The Humility and Grace of the Publican: Lessons from the Tridentine Mass
Summary of Headings
- Prayers for the Sick
- Epistle and Gospel of the Day
- The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
- The Lessons of Phariseeism
- The Purpose of Sunday and the Mass
- Humility and Participation in Mass
- Our Attitude Towards Mass
- The Sacrifice of Christ
- The Call for Humility
- Summary
Epistle and Gospel of the Day
The Epistle for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 12:
Brethren, you know that when you were heathens you went to dumb idols according as you were led, wherefore I give you to understand that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, saith anathema to Jesus and no man can say the Lord Jesus but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit and there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto profit. To one indeed by the Spirit is given the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit. To another the grace of healing, in one spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of speeches. But all of these things, one and the same Spirit, worketh dividing to every one according as he will.
And the Gospel? Let's take from the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 18:
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves as just and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray. The one was a Pharisee and the other a Republican. The Pharisee standing prayed thus with himself, O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican standing afar off, would not so much as lift his eyes towards heaven, but struck his breast, saying, O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I say to you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
Let's hear the Gospel. Please be seated. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. We have the grace to be able to contemplate this beautiful parable that our Lord gave, kind of explaining the spirit that we are supposed to have. But we can analyze it from just a very simple perspective. The Pharisee is a representation of those who materially, materially practiced the gospel. They practiced the faith perfectly. Every purification, every sacrifice, every offering. If you will, they were the liturgists of their time, making sure that they knew exactly what they were supposed to do for every ceremony. And they held everybody else accountable to it. They knew how to practice the faith, the fasting and the tithes and the like. He showed that he was truly a man of exterior faith, someone who lived his faith, at least externally. But the problem is he did not go justified from the temple, because when he went in, he didn't pray to God. He prayed with himself, as the scripture says. And his thanks to God, which of course we should give thanks to God for the good things in our lives, but his thanks to God are even those are self-serving. I give you thanks that I am not like the rest of men, that I am not all these things.
The Lessons of Phariseeism
So on the other hand, he was a man of exterior faith, and on the outside, he was a respected member of the community and a pious man who was completely unjustified when he went to the temple and went out of the temple. Whereas the publican was a public sinner. It was generally known that the publicans tended to take a certain percentage off the top of the taxes that they collected from the populace, that they tried to enrich themselves by stealing from the people, by augmenting the taxes instead of having to charge them a certain amount. They charged them a little more and kept the little extra for themselves. But on top of that, most commentators say that the accusations that the Pharisee throws at him of being an extortioner, unjust and adulterer, even as this publican, that comes about because that man, that publican, was all of those things. It was public knowledge that he was all of those things. So it wasn't just a false accusation, but the Pharisee, threw him down to be able to prop himself up more. And the Pharisee also called him out for legitimate sins. He was a sinner. And his sins are terrible. Fraud, adultery, these are horrible things. And just being unjust in general. But when he came to the temple, he knelt down humbly and he said, my Lord, God be merciful to me, a sinner. And he went away justified. Why is that? Because when he came in, he came in full of sin, and he poured himself out to God and he emptied himself before God. And God could therefore fill him up with himself, with God. Whereas the Pharisee was so full of himself that there's no more room for God in his soul. So when he left, he was, he came with the exact, he left with the exact same spirit with which he came, which was himself. Whereas the publican came in with the spirit of sin and left with the grace of God.
The Purpose of Sunday and the Mass
I've been preaching a little bit more frequently about Phariseeism being a constant plague in the history of the church. We know that even that for millennia, this heresy has been prevalent throughout our religion. And it takes all sorts of forms and Manichaeism and Jansenism, Albigensianism, um, Phariseeism, et cetera. All sorts of things form themselves to show off. If you will, our own virtue, but also our own virtue at the expense of those around us. This is something that is very common, unfortunately, and I'd like to break it down into the simplest possible way. And that is how do we go to church? Why do we go to church? Each and every one of us, when we walk in the doors with what spirit are we walking in? Are we following the example? The example of the Pharisee who walks in with himself and therefore leaves only with himself? Or do we walk in burdened with our sins and burdened with ourselves to empty ourselves of all of those things to be able to receive God in his fullness? Sundays are a day consecrated to God. They belong to him. They are his day. So therefore on this day, we are called to pay back everything that we have received. During the week, everything that we've received during our lives. We are supposed to give back to God. This is what the purpose of Sunday is. Sacrifice, adoration.
