Jesus’ last words in the parable of the Pharisee and the tollbooth are a striking reminder: “For whosoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humble himself shall be exalted” (Lk 18:14). Even in the time of Jesus, some considered themselves righteous and despised others. In the parable, Jesus selects strong contrasts from Jewish life at that time. On two personalities, a few words characterize their attitude and behavior. It is the masterful art of the narrator. The Jews had their regulations for both prayer and almsgiving. They considered themselves more or less religious depending on how they fulfilled them. They glorified their perfection and exalted themselves above others. Jesus wants to point out that man’s mind and inner self are not hidden from God. Religiosity is not only external, visible manifestations, decor ds. The fact that the Pharisee fasts twice a week, gives tithing, and prays is good, but it must not be a reason to despise others and exalt himself. Beating oneself in the breast is an expression of repentance and repentance. Being aware of one’s imperfections and the need for forgiveness is inspired by the Old Testament Book of Psalms. Who has the right to pass a fair judgment on man? Only God is nothing hidden, hidden, or unknown to God. God knows the thoughts of man. Suppose anyone wants to argue that Jesus wrongly portrays some caricature of the Pharisee. After all, God is love. On the contrary. When Jesus puts the words of this prayer in the mouth of the Pharisees, He wants to warn us against the kind of prayer that was widespread in rabbinic documents at that time. It was considered undignified for a praying person to ask for something but to give thanks that he was indeed on the path that would lead him to eternity. As they listened to these words of the parable as Jesus narrated them, they had to know each other with satisfaction. The plea of the tollbooth betrays deep hopelessness. They understood her well. In their eyes, there was no way out for him. How could he obtain forgiveness for his transgressions without changing his calling and compensating all those he had hurt with his zeal in the service of the hated Romans, the occupiers? In other words, there was a hopeless case. Jesus opposes the opinion of the listeners. God is the God of the useless. The toll collector leaves home excused. He had no right, he had not yet atoned for his behavior as a tollbooth, and yet God granted his request. The tollbooth acquires inner righteousness, holiness that only counts before God. The Pharisee does not ask for anything from God in his prayer, so he goes home as he comes to tcomesemple. He takes away his righteousness but not the righteousness of God.
The parable points to an inner ratio that is inverted here. The one whom the Pharisees despised was kinder to God than the one who considered himself righteous.
The parable is a warning to us. Let us not conclude based on external appearances and our judgment. God has the proper decision. God sees an inside man. It is a lesson until the end of time for the Pharisees to avoid passing judgment on others and think of themselves according to God’s point of view. We recognize that true holiness is something inner. The parable points to the fact that God is a sinner who repents more dearly than early proud, who considers himself perfect, although outwardly, he is c, clearly not guilty of anything. At the Apostle, St. Paul finds the Church’s teaching of justification by faith (cf. Rom 3:23-25;4:4-8;5:9-21) when he teaches that righteousness can only be achieved by credible faith (cf. Mt 9:10-13).
It is time for us to look at ourselves and learn from the behavior of the tollbooth and throw away the attitude of the Pharisees far from each other. Elsewhere (cf. Mt 23:13-33), Jesus very strictly admonishes the Pharisees, calling them “the generation of spindles” and “whitewashed tombs.” He will say to them, “Verily, I say unto you, Tollbooths and brides shall precede you into the kingdom of God” (Mt 21:31). They must have got on Jesus’ nerves with his behavior when he spoke these words. The sight of them could be pleasant. The deeds may have been commendable, but the intention—with which they did it—did not please God. Let us check our actions for what purposes we do them. Can we still consider ourselves Christians? Doesn’t Phariseeism also mark our confessions? Are we not making ourselves better than we are? What about God’s insight into our inner self?
They tend to say that they have not killed anyone, do not laugh, do not steal, and are good Christians. And yet, nothing is unknown to God. We also know the words: “Your speech betrays you.” I may be an expert, but my words?
Giovanni Albanese writes: “Do you want to know what people have in their hearts? Please pay attention to what they are talking about. Whoever talks about money is a greedy person. Who about a career is a careerist? Whoever about politics is nervously ill, ignore him. He who speaks badly of others has poison in his heart, do not trust him. If you want to judge a writer, observe what he writes. Do you want to know the director? See his films. What do you want a person who knows how to speak and write about adultery, drugs, violin, and ce, scandals to have in his heart? Words, our words, betray us.
There are also brothers and sisters around us who are full of pride and behave like Gospel Pharisees. They are given as a role model – and what often happens? Fall! God will allow them to be tested, and they no longer have merit. On the contrary, those who remain humble before God and men please God.
19.10.1997 The Holy Father John Paul II proclaimed the Nun of Carmel in Lisieux of St. Theresa Santa Claus as the Teacher of the Church. As she was dying on her deathbed, she heard the cook sister say of her, “What are we going to write about Sister Theresa in an obituary? We didn’t see anything special about it.” God Himself took care of everything. No biography is as widespread as her History of the Soul, written through her by the Spirit of God himself, and no saint has as many paintings and statues. So many consecrated churches in missions as this saint, who in life knew how to hide all perfection under the mantle of humility.
A year later, on 11.10.1998, the same Pope proclaimed Sister Theresa Benedict of the Cross, Edit Stein, who died in the gas chamber at Auschwitz on August 9, 1942, as a holy nun. Upon entering the Carmelite monastery, this convert from Judaism said: “Love for Christ must come first, not only in theoretical convictions but especially in the mindset of the heart and also in practical life. That is, to abandon any fake attraction to yourself and other people. God occupies the first and most honorable place in our lives.”
Our words betray us. But God also sees into our hearts. The virtue of humility is not pleasant in the ears but also in the hearts of today’s people. And yet, humility has a great price in the eyes of God. We know that the more we can humble ourselves, the kinder we are in God’s eyes. Humility has taught us to say please, thank you, forgive, sorry, and forget… A humble person judges himself and does not judge his neighbor. A humble person struggles with his mistakes and does not unnecessarily burden himself with the shortcomings of others. Being humble does not mean that he must renounce his honor. A humble person does not overestimate himself, tries to evaluate himself correctly, and, above all, closely monitors his relationship with God and his neighbor to be in harmony with the will of God. He is aware of his dependence on God. A souvenir for each of us.Can we claim that someone does not deserve God’s forgiveness? On the contrary. We should ask God in silence that there are as many converts as possible, at least before their deaths.
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