Two Twins in the Heart
Year C – Ordinary Time – 30th Sunday
Luke 18:9–14: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
On this 30th Sunday, Jesus continues his teaching on prayer. Last Sunday, through the parable of the corrupt judge and the poor widow, he told us WHEN to pray: always, without ever losing heart. Today, he tells us HOW to pray. And he does so with another parable — well known to us — of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
Curiously, the figure of the judge reappears in the background of this Sunday’s readings. Perhaps because we struggle to let go of our image of God as a Judge — one who either justifies us when we do good or condemns us when we do wrong?
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
The evangelist introduces the Gospel passage by stating Jesus’ intention clearly: this parable was told “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.”
“Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector…”
By introducing them in this way, Jesus has already outlined the two characters clearly.
The Pharisee belonged to a lay religious group (active from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD). Etymologically, Pharisee means “separated.” In their desire to observe the Law of Moses in full, the Pharisees separated themselves from others to avoid defilement. They were considered “pure,” highly respected for their piety and knowledge of the Law.
The tax collector, on the other hand, was a public revenue officer (from the Latin publicanus, derived from publicum, meaning “state treasury”). Tax collectors were considered sinners and impure. They were despised and hated by the people because they collaborated with the Roman occupiers and exploited the poor.
Both characters “go up” to the Temple to pray, and before God they reveal who they truly are — for to God, one cannot lie. The Pharisee offers a prayer of thanksgiving. Looking at himself through the mirror of the Law, he sees himself as just and faultless, and feels pleased with himself. He is not like the others. Looking around, he sees only thieves, unjust men, and adulterers. He puffs out his chest and presents to God a list of his good deeds — as if to an accountant. He feels his accounts are in order; indeed, he has credit stored up for heaven. Today we might say he is the perfect, irreproachable Christian, with guaranteed admission to paradise.
The tax collector, however, stays at the back. He does not dare to approach the Holy One. The burden of his sins weighs down his head. He knows he is a hardened sinner. He can only say: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” as he beats his breast.
Jesus concludes the parable with authority:
“I tell you, this man [the tax collector who pleaded for mercy], rather than the other [the Pharisee who saw himself as perfect], went home justified before God. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Which of the Two Represents Me?
I confess: I would like to be like the Pharisee
Today everyone looks down on the Pharisee and beats their breast like the tax collector. I feel sorry for the poor Pharisee. I confess: I envy him! I would like to be like him — a faithful observer of the whole Law! Perfect, irreproachable! I have spent my life trying to imitate him — yet without success! Deep down, I too would like to be able to take satisfaction, as he did, in my own life.
It seems to me that Jesus was rather harsh with the Pharisee, portraying him unfavourably. After all, his prayer began well — with thanksgiving. Yes, then he got distracted, looking back (which happens to all of us, doesn’t it?) — and when he saw the tax collector, his resentment got the better of him and he slipped into judgement! What a pity!
The Temptation to Imitate the Tax Collector
Since I have not managed to be like the Pharisee, I can only beat my breast and repeat the prayer of the tax collector: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Yet I wonder how deeply I have really interiorised the attitude of a convinced and repentant sinner. The tax collector was a public sinner, with no escape. I, on the other hand, am a priest — supposedly an example to others. It is not so simple to pray with the same sincerity as that tax collector and rely solely on God’s mercy.
Even at the very moment I confess myself a sinner, I notice my tendency to place myself a step above my fellow sinners. A sinner, yes — but let’s not exaggerate!
Two Twins in the Womb of the Heart
After all, who am I really? The Pharisee I would like to be, or the tax collector I would rather not be? Alas, I believe I carry both within my heart — like twins! How can they live together? In the end, they must learn to coexist.
To my Pharisee, I constantly say: do not seek self-satisfaction, but seek to please the Father.
To my tax collector, I never stop repeating: God loves you as you are. You do not need to earn the Father’s love — it is free! In fact, it is my poverty and weakness that attract the special attention of Jesus, who came for tax collectors and sinners.
Will I ever succeed in educating them both? I do not know — but I try. One thing I do know: only when the two become one will I be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
For Personal Reflection
Meditate on a few verses from the first and second readings.
In the first, Sirach (35:15–22) invites us to pray like the poor:
“The prayer of the poor pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal. It will not desist until the Most High intervenes, executes justice for the righteous, and restores fairness.”
In the second, Paul — weary, old, and in prison — takes leave of his young disciple Timothy with moving words, entrusting himself to God’s justice:
“My son, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” (2 Tim 4:6–8, 16–18)
May we too be able to say this at the end of our lives!
Fr. Manuel João Pereira Correia, mccj
Fr. Manuel João, comboni missionary
Sunday Reflection
from the womb of my whale, ALS
Our cross is the pulpit of the Word
