Mr Tax Collector aka. Outsider

University has started, it has been two weeks now Im a little behind in the blogging sorry. 

I thought that maybe I’ll give you a little insight, in a very basic way, into the course. This semester we (the Sisters and I) have choose to do Foundations in Pastoral Practice. 

The main question put forward to break open is 

Where do we begin on a theological and psychosocial 

journey where the aim is to explore Pastoral Practice?

Apart of the answer is - Take on a particular mind -

(supported by Philippians 2:1-11; James2:14-18) 

The other day while sitting in class listening to the complexity of human nature, with all its layers and faces of humanity. My ears pricked up when I heard mention - 

PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE & THE TAX COLLECTOR. 

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, 

went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” Luke 18:9-14

When I first heard this, I often have the thought of wondering how the Pharisees could so easy judge when someone coming to pray and offer their lives to the Lord. Today though, I look at this slightly different, starting to feel my way through the question of what is the backgrounds that bleeds through into action within this parable?

Roman people were very vindictive in their time, to gain control using employment of certain Jewish people to essentially do their ‘dirty laundry’, by becoming tax collectors. Simple action that seems very beneficial on the surface, gaining employment ensuring income for the family. However the Romans have used this method to create “outsiders” within Jewish community. Jewish people live under law, they obey, share spaces as a community meaning there is no real sense of self outside the context of the community or family. 

The Romans created this role, in society seen as a vilest man, viewed as traitors, conspirators with Rome, Jewish tax collectors were public enemies. With these men deciding to work for Rome and collect taxes from their conquered countrymen to give to the nation that had overcome them. Their actions were that of counter culture, essentially going against everything their community valued and taught them. Taking on this role, they became outsiders, with no opportunity to go back, once an outside always isolated. They were rich, well off men, with beautiful homes and plenty to eat. But often with no one genuinely to share their table with. 

Sinners. Shamed. Resented. Outsiders. Deserters. Tax Collectors. 

It is easy to stand and judge this man, the first time I actually thought in detail about the tax collector I too judged, just as Jesus audience would had.
Essentially this man was free to come into the temple, but I’m not sure anyone would have expected him to, after all this man is presumed to turn his back on their culture and dignity. 

As he prayed and beat his chest in anguish and in private confession, begged for MERCY and FORGIVENESS, he became my fellow man. He could be me!! 

Would he leave the temple only to continue to life a life of ‘disgrace’? Action wise, yes he will continue doing what he had to do - collecting taxes - 

Yet his prayer and connection with the Divine see a change in the man? We are not told, yet I fully belief this is a very powerful example of RADICAL MERCY.
As the Pharisee in his own way was diminishing his act of surrender, judging it, deeming it unworthy purely because of who the tax collector was = this is the Pharisees downfall. Not that he could keep the law and live righteously, but that he judged a man who did not live the same as he! 

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. 

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus places the emphasis of his story on the humble heart, not the righteous life. The tax collector let the temple right with God, not because he lived perfectly, but because he wasn’t comparing his life with anyone else. He just wanted to connect with God. The Pharisee did live a life that pleased God. He was obedient, surrendered and disciplined… but in his righteousness he compared himself to others and deemed himself more worthy of God’s approval. This for me always rises a question of what type of God did the Pharisee believe in? What type of God was he giving his heart to? Or was he? 

Perhaps there is grace and room in the Lord Kingdom for both the saint and sinner, the righteous and downcast, the arrogant and surrendered. I am no judge of this, only the Lord can. Perhaps humility can work its way into any heart. The trick, as always, is not to judge, nor take sides rather remain humble and open to the divine. 

Human condition is so complex, many layers build upon another, however when people come across the condition of MERCY, this is always given. Praise the Lord for this. 

As you can see, this course is going to be interesting... a lot of layers to break open and depth to travel. It is building the foundations on a theology, physiology, spiritual and biological structure. Its week two, and already very challenging on some aspects. Im thankful that I can see through the terminology and identify with our charism what has already been gifted to me and enforced not only by the Sisters yet by Gospel values and mine inner beliefs in self too.