Why Jesus condemns the self-righteous

Once a Japanese tourist was riding a taxi car around Manila. He said: "This is Toyota...Made in Japan. Very fast." Seeing a car pass by, he remarked: "Ah, that's Mitsubishi... Made in Japan. Very fast.

- FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD

Reaching his destination, the Japanese was flabbergasted to see the high taxi fare. The driver said, tapping the meter: "Taxi meter made in Japan. Very fast!"

The boasting Japanese might well sound like the Pharisee in this 30th Sunday's gospel. Hence, Jesus says, "He who exalts himself shall be humbled."

In Christ's parable, the self-righteous Pharisee thanks God, "I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, nor even like this tax collector." He goes on to remind God that he religiously goes to church, pays tithes, fasts twice a week and prays.

The tax collector, on the other hand, stood timidly on a dark corner at the back, beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (Lk 18, 13).

It was this tax collector, this self-accused sinner, Jesus said, who "went down to his house justified rather than the other."

What was terribly wrong was the Pharisee's whole attitude. By boasting to God of his merits, he patted himself on his back.