Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted

 

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

- Luke 18:9–14 

 

Yesterday we were given the "first day" of the beginning of Christ's ministry (in John's Gospel), the testimony of John the Baptist:  Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  And they asked him, "What then?  Are you Elijah?"  He said, "I am not."  "Are you the Prophet?"  And he answered, "No."  Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you say about yourself?"  He said:  "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  "Make straight the way of the LORD,"' as the prophet Isaiah said." Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.  And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.  It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."  These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

 

  Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."  Today we are given the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  In the West, it is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  For the Eastern Churches (the Orthodox) Lent began on Monday, coinciding with our start of reading John's Gospel (which will continue tomorrow).  For Ash Wednesday, the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is given as the first day of Lent.  The Pharisee is highly respected, and a careful observer of the details of the Law, my study Bible says.  By contrast, the tax collector is despised as a sinner.  This is a person who collaborates with the occupying Roman forces, betraying and cheating his own people.  

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'"  These practices of the Pharisee are worthy examples to follow, my study Bible tells us.  His good deeds (fasting and giving tithes) are the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed (adultery and extortion).  But without a humble and repentant heart, the outward practices are worthless.  With such a perspective, they lead to pride and judgment of others.  Note that Jesus says he prays with himself.  My study Bible comments that God is absent where there is boasting.  

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'"  The tax collector shows by his posture an awareness of the state of his soul, my study Bible comments.  He stands far away from the altar of sacrifice.  His eyes are cast downward.  His prayer, God, be merciful to me a sinner, is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer, as is also the refrain "Lord have mercy" that permeates worship and personal prayer.  

Today's reading highlights something we might repeatedly understand from our faith in different dimensions, and that is the aspect of paradox.  In a literal world based on appearances, things often seem to our perception to be black and white.  There's good and evil, right and wrong, the one thing we need to do and the other thing we don't do.  But today's reading gives us paradox:  the Pharisee is a highly praised public person, full of seeming virtue in all that we might "see" of him as reported here in his words.  He fasts regularly, he gives tithes, and he compares himself very favorably with this tax collector.  Tax collectors, to the Jews of the period, were notorious sinners who worked against their own people, often using the might of the Roman state to extort extra money for themselves.  It seems that we can all find that image and popular opinion understandable.  But Jesus does not give us black and white, good and bad.  God's judgment is far more discerning than that.  Moreover, in telling us this parable, Jesus asks us to go further than black and white and good and bad.  Jesus takes us to that place of discernment of deeper realities than what we see on the surface.  Jesus asks us to gain the insight that sometimes what we see is deceiving, because we need to see the heart.  When God sent Samuel the prophet to the home of Jesse to anoint a new king over Israel among his sons, the first looked to him likely candidate, while David the youngest was away tending sheep.  But God said of the first, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13).  The rest were rejected by God, until David the youngest was brought in.  So often, the truths of our faith are not found in proofs and what's visible to the eye, but rather in paradox.  The truth of the matter here in our parable is that this tax collector has the highest virtue, the one that is the gateway to all else: humility.   The Pharisee does not.  In fact, in this language that tells us that the Pharisee "prayed with himself" we can see a hint of the myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own image in a pool of water.  If all of our lives are about constructing some kind of image of ourselves for the eyes of others to admire, we're treading the same dangerous path.  Jesus perhaps reserves His worst criticisms for the Pharisees and scribes, in Matthew 23.  This is because of their hypocrisy, a way of life based purely upon one's own image in the eyes of the world.  In John's Gospel, John will tell us, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in [Jesus], but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43).  What Jesus praises as "justified" in the tax collector in today's story is his willingness to see himself in the eyes of God; that is, his humility.  For it's really the judgment of God that matters, and that's what the tax collector -- no doubt a sinner -- seeks in his prayer.  Just as the Cross seemed to be, in its surface image, the absolute worst thing that could happen, we know that it is the instrument of our salvation, and the moment of Christ's glorification.  Such is the element of paradox which returns again and again in our faith, for we can't see only with the eyes of the world and know the mind of God.  Sometimes even a great evil may serve the purpose of God.  We human beings need to learn through failure and experience -- and to persist in our faith.  That is, even under such circumstances, to put our trust in God.  Humility is the key virtue to all other virtues in the traditional perspective of our Church.  It is the most important thing to keep in mind as we go through Lent toward the Cross, and to Resurrection.

