I absolutely LOVE the play and the movie Godspell. A great evening for Elise and I would be watching Godspell and Fiddler On the Roof back to back. For those of you who don’t know, Godspell the movie was released in 1973. It takes the story of the Gospel from Matthew and tells it from the perspective of what only can be described as a collection of hippies. Those who dropped out of their mostly corporate lives, shed all material responsibilities to follow the Jesus character in the story. They wander about New York City in various locales while acting out the story of Jesus’ life from the calling of the apostles to His passion and resurrection. The music is inspiring and the scenes take Jesus’ lessons, as told by Matthew, and tell them in a very off beat manner.
One of the scenes comes from today’s story of the tax collector and the Pharisee from the Gospel of Luke. But from Matthew. Thought you might enjoy a little taste of a great movie:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032622.cfm
Jesus finishes the parable with the following quote:
“…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
I was trying to come up with a way of demonstrating this concept of self-righteousness vs humility. One of the commentaries I read hinted at the contrast between the Pharisees’ prayer and the one that Jesus taught His apostle…The Lord’s Prayer. So I thought maybe a closer comparison might be warranted. Here is the exhortation from the Pharisee from today’s Gospel:
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, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ (Luke 18:11-12)
In it, the Pharisee is clearly “telling” God what HE has done to earn his way into God’s graces. HE fasts twice per week and HE pays tithes. He excludes himself from the ranks of sinners. He has achieved perfection in his own eyes and therefore has little need for God. In a sense he has wrapped himself in impenetrable armor that he believes will ensure his survival from the influences of the world. Essentially telling God, “I got this. So, thanks, but no thanks.”
In contrast, we have the words of the Lord’s Prayer…The Our Father:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
It begins with “Our Father who art in heaven“. Already establishing an understanding of an intimate relationship with God and the hosts in heaven. It then proceeds to 3 Petitions to God. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” – Praise and recognize God as Holy and we honor Him in all we do. Then “Thy Kingdom Come” – Asking God to be among us at mass and in all we do each day. And the third of the three God Petitions, “Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven” – What is God’s will for me each day, and being open to it. As opposed to wanting what I want when I want it…which is the definition of sin.
Then we put ourselves in a position to ask God. Intercessions. There are 4 of them in the Our Father.
“Give us this day our daily bread” – When the Israelites were in desert, and receiving manna, they could not collect extra manna each day to have saved for the next day. They needed to trust that God would supply it for them each new day. And that is what we are saying here in the prayer. We trust you Lord to give us each day what we need. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” – Lord help me to see this person in front of me as You see them and treat them as you would. To forgive and to love. “And lead us not into temptation” – God is not a tempter but we are asking him to supply us with the grace to recognize tempting situations…the near occasion of sin. “But deliver us from evil” – give us the strength to survive the trial and be purified as was Christ in the desert.
There is a line that I have heard, though I cannot remember who said it. It goes something like, “Empty myself so that I can have room for you“. If we focus on ourselves only, and making time only for our own pursuits, then there is little time and little room for God. Do we start the day concerned about what we will eat for breakfast, then how I will get to work, then what projects I need to work on? What were the scores of the games yesterday? Discussing the latest TV shows with co-workers. Listening to pop music on the car radio going home. Dinner, more TV and bed. Is this the typical day? Where does God fit in? Is there time to read scripture? To listen to Relevant Radio in the car? To talk about the homily you heard at mass while at work? To talk to God during the day?
The Tax Collector was asking for Thy Will to Be Done. While for the Pharisee it was, My Will Be Done. We should all remember “Day by Day” that “All Good Gifts” come from heaven above as long as we keep the Lord “By My Side“. And if we acknowledge that we are sinners before the Lord, as did the tax collector, then we should “Turn Back O Man“. Really love that movie. 🙂
