It’s my thought that the gospel of today will not be easily understood unless we keep in mind what the first reading teaches us of the justice of God. God is just, says Ben Sira, not because he grants each person what that person deserves, but because he saves the poor and listens to the cry of the miserable and defenseless. The gospel is telling us that God has this same attitude: he is moved by the publican who only presents his miseries and sins. Also, the second reading could be seen in this light. Paul is saying that one day he will receive from God the ‘’crown’’ that he, the just judge, will give to all those who have spent their lives for the sake of the Gospel. He is expecting it as a gift, not as a prize due to him. Most of times people are inclined to form groups, to split up into classes scorning each other. These groups may be based on culture or education, on wealth, on age, on sympathies. We notice how the beautiful like to stay with the beautiful, the rich like to be with the rich, republicans with republicans, democrats with democrats and the like. But do you know what is the worst separation? The one dividing people into upright and sinners, into those who have merits and those who have no merit. The Pharisee is trying to enlist God into the group of the upright, wants him to be a Pharisee, a ‘’separated’’ one. But God does not accept this. If he must take side, he prefers to be on the side of the sinner! And he finishes his parable with this phrase, ‘’Everyone who raises himself will be humbled, but anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.’’ Seems to tell us that God finds his amusement in irritating those who behave better than others. It is not so. ‘’Everyone who raises himself’’ is not addressed to the proud ones but to those who put their trust in their merits. Such a person, if he doesn’t want to be empty-handed in front of God, must accept to become like a little child, like a poor person and a debtor. Once he has this attitude he can be filled up with gifts by the Lord, as it happened to Mary, the poor and humble servant in whom the Almighty has done great things.