 

 

 

 

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted

 

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

- Luke 18:9–14 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus He a parable to His disciples (following a discussion of the time of His Second Coming), that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His wn elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

 

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."  My study Bible explains that the Pharisee is a highly respected and careful observer of the details of the Law, while the tax collector is despised as a sinner who collaborates with the occupying Roman forces, betraying and cheating his own people.

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'"  The practices that the Pharisee names are all worthy examples to follow, my study Bible notes.  His good deeds, such as fasting and giving tithes, are the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed (adultery and extortion).  But without a humble and repentant heart, such practices remain worthless, and they lead to pride and judgment of others.  We note that the text tells us he prays with himself.  My study Bible comments that God is absent where there is boasting.  

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'"  The tax collector shows by his posture an awareness of the state of his soul, my study Bible says, as he stands far from the altar of sacrifice and with his eyes cast downward.  His prayer (God, be merciful to me a sinner) is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer (about which we wrote in connection with yesterday's reading, and Christ's teaching to pray always and not lose heart -- see yesterday's reading, above), as well as the refrain "Lord have mercy" that permeates worship and personal prayer.  See also St. Paul's teaching (another inspiration for the Jesus Prayer practice) on continual prayer at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  To be justified is to be forgiven and set right with God.  My study Bible comments that this is because inward humility is blessed while pride in outward deeds is condemned.  

My study Bible emphasizes the difference between the inner life and the outer life, and twice comments that God in some sense does not approve of an emphasis on the latter.  It notes first on the text that "God is absent where there is boasting," and secondly that "inward humility is blessed while pride in outward deeds is condemned."  How can we reconcile our faith with this emphasis on the inner life, and a seeming disparaging of the outward?  What seems to be difficult to reconcile may find its answer in Christ's teachings we've encountered recently.  First of all, in Thursday's reading, the Pharisees questioned Jesus as to when the kingdom of God would come.  Jesus replied to them,  "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." This emphasis on the inner life seems to be because that is where we participate in the kingdom of God.  That is where we meet God, and where our prayers are said and met.  It is the place where everything that we are may meet God in encounter, or so it seems that Christ is indicating here.  The other place where we might find an answer to this seeming contradiction of the inner and the outer life is in Jesus' command regarding our own anxieties and worries about the outward, material things we need:  "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you" (Luke 12:31; see in context).  In the parable that Jesus teaches us in today's reading, the praise for the tax collector is not so much in his honesty as it seems to be in his awareness of himself -- and especially in the place where he is aware that he is meeting God, and that all that he is inside is meeting God.  There is no appearance that can fool God or deceive God by outward display.  We might say that, in contrast to the Pharisee who "prayed with himself," the tax collector is truly praying with God.  He is meeting God in the Kingdom where he knows he's coming up short, and asks for God's mercy.  Let's also understand that to ask for God's mercy is to acknowledge it in the first place.  I would wonder how we would ask for mercy if we were not at least a little secure in knowing that we were praying to One who is merciful in the first place.  It takes trust to do that; and trust in God is, essentially, faith in God.  It is possibly the Pharisee who is, in fact, more afraid of the judgment of God -- since he first of all seemingly avoids God by praying "with himself" only, and relies upon all the outward images to impress God, without truly revealing himself and seeking where God might lead him forward into new things he has not yet addressed in his life, a way to deepen his faith and love of God.  These things are seemingly complex, because the inward life is a complex place, but our encounter with God is one that teaches us love and growing depth of the heart, a place where knowing means this reconciliation to God.  There are all kinds of places in Scripture where we're taught that God doesn't look at the outside, doesn't see the way that we see, such as when Samuel the prophet was summoned to anoint a king of Israel.  Before him was a splendid looking son of Jesse of Bethlehem, to whom he was sent by God.  But Samuel was told, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we read, "'My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8).  We must consider these examples, and think hard about the tax collector and the Pharisee.  For the Pharisee would be seen in public as a great example of piety, while the tax collector would appear a notorious sinner to those to whom Jesus was preaching.  Let us once again consider the state of our own hearts, how open we are to God and God's mercy, and where we encounter the place of the Kingdom and our prayers to the Lord, "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  It is the Lord who sees and measures, and whose judgment we need to seek.

