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Bonaventure’s Commentary on Luke’s Gospel Thirty Days of Reflection and Prayer 50 Day Twenty-two: Read and meditate on Luke 18:9-14 Luke 18:14: “I tell you that this man went home justified rather than the other.” Bonaventure tells us: Now although both the Pharisee and the Publican traveled to the same place, their ways of life were exceedingly different. And so the text continues: The one a Pharisee, the other a publican because of their dissimilar ways of life. So the Pharisee was apparently just since the Pharisees were said to be distinct from others by their dress, bearing, and ritual observances as the principal observers of the Law. Acts 26:4-5 states of Paul: “All the Jews know my life from my youth…. They have long known me if only they are willing to give witness that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.” On the other side the publican was obviously evil, because publicans were said to be the exactors of the public taxes as has often been commented upon. So Luke 15:1-2 above states: “Now the publicans and sinners were drawing near to Jesus to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring,” etc. So while there is a big difference between the Pharisee and the publican with regard to appearance, there is also a big difference with regard to reality. The Pharisee was bringing about the collapse of his justice through arrogance, and the publican was cleansing himself of injustice through repentance. So it is said to the Pharisees in Matthew 21:31: “The publicans and the harlots are entering the kingdom of God before you.” Now this is said to the Pharisees not because they appeared to be good, but because their minds were proud. For this reason it is said in Luke 16:15 above: “You are the ones who declare yourselves just in the sight of men and women, but God knows your heart. For that which is exalted in the sight of men and women is an abomination before God.” 51 Reflection In his Gospel Luke gives pride of place to prayer and people of prayer. Mary prays her Magnificat. Zechariah praises God in his Benedictus. Simeon utters his Nunc Dimittis. Once Simeon’s off the scene, Luke introduces us to holy Anna, who “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer.” At his baptism Jesus is praying. In 11:113 Luke describes Jesus at prayer, teaching his disciples The Our Father, and giving further instructions on prayer. Jesus prays at the Last Supper and on the Mount of Olives. His final words are “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Luke begins his Gospel with prayer in the Temple and concludes it with this notice: and the disciples “were continually in the temple praising God.” Indeed, Luke has much to say about prayer. The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is preceded by the parable of the Boxer Widow. The unjust judge fears that she will come and give him a black eye if he doesn’t accede to her entreaties. Luke introduces the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican with the words: “Jesus then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” Bonaventure knows that genuine humility is an intimate bedfellow of poverty. Arrogance and self-exaltation have no place in God’s kingdom which was established when Christ, who was rich, became poor for our sakes that he might enrich us by his poverty. Prayer Gracious and loving God, help me to pray. Help me to see myself as I truly am: your child, created in your image, but also a sinner. Help me to regard my fellow human beings as your children and not disdain them because they don’t look like me or act like me. ...

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