Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14

In Psalm 51 we learn that God desires a humble and contrite heart rather than sacrifices offered in the Temple.  The prophet Micah states that to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God is the path of authentic religion, not the offering of sacrifices.  Throughout the Old Testament we find this same sentiment repeated again and again.  Yet, the religion of sacrifices continues unabated, it being easier than the path of authentic religion.  

In today's Gospel portion we see the tax collector model the authentic path, standing in the court of the Gentiles begging for God's mercy.  By contrast we find the false religious path in the Pharisee who offers no prayer at all, vainly standing before the holy of holies.  His prayer is to look down upon others, smugly praising his sacrifices and obedience to the minor aspects of law that do not involve interaction with other human beings.  

The false religion of the Pharisee is political religion of our time: thank God I'm not a Democrat; thank God I'm not a Republican.  But the way of authentic religion is to acknowledge our own sin, to seek God's mercy, and to extend mercy to other people.  The way of authentic religion is the way Jesus taught and modeled in his own life.  Lent is our time to return to the authentic way of mercy, and to set aside the path of false religion of self-righteousness.