Humility and Participation in Mass
But unfortunately, being human, we cannot give God his due. We can only give our own little bit. But it's never enough because God is infinite. And what he has given us is from his infinite nature. And so therefore, what we can give him is nothing. Is our own little nothingness. That's it. So therefore, how is justice accomplished? Very simply, by God himself. This is the purpose of the Holy Mass. It is Christ's own sacrifice. He is God and so therefore his sacrifice is infinite. And therefore the gift that Christ gives to God the Father is infinite. Because it is an infinite sacrifice. And makes up for all of the faults of the world. And destroys the power of sin. Over all of us, at least potentially. And destroys the power of death over each and every one of us as we are invited to eternal life. So how do we enter into the church? Are we mindful of the gift that we have received? That we do not have to carry the burden of paying back God in unpayable debt. That we are able to actually just hand it all off to Christ. And let him, let him take care of it. Let him pay the price. Are we conscious that that is what is going on when we walk in the doors? Do we walk in the church grudgingly just knowing, well it's Sunday, got to go to church again. So therefore, well it's a low Mass today, that's good. It's only an hour. So hopefully Father's sermon doesn't go on too long. And then, well, you know, if there's not good food, at least there will be peanut butter afterwards. Is that how we come to Mass? Is that the way? Is that the way that we behave? Is that the way that we actually sit through Mass? Do we pay attention to what goes on? To the drama that is unfolding before our eyes? This is the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross before our eyes in an unbloody fashion. He is sacrificing himself, laying himself out, annihilating himself for our souls. For our souls. Our unworthy souls. We don't deserve that sacrifice, but yet he gives it. We have proved ourselves ungrateful time and again, and yet he continues to give. We lose ourselves in sin and pride and ambition and in our own little petty interests, time and again.
Our Attitude Towards Mass
We don't have to. We don't have to have the material perfection of the Pharisee to come in here and attend his Mass. He doesn't expect that. That was the error of the Jansenists. They demanded perfection before you could draw close to the sacraments. It doesn't work that way. Christ wants our sins. He wants our humanity. He wants our weakness. He wants our feebleness. He wants to take it all upon himself. And he wants to sacrifice it with himself. That's what he wants. But is that what we give him? Because a good part of that gift of ourselves to him requires humility. The humility of the publican. Be merciful to me, a sinner. Nothing else. The recognition of the need that we have for him. We need Christ. We need his grace. We need his sacrifice. And to even pretend otherwise is foolishness. To ignore that need is stupidity. We need him. And he is the only thing we need. And he gives himself to us in the most remarkable, simple, and humble way. On the cross in front of our eyes. That is how we should see the mass. When we come in here, that is what we must see.
The Sacrifice of Christ
But there is a second aspect to the Pharisee. And it is one of looking down upon. Separating oneself from everyone else. This is a particular temptation for traditional Catholics. And if I might say so, especially SSPXers. Because we have a tendency to think that we are set apart. And we are. In many aspects. But that doesn't mean we are better than anybody or anything. Or we have the right to judge, condemn, or criticize anybody else. And even within our own congregations. And yes, even within our own little chapel here. There is some of that looking down upon or distinguishing ourselves from other people. Because when we attend mass, so much of it is not how it is supposed to be. An act of adoration. An act of self-sacrifice in union with Christ. Participating in his sacrifice. But so much of it is a distracted, disjointed kind of prayer. Where we are trying to pray to God. And then all of a sudden, oh my goodness. Why do people let their children dress that way? Why do people behave this way in church? Oh, they didn't follow the rubrics. Whatever else may be. We just follow everybody else's actions and behaviors. The way they dress. The way of everything that they do throughout the mass. And like a Pharisee, we criticize. And in a certain sense, that spirit is the same. I give thee thanks that I am not like them. Thank you for not letting me be that ignorant, that barbaric, that whatever. Apply the adjective. And of course, it would be in a spirit of charity. Or at least, feigned charity. Help them. Save them from their ignorance. I should help them. I should take care of them. I should show them what a true traditional Catholic looks like. I can be materially perfect in the practice of my faith. And still lose entirely the point of the faith. I can be materially perfect in the practice of my faith. I can practice the mass perfectly. I can ritually follow it in its absolute form. And be perfect in its observance. On the exterior. And yet completely miss the point of the sacrifice of the mass.