 

 

 

 

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted

 

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

- Luke 18:9–14 

 

Yesterday we read that, after the discussion about His Second Coming and the end times, Jesus spoke a parable to the disciples, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was in a certain city who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

 

  Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."  My study bible calls the Pharisee a highly respected and careful observer of the details of the Law.  On the other hand, the tax collector is despised as a sinner, who collaborates with the occupying Roman forces, thus betraying and cheating his own people.  

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' "  The practices of the Pharisee are all nominally good, and worthy examples to follow, as my study bible puts it.  His good deeds named here (fasting and giving tithes) are the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed (adultery and extortion).  But without a humble and repentant heart, these outward practices are worthless, leading to pride and judgment of others.  My study bible asks us also to note that the Pharisee prays with himself, in the specific language of the text, "for God is absent where there is boasting."

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' "  What does the posture of the tax collector show to us?  My study bible answers that question by telling us that we can see he has an awareness of the state of his soul.  He stands far from the altar of sacrifice, and his eyes are cast downward.  This prayer that he prays, God, be merciful to me a sinner, is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer, a practice designed to follow St. Paul's admonition (and Jesus' frequent instruction regarding prayer) to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  So is the refrain, "Lord have mercy," which permeates both corporate worship and personal prayer throughout the centuries.

 

"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  To be justified, my study bible explains, means to be forgiven and set right with God, for inward humility is blessed, while pride in outward deeds is condemned.  

Nowhere else, perhaps, is the illustration more stark than here in Christ's parable, that "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  The Pharisee is in every way perfect and good as described by himself, and in his external appearances to the world.  He follows every rule of the Law and is careful to abide by them.  He does all the good religious practices, which are still considered to be good and virtuous in the Church.  So where does he go wrong?  It is entirely interesting that the text tells us that the words of Jesus say "he prayed thus with himself."  And therein, as wise patristic commenters have said through the centuries, is the key to the entire text.  This man is justified in his own eyes, but what about the sight of God?  It is, in fact, in prayer where we are to meet with God, and not simply to pray with ourselves alone.  The tax collector not only is self-aware, and completely honest with himself and God about his sin, but he also carries within himself the full acknowledgement that he has come before God in prayer, and is not simply praying only "with himself" present to him.  Here is the essence of what it is to be humble, and precisely why there is value in humility -- because humility is first of all before God.  We allow ourselves to be humble before God, to accept God's will before our own, to keep our hearts open to the possibility that there is a better way in which we could be serving God, something outside of whatever it is we already understand.  In recent readings, Jesus has also taught that we are to be good and faithful servants, not only simply doing what we know, but ready for the new commands that may come our way, to truly fulfill the devotion of disciples (see this reading).   So although the tax collector in today's parable is inarguably a sinner, he is -- by contrast to the perfect and good Pharisee -- also praying in God's presence, in acute awareness of his own shortcomings.  What stands out for us is just the presence of God included in the act of prayer, and this makes all the change.  When we think about humility, it is usually a concern about whether or not we are sufficient humble before other human beings.  But the reality, as illustrated in this parable, is actually quite different.  Our humility is first and foremost before God, and it is that kind of humility that enables right-relatedness with other human beings.  The Pharisee has justified himself before human beings, and not before God, therefore he is capable only of comparing himself to the tax collector.  But the tax collector minds his own business, in spiritual terms, something important enough to be included in the Gospels, such as in this reading from the end of John's Gospel (John 21:20-22).   Therefore, in spiritual terms of our relationship to God, he is more wise than the Pharisee, because what he practices in his prayer is putting God first before all else, and not paying attention to what it is that others (like the Pharisee) are doing.  His prayer is between himself and God -- but let us note that this does not fail to take in his sinful actions that affect other people.  Let us remember that it is not so much his confession as it is the humility and total honesty before God that make that confession possible, which lead to his justification by God.  It is there in that communion that we are saved, and all the good works and good appearances and applause of the world cannot change that if it does not already exist within our prayer and our deep desire for God.  How much would the Pharisee be willing to change about his perfect life, do you think?  What about the tax collector?  Which one do you think is truly open to God in his heart?

