God’s forgiveness We know that the Pharisees8 were the biggest in number and they were the most influential among the three sects of Judaism at the time of Jesus. The publicans, however, were considered traitors and religiously unclean. According to temple9 standards, they were the “bad guys” – the unrighteous. I think even today we find some people who are like the Pharisee, suffused with pride, claiming to be a good churchgoer, volunteer, or in other words a good Catholic serving in a visible calling/ministry. They feel their superiority over others instead of working on their weaknesses and appreciating their differences. They think they know better than the rest and they don’t need any help or collaboration from others. This is the problem that usually crops up especially when we work as a team. We have this tendency to speak ill about others. We make fun of those who have defects, those who have difficulties to communicate but sometimes we fail to see that we are handicapped in many ways more serious than physical disability. Let us ask the Lord to open our eyes to our own faults and the goodness of others so we can listen to the story of people around us. I’d like to share with you another story in Aesop’s fable. It’s a classic illustration of pride and complacency between the hare and a tortoise. One day, they decide to take a 5

cf. Robert J. McCracken. What is Sin? What is Virtue? New York: harper and Row, 1966, p. 14. A publican was a tax collector and was looked down upon with contempt. Ordinary taxes, such as land taxes, were collected by the Roman officials, but toll taxes for transporting goods were usually collected by Jews under contract with the Romans. He made a profit on the transactions. 7 Cf. Gil Alinsangan, SSP, editor. 365 Days with the Lord. Liturgical Biblical Diary 2004. St Pauls Publications, Makati, Philippines ISSSN 1655-5457. October 24, 2004. 8 The main characteristics of the Pharisees were their legalism and their legalistic inflexibility. They were known for their strict accuracy in the interpretation of the law and their scrupulous adherence to living the law in every minute detail. They shunned the non-Pharisee as being unclean, thereby keeping themselves separated from those they considered to be the common people. 9 Temple as “cultural center” is a place in Jewish society where the world is ordered through its layout of courts that segregate Jews and Gentiles, men and women, priests and non-priests, clean and unclean; and thus the divinely legitimated hub that mirrors as well as communicates and sustains the boundaries of social relations and experiences of fictive kinship among the Jewish people.” 6

race. The hare scampers off, leaving the tortoise plodding slowly behind. Towards the middle, the hare becomes tired and sure of victory, decides to take a rest. He falls asleep and the steady tortoise quietly passes by, going on to win the race. Like the Pharisee and the hare, when we think we have it made, we show our superiority. We haven’t crossed the finish line yet, so there’s still need to keep working, to progress in our prayer life -our spiritual journey. God bless you.