Paul knows his time on earth is nearing an end and he is gladly embracing the crown that he knows awaits him.  He is content and easily boasts of his faithfulness to the gospel. He boasts that the crown of righteousness awaits him. So does the Pharisee in the parable Jesus uses that parable to describe those who are confident in their own righteousness.  In fact, that parable seems to be a warning against declaring ourselves righteous based on what we believe to be the measure of righteousness. 

The Pharisee based his claim of righteousness on his ability to avoid conforming to the rest of humanity: greedy, dishonest, and adulterous.  Why not throw in the root of other sins described as deadly gluttony, wrath, greed, and sloth?

Certainly, both Paul and the Pharisee could be accused of being guilty of pride. But Paul is more certain of the source of his righteousness than that Pharisee.  What makes them difference is the pharisee is guilty of judging others and his own ability to follow all six hundred and nineteen laws. His unseen sin is his dependence on his own ability to follow the laws without ever wavering. 

Paul on the other hand has learned what God desires is more than obedience to the law. God desires a broken and contrite heart (ps.51:17). A contrite heart knows it has fallen short of God’s desires for each of us.  Paul’s confidence is not in himself but in God’s forgiveness.  He knows his sin against God was egregious.  How many Christians were arrested and died because of his unbelief in Jesus Christ. Yet, Jesus clothed Paul in righteousness and filled him with the Holy Spirit. His source of his holiness was God not himself.  Paul was able to use his knowledge of the scriptures and his encounter with Christ to evangelize thousands.  To establish communities of believers willing to use their gifts to build the kingdom of God.

 How many Jews left the temple after offering their sacrifice feeling unfulfilled? Jesus uses the Pharisees pride to remind us about what is most important in our journey of faith.  It is not how well we are following het laws and rituals.  It is how we need to embrace God’s mercy to define who we are and what we become.   

Are we going to admit the laws are only capable of defining sin and condemning us each time we fail to obey one?  Are we able to surrender to God’s promise of the Holy Spirit changing our hearts and giving us the ability to allow God’s forgiveness to wash over us. To feel ourselves being embraced by God and being restored just as the prodigal son was.  Paul was a prodigal son before he became an apostle. We must allow that Spirit to become our source of holiness and open our minds to not only know the scriptures but to use them to speak o our hearts.

Spiritual pride in our perceived righteousness, our Catholicism, and in our parishes is a reality. Because it is a reality, we must never allow it to blind us and deceive us.  When I first began to read the scriptures, I thought Paul was arrogant and prideful as the Pharisee in this parable because he said imitate me as I imitate Christ.   

Yet, as I quickly learned, the words and actions of Paul are worth imitating because his source of holiness and power of evangelization was the Holy Spirit.  If we truly desire holiness, we must be dependent on the Holy Spirit not on ourselves. God’s desire for each of us s to become disciples. We need to always be mindful of the fact we are constantly in need of God’s mercy because we will always fall short of the glory of God.  

Like the tax collector in today’s parable, we need to admit our sinfulness; our desire to satisfy self. Acknowledge our constant need for God’s mercy because we are flawed humans. We also must understand why we exist.  We were created by God and gifted to achieve something for the good of all the church. God demands we do more than just show up, give our tithe, and perform some service.  God demands our hearts, the core of our being to be engaged in seeking the mind of God. Each of us can have a Paul like encounter with Christ or we can have a Pharisee encounter with Christ. 

A Paul like encounter with Christ can happen when we are least expecting it and it will change us.  In fact, it is God’s desire for us to open our hearts and allow the love of God to flow through us. Age is not the determining factor in that encounter, Samuel was too young and Abraham was too old.  What we must do is admit we need to feel God’s mercy. Instead of looking at what we are doing well, we need to simply say “Lord, I need you.’  For Paul it was on the road to Damascus. For Andrew it was when John the Baptist pointed toward Jesus and said, “behold the Lamb of God.”  For James and John, it was while they were fishing. For the Centurion it was at the foot of the cross.   

When will your moment come?  When it comes, will you be confused and doubtful? Wil you recognize it as a God moment. Will it be a gentle moment of being nudged by God, moving you closer to responding.  Will you shake it off because you are comfortable in your faith just as the Pharisee was. Or will you say like Mary, “let it be do me according to your word.”