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted

 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

- Luke 18:9-14

Yesterday we read that Jesus spoke a parable to His disciples, after His teaching on His Return, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:  "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."  Jesus sets a new parable with two men who are quite different from one another.  The Pharisee is a highly respected and careful observer of the details of the Law, says my study bible, while the tax collector is despised as a sinner who collaborates with the occupying Roman forces, a person who betrays and cheats his own people. 

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'" We note that all of these things the Pharisee does are good (that is, fasting and tithing).  My study bible calls them the primary weapons against the passions of lust and greed (adultery and extortion).  But, without humility and repentance in the heart of a person, outward practices are worthless.  Here they lead to pride and judgment of others in the example Jesus gives us.  We should also note that Christ tells us the Pharisee prays with himself, for, as my study bible puts it, "God is absent where there is boasting."

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'"  Jesus gives us a description of the tax collector, an image of humility before God, with an awareness of the state of his own soul -- he stands far from the altar of sacrifice with eyes cast downward.  The prayer he prays is the foundation of the Jesus Prayer, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner," which has become Christian practice for centuries.  His refrain, "Lord have mercy" permeates liturgical worship and personal prayer everywhere.

"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  To be justified, my study bible tells us, means to be forgiven and set right with God.  The tax collector is, in other words, shown to be righteous before God, upright.  Inward humility, as Jesus often teaches, is blessed, while pride in outward deeds is condemned.  This is the most basic criticism Jesus repeatedly makes of the Pharisees.

 This parable is clearly about judgment, especially as it follows yesterday's story about the widow who, through persistent prayer, got the judge to hear her case, and also Jesus' teachings on the time of the End, or His Second Coming, and Judgment.  While the widow was one put upon and shunned and done injustice to, here we have the tax collector, one who is nominally a sinner.  A tax collector would have been someone with material power, and the backing of the Roman Army for his trade or livelihood.  Tax collectors could be extremely unfair, routinely charging more taxes than were owed in order to make extra money for themselves.  As the Pharisee indicates, it was perhaps widely observed that such men could easily be extortioners, unjust, and adulterers.  Let us note that in the language of the Pharisee, the tax collector by reputation comes below all these, as the Pharisee adds, "Or even as this tax collector" to that already disdainful list!  So we're given to understand that this tax collector is truly a person disliked and looked down upon in community; he's not an innocent, like the widow in yesterday's reading.  But the story of the tax collector is one of incredible insight and value to all of us, because Jesus places a kind of honest self-knowledge and acknowledgment of our own flaws as the centerpiece of justification; that is, to be viewed as righteous in the eyes of God.   This stands legalism and perfectionism on its head, and gives us a way to understand the role humility has to play in our lives.  It really doesn't matter whether one is an exalted Pharisee or a disdained tax collector, the requirements of God are a humble heart -- and in Jesus' hands, the parable He teaches becomes one of absolute and uncompromising fidelity to the truth of our own state.  It is the same as He teaches when He says we must look to the plank in our own eye before we can help anyone else with a speck in theirs (Matthew 7:3-5).  In this time in which we await His return, this is right where our focus needs to be.  The tax collector is not justified here because he criticizes himself or has some overly negative view of himself.    It is humility and an honest gaze at his own spiritual state that justifies him.  Let's also note that he doesn't proclaim his sinfulness to all and sundry, nor does he make a show before God of what a miserable specimen he is in order to gain some sort of favor by grovelling, as if to worldly autocrat.  If we think that, we've missed the point entirely.  He knows that God knows him fully already.  God's gaze is clearly felt by him.  And here is another important insight from the parable:  the tax collector completely and totally trusts God.  Moreover, and every bit as important (especially in light of the contrast with the Pharisee), he does not "talk with himself."  He is in dialogue with God.  To ask for God's mercy is to be dependent upon God, to seek the relationship of faith.  Furthermore, by his actions we see that judgment is clearly of God, not of ourselves -- be that judgment negative or positive.   All in all, with all these factors taken into consideration, he is a model of prayer, and prayer is what Christ calls us to, especially at this time between His Resurrection and His Second Coming.  He stands as our example of what we are to be about and how we are effectively to pray.