Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Context. We come to the final
stretch of Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:48; Wks 13-31), with a
section (17:11-19:27, Wks 28-31) summarizing what Jesus has taught previously
on the journey and inviting response.
Appropriate response will not be found from the disciples, who are as
lacking in understanding as they were at the start of the journey. Instead, the appropriate response is found in
a leper, a widow, a tax collector and (skipped) children. This passage is closely linked to last week’s
reading about the need to pray always.
Interpretation. The pharisee has turned love of God into idolatrous self-love. Everything he is doing (prayer, fasting, tithing) is good, and he’s going above and beyond the legal expectation. He’s right to give thanks for this. However, he takes God’s gracious blessings and turns them into a selfishly held possession (even though he is unselfish with his money). What should have been an icon of God’s goodness became an idol. He says thank you, but fails to mention God’s action. He also exhibits poor self-knowledge, as Jesus has already told us that Pharisees were lovers of money. The tax-collector, though, has perfect self-knowledge: he is a loved sinner, fully reliant on grace. The two men’s prayer shows their attitude to God: prayer is faith in action.
2nd
Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18
Context. Second
Timothy is one of what are called the “Pastoral Epistles” (the term, as far as
I know, was coined by Aquinas). They are
presented as letters from Paul to individual church leaders, in this case,
Timothy. Many scholars think they are
the product of a Pauline school, writing in the name of their founder as a mark
of respect (much as church documents are ghost-written today). Regardless of the circumstances of their
composition, they are concerned with the continuation of the Church beyond
initial proclamation to more settled institution. Timothy is the only person mentioned in the
Bible whose grandmother was a Christian.
The pastorals share a common basic message: hold fast to sound teaching,
and you will live a worthy life, though with hardship; good order, structure
and hierarchy are needed in the Church; keep on converting people, and look
attractive to outsiders in order to do this.
Interpretation. Paul uses his life as an
example for Timothy. Paul is at the end
of his life and can be confident because he has already acted in such a way as
to win the race. This requires
perseverance and conviction that there is a goal, even when that’s hard to
see. In fact, it’s a glorious goal: a
crown of righteousness! But it is not a
selfish possession: all who long for the judge’s appearance will be awarded the
crown. Paul’s attitude to those who have
not shown perseverance mirrors Jesus’ on the cross and Stephen’s at his
martyrdom: he prays for them. He
continues giving glory to God for all the good in his life. Again, alluding to the crucifixion, he
marvels that God rescued him from the lion’s mouth (cf. Ps 22:21).
Questions
1.
In some sense, both Paul and the Pharisee
boast. Why is one a saint and the other
chastised? What distinguishes their
boasting?
2.
There
are many things in life we should thank God for, but among these should be
various virtues we have matured in and positive practices we engage in. What does good thanksgiving for these look
like? How is it different from the
Pharisees?
3.
We will at times notice other people acting
contrary to virtue, committing sins.
What different reactions to this could be appropriate?
4.
What keeps you humble?
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