saturday of the third week in lent

Date: Saturday, March 9
Contributor: Connie Hendrick
Lectionary Link https://www.lectionarypage.net/WeekdaysOfLent/SatThirdWeek.html
 
Luke 18:9–14
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
The word justified in Luke’s parable resonates in me.  Just + ify comes from the Late Latin justificare, “make just”.  The outcome of the parable is that the Tax Collector humbles himself before God, seeks God’s mercy, is shown mercy, and is made just.  As in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

The original audience for the parable was a group of self-righteous individuals who held others in contempt as they compared themselves and their good works to those they considered inferior.  And this made me think of “cancel culture” which is really a topic for another reflection …

Getting back to the parable, our main characters are introduced.  The Pharisee is respected, a model of virtue, but arrogant and proud.  The Tax Collector is despised, a sinner, humble, and ashamed, but self-aware and sincere in his plea for mercy.
We hear their prayers.  The Pharisee produces a prayer (or self-monologue) of congratulation, listing the many deeds that make him righteous while the Tax Collector humbles himself and asks for God’s mercy. And we are told the result of these prayers.  Only the Tax Collector returns to his home justified by God’s mercy.

I wonder if the original audience accepted the parable's contrast between the self-righteous man and the man made righteous by God’s mercy.