God's Power Revealed Through Mercy: Lessons from the Pharisee and Tax Collector
The paradox of our faith is beautifully captured in the collect prayer: "O God, who declares thy almighty power chiefly in shown mercy and pity." This profound truth reminds us that God's omnipotence is primarily revealed not through dominance, but through compassion.
Two Approaches to God: Pride vs. Humility
In Luke 18, Jesus presents a powerful contrast between two men approaching God. The Pharisee stands proudly before God, essentially congratulating himself: "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."
His prayer reveals a fundamental flaw in his relationship with God. He approaches the Almighty believing he has already earned divine favor through his moral achievements.
In stark contrast, the tax collector "would not even look up to heaven." Instead, "he beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'" This man recognizes his complete dependence on God's mercy. He makes no claims of moral superiority, offers no record of religious observance, and presents no credentials for divine approval. He simply pleads for mercy.
Jesus concludes with a striking reversal: "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."
What Does It Mean to Receive and Share Faith?
In the Epistle reading, St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he had previously proclaimed: "For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures."
Paul underscores a key aspect of Christianity—we are graced with salvation through faith, and faith is something we receive and then pass on to others. Paul didn't create the gospel; rather, he received it and shared it consistently. This process of receiving and sharing is at the heart of how we understand faith.
How Do Ancient Practices Connect Us to Our Faith?
The sacrament of baptism embodies this pattern of receiving and sharing faith. In baptism, we join in a rite that Christians have practiced since apostolic times. We receive a child into the continuous tradition of faith, grafting them into the body of Christ and committing ourselves to hand on to them "the faith once delivered to the saints."
Similarly, the churching of women—an ancient rite of thanksgiving for safe delivery in childbirth—links modern mothers with countless women throughout salvation history who have offered thanks for God's mercy in childbearing. While not a sacrament, this rite beautifully expresses our dependence on God's providence in one of the most fundamental human experiences.
How Does Resurrection Hope Shape Our Faith?
The prophet Isaiah offers a message of hope: "Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy." This anticipates the resurrection hope that finds its fulfillment in Christ's victory over death.
This resurrection theme connects powerfully with both baptism and childbirth. In baptism, as St. Paul teaches in Romans 6, "we are buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." The waters of baptism represent both death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ.
Childbirth itself carries theological significance as a journey through peril to new life. As Jesus teaches in John 16, "When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world."
How Should We Approach God in Prayer?
Like the tax collector rather than the Pharisee, we must approach God with humble acknowledgment of our dependence on grace, not with credentials of moral achievement. This posture of humility opens us to experience God's justifying power.
The Psalms reinforce this theme of divine deliverance: "If the Lord had not been on our side, then they would have swallowed us up alive." They express confidence in God's protection: "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever."
What Is Our Role in Passing on Faith?
We must recognize our place in the continuous stream of faith. Like St. Paul, we have received the Gospel, and we are called to hand it on faithfully. This applies particularly to parents and godparents who promise to raise children in the Christian faith, but it applies equally to all of us as members of Christ's body.
Our calling is to strengthen one another in this received faith, building up the body of Christ through mutual support and exhortation. Like Barnabas, the "Son of Encouragement," we are called to come alongside one another and encourage each other in the journey of faith.
Life Application
As we reflect on these sacred truths, here are three ways to apply them to our daily lives:
Embrace the paradox of divine power revealed in mercy. Approach God with humility, acknowledging your dependence on grace rather than your own achievements. Ask yourself: Am I more like the Pharisee or the tax collector in my prayers? Do I come to God listing my accomplishments or humbly seeking mercy?
Recognize your place in the continuous stream of faith. Consider how you are both receiving and passing on faith. Ask yourself: What spiritual truths have I received that I need to share with others? Who in my life needs encouragement in their faith journey?
Live in the hope of resurrection. Trust that God brings life from death in every circumstance. Ask yourself: Where do I need resurrection hope in my life right now? How can I encourage others who are walking through valleys of shadow?
Remember, we run the way of God's commandments not to earn divine favor, but because we've already received grace. Our obedience is a response to that grace, not a prerequisite for it. This week, let your actions flow from gratitude for God's mercy rather than attempts to earn His love.