But the bad news for this apostate who promotes the heresy of religious indifference is that in this parable Jesus condemned the hardness of the proud Jews who rejected their own Messiah.
BEDE. Typically, the Pharisee is the Jewish people, who boast of their ornaments because of the righteousness of the law; but the Publican is the Gentiles, who being at a distance from God confess their sins. Of whom the one for His pride returned humbled, the other for his contrition was thought worthy to draw near and be exalted.
Jesus also condemns the sin of pride that characterizes homosexuals.
Pope Saint Pius X: "The Church alone, being the Bride of Christ and having all things in common with her Divine Spouse, is the depository of the Truth."
As members of His Kingdom, every Catholic most assuredly possesses the whole truth “which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers” (St. Athanasius, Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1, 28).
Saint Luke 18:9–14
Augustine. (Serm. 115.) Since faith is not a gift of the proud but of the humble, our Lord proceeds to add a parable concerning humility and against pride.
GREEK EXPOSITOR. (Asterius.) To be diligent in prayer was the lesson taught by our Lord in the parable of the widow and the judge, He now instructs us how we should direct our prayers to Him, in order that our prayers may not be fruitless. The Pharisee was condemned because he prayed heedlessly. As it follows, The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself.
THEOPHYLACT. It is said “standing,” to denote his haughty temper. For his very posture betokens his extreme pride.
BASIL. (ubi sup.) The difference between the proud man and the scorner is in the outward form alone. The one is engaged in reviling others, the other in presumptuously extolling himself.
AUGUSTINE. If you look into his words, you will find that he asked nothing of God. He goes up indeed to pray, but instead of asking God, praises himself, and even insults him that asked. The Publican, on the other hand, driven by his stricken conscience afar off, is by his piety brought near.
God forgives only those who repent and do penance, nor those who are proud of their vices.
AUGUSTINE. (Serm. 115.) Why then marvel ye, whether God pardons, since He himself acknowledges it. The Publican stood afar off, yet drew near to God. And the Lord was nigh unto him, and heard him, For the Lord is on high, yet hath he regard to the lowly. He lifted not so much as his eyes to heaven; that he might be looked upon, he looked not himself. Conscience weighed him down, hope raised him up, he smote his own breast, he exacted judgment upon himself. Therefore did the Lord spare the penitent. Thou hast heard the accusation of the proud, thou hast heard the humble confession of the accused. Hear now the sentence of the Judge; Verily I say unto you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.
CHRYSOSTOM. (de Inc. Dei Nat. Hom. 5.) ... And He then goes on to assign the reason of His sentence. For every one who exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (in Ps. 142). The word humility has various meanings. There is the humility of virtue, as, A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Ps. 51:17.) There is also a humility arising from sorrows, as, He has humbled my life upon the earth. (Ps. 142:3.) There is a humility derived from sin, and the pride and insatiability of riches. For can any thing be more low and debased than those who grovel in riches and power, and count them great things?
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
CHRYSOSTOM. The Lord had charged the Scribes and Pharisees with harshness and neglect; He now brings forward their vain-glory, which made them depart from God.
REMIGIUS. Which means that every one who thinks highly of his own deserts, shall be humbled before God; and every one who humbles himself concerning his good deeds, shall be exalted with God.
The Gospel of Saint John 1:
11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
BEDE. It should be understood that in holy Scripture, blood in the plural number, has the signification of sin: thus in the Psalms Deliver me from blood-guiltinessp. (Ps. 51:14).
BEDE. The carnal birth of men derives its origin from the embrace of wedlock, but the spiritual is dispensed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Saint John Chrysostom
The Jews when be forgiven neither by circumcision nor by other deeds, but only by Baptism
“For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Rom 11:27). Not when they are circumcised, not when they sacrifice, not when they do the other deeds of the Law, but when they attain to the forgiveness of sins. If then this hath been promised, but has never yet happened in their case, nor have they ever enjoyed the remission of sins by baptism, certainly it will come to pass. Hence he proceeds, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom 11:29). (Saint John Chrysostom, Homily XIX, Letter to the Romans, no. 6)
Council of Florence (Ecumenical XVII)
-The legalities of the Law of Moses may not be observed without the loss of eternal salvation.
-The legalities of the Law of Moses may not be observed without the loss of eternal salvation.
Benedict XIV
-The observance of the annulled ceremonies of the Mosaic Law constitutes a sin.
Council of Florence (XVII Ecumenical)
-No one living outside the Catholic Church, not even the Jews, can participate in eternal life.
-The observance of the annulled ceremonies of the Mosaic Law constitutes a sin.
Council of Florence (XVII Ecumenical)
-No one living outside the Catholic Church, not even the Jews, can participate in eternal life.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
God the Father does not accept the service of those who do not worship the Son
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