Drawing Closer to God!

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Hos 6:1-6; Lk 18:9-14

Today’s Gospel shows the difference between self-righteousness and true righteousness. 

The self-righteous attitude of the Pharisee looks so dangerous. 

The Gospel talks about his disposition, which reeks of arrogance. 

The Gospel says that he said the prayer to himself. He was not praying to God in God’s Temple. 

And then, he was not praying. There is not a word about his sins. 

He thanks God for who he is not, without asking God’s pardon for who he is.

As a result, the self-righteous Pharisee feels more righteous even in God’s presence. 

On the contrary, the tax collector’s disposition reveals his humility. 

He is so remorseful that he stands off at a distance and does not raise his eyes to heaven. 

His prayer is the most beautiful because it acknowledges his unworthiness in comparison to God’s holiness. 

The tax collector, being truly righteous, goes home justified.

The actual difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector lies in the distance.

The Pharisee stood close to God but was instead far away from God. 

The tax collector, who did not dare to come into God’s presence, drew closer to God. 

We draw closer to God in humility. 

True righteousness, which manifests our real selves in God’s presence, helps us grow humble. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar