What is the problem for Jesus in today’s Gospel? In a nutshell: the Pharisee’s blind self-righteousness. Instead of trusting himself to God’s mercy, the Pharisee places his trust in his own perfection and uprightness.

Maybe we prefer things to be black or white: that Pharisees were always arrogant and tax collectors were all lovable scoundrels. But no. Jesus says it is all about their different attitudes toward God. One was self-assured that he could do no wrong; the other was so ashamed of his wrongdoing, he couldn’t raise his head, but he hoped for and relied on God’s mercy.

The truth is that we desperately need God, and that everything we have comes from God as a pure gift of love. Arrogance causes us to be ignorant of this truth. Instead of seeing the reality of the sinner we really are, we look down upon those who are not as correct, as polite, as smart, or as “good” as we think we are. Frankly, I wonder how God can stand us when we are being that way!

There is one way to cure our blindness, and that is to allow ourselves to become one in being with God and God’s creation. To be aware of God in this way is called contemplation. Contemplation is both a way to pray and a way of life. The Trappist monk Thomas Merton said that his prayer was very simple: it was centered entirely on the presence of God, God’s will, and God’s love. True contemplation allows us to get rid of our false self and begin to experience ourselves as belonging to God at the deepest level—along with all the rest of the creation. It is a humbling and exhilarating reality, far removed from any false arrogance.

PARISH MISSION: Special thanks to the Parish Mission Team who helped to make our week of mission so prayerful for all of us. The team members, under the leadership of our Pastoral Associate, Mary Swindal are: Michelle Ferry, Judy Grunwald, Bennett Lo, Judy Shock, Peter Skeel, and Susan Speer.

Congratulations to the following couples who are celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year:
William and Pamela Batz
Thomas and Diane Beaver
John and Roberta Biseda
Jerome and Marianne Buyny
Bobby and Katherine Chamberlain
Robert and Margaret Cimarolli
Larry and Beatrice Clink
David and Diane Dickson
Herman and Kay Dieckman
James and Susanne DiPiero
Patrick and Ruth Donahue
Gary and Debora Geis
James and Viginia Hawkins
John and Loretta Hogue
Thomas and Nancy Link
Atul and Marvis Maharaja
William and Carolanne McCaulsky
Daniel and Mary McIntyre
Joseph and Donna McMullen
Richard and Carol Miller
Mark and Carolyn Muretisch
Charles and Gail O'Hara
David and Lynn Regina
Remigio and Leila Sagana
Ronald and Carolyn Snyder
Jim and Peggy Wojcik