King David “The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity greedy, dishonest, adulterous or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week…But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed,O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Lk 18, 11-14
Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom.
Ps 51,8
Attributed to King David, this penitential psalm asks for forgiveness after David’s affair with Bathsheba. David recognized his sinfulness and offered his broken heart, asking God to wash away his guilt and to allow him to remain in the Divine Presence.
Recognition of personal sins and brokenness need not bring despair, but can allow one to open his heart and accept God’s mercy and Grace.
The Pharisee in the gospel reading presents a heart very different from that of David. The Pharisee’s heart was full of himself, prideful and arrogant. He saw no need for God’s forgiveness. He was thankful not for God’s mercy, but for his own excellence.
A heart filled with self has little room for God. It has little chance of growing in wisdom.
Lent is long. Perhaps we have not been as faithful to our chosen disciplines as we intended to be four weeks ago. Maybe Lent has made us more aware of where we fail. We may be tempted to become discouraged, to give up.
David’s example teaches us to do otherwise. Even one anointed king to lead God’s people falls. He does not give up, but remembers God’s faithfulness and asks to cleansed from his sin, to be made whiter than snow.
He trusted God’s infinite love. We can, too. God desires not perfect hearts, but humble ones, ones with room for Grace to enter.
© 2011 Mary van Balen
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