The Call for Humility
And rather than do what the church wants us to do. And obliterate ourselves on the altar with Christ. Rather than do that. We still puff ourselves up. And let ourselves become more vain about how we are separate and distinct. How we are different from those around us. And it doesn't come out that way. But that's still the same spirit. And it's Pharisaism. So now how do we remedy this? We go back to what the mass is about. Why do we come here? We come here not just to be able to be seen. Not just to be able to fulfill our Sunday obligation on the material aspect. Check that little check box and that's it. But no. It is rather to transform ourselves. To go to confession. To relieve ourselves of our sins. To start fresh. Wipe the slate clean. So that we can actually make progress in our spiritual life. To make another attempt at virtue. To give God's grace another try this week. To come to mass. And to attend our Lord in his sacrifice. And not just attend. But through the invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. To actually participate in it. To be a part of it. We are supposed to lose ourselves in it. As the publican did. Be merciful to me a sinner. Just the recognition of his sin. He emptied himself of that sin. And he humbled himself before God. And before the Pharisee. To be able to receive the spirit of God. The love of God. That is how we must attend mass. The same way. The same emptying of ourselves. So that we can receive the entirety of God's infinite love. But that requires humility. And that's what we must work on during mass. The humility of seeing Christ humble himself before us. Christ could have saved the world in any way. His first breath could have saved the world. It could have been the ultimate redemptive act. A single drop of blood. He didn't even have to incarnate himself. But he chose to do that. And then he chose to die in a most shameful way. He chose to humble himself. The King of Kings. By being mocked with a crown of thorns. The all powerful subjecting himself to being chained. And to be whipped. And to be crucified. Held back with a nail. The hand that formed the universe. He chose to do all of this. Because he wanted us to understand the extremes of our sins. But also the extreme of his love for us. How much he was willing to do. To save our souls. And that is what we get to witness again and again at mass. And it's so easy to just make it by rote. It's so easy to just make it simple. Just like another day. Nothing else. Another Sunday. Each mass should have an infinite impact on us. Each mass should change us profoundly to the very core of who we are. Each mass. Each mass should make us saints. It doesn't. Not yet. But that should be the way. That should be how it works. But the way that's going to work is how much we give of ourselves during mass. We have to disappear into Christ. Why does the priest face away from the faithful? Because it's not the priest's mass. It's Christ's. The priest only works in the person. The person of Christ. He must disappear. There are stories of Padre Pio when he would turn around for the Dominion of Sondinios. People wouldn't recognize him. Even his face had transfigured. It was transformed to look more like Christ's. Because he had lost himself so completely in the mass. Saint Philip Neri couldn't say public mass after a while without having cats on the altar to distract himself. Because he would go into ecstasy immediately. He would lose himself so completely in the mass. You should be grateful you don't have a priest that holy. Those masses would be eternal. It's important that we understand that is how much we must lose ourselves in the mass. You, you are not priests. You don't have the benefit of offering the mass. But. You have the grace of being able to participate in the same sacrifice. To give yourself with Christ. There's a beautiful moment in the offertory where the priest blesses the water. First he pours the wine into the chalice. He doesn't bless the wine. Because the wine represents Christ and his blood. And because it is Christ it doesn't need a blessing. But then he takes the water and he blesses it. And he takes one drop and puts it into the chalice. And the water disappears and commingles with the wine. Why do we do that? That represents our own little contribution to the sacrifice. We are now a part of it. Only a drop. But a drop that disappears completely. And a drop that has to be blessed. Because we're just not that holy. But at the very least we're a part of it. And we disappear into it. When the priest offers the host during the offertory. That's the moment to put yourselves into the sacrifice. That's the moment to offer yourselves in union with Christ. Every word. Every action. Every thought. Every part of our being. Every breath. Every instant of our lives. We put that all on the patent. Past, present, future. Then when the priest offers the chalice. All of our intentions. Our family members. Those who are sick. Those who need help. Those who are most lost. Souls in purgatory. Whomever. We put them all in the chalice with our Lord. Because those objects. The host on the patent. And the wine in the chalice. Will soon be transubstantiated into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. And we will be part of it. Those intentions will be part of it. But only through our participation. And our generosity. And the pouring out of ourselves into them. So therefore that's what we must give. As absolutely and completely. As perfectly and as humbly. And recognizing the fact that we do not deserve this. This is not just simply another Sunday. This is something that is going to make us part and parcel with our Lord Jesus Christ himself. And so therefore we are bound to his chalice. And we will be charity. Because we will be recipients of it. If we empty ourselves out. We are filled by the charity of Christ. That charity which will sustain us throughout the week. Throughout all the interactions we have to do. Throughout all of the difficulties that we may have. And throughout every aspect of our lives. It will transform us. So that we can be truly kind. Truly polite. Generous. Considerate. All those secondary virtues that surround charity. And that we can actually have that possibility. Because we will be infused with the spirit of the love of Christ. Through his sacrifice. And we will be able to pursue his sacrifice every day. Live his sacrifice every day. And therefore be able to achieve eternal peace with our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Summary
This homily offers a profound reflection on the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, using it as a lens through which to view our approach to the Tridentine Mass. The speaker challenges the faithful to examine their internal disposition when attending Mass, asking whether they come with the humility of the publican or the self-righteousness of the Pharisee. Through a series of reflections, the homily emphasizes the importance of humility and the need to empty oneself to be filled with God's grace.
The homily also addresses the dangers of Phariseeism, warning against the tendency to judge or look down upon others within the community. It underscores the Mass as an opportunity for personal transformation, a chance to participate in the sacrifice of Christ and to let go of material perfection in favor of a genuine, humble offering of oneself. The faithful are encouraged to approach the Mass with the recognition of their need for Christ, to participate fully in the sacrifice, and to strive for humility to receive the infinite love and charity of God.