God does not have favourites

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Being the youngest boy in a Chinese family comes with a certain stereotype. In Cantonese “lai chye” implies that the youngest boy is being (permanently) tied to the apron string of his mother. In other words, the youngest is thought of as the one most pampered of the lot. I beg to differ. I often believed that my eldest brother was the most favoured child of my parents. “Favouritism” is generally defined as giving preferential or unfair treatment to an individual or one group at the expense of another. I believe that many of us have similar negative experiences, whether this happens in the family, at school, in the workplace or even in Church. Our elders, our teachers, our superiors and even our priests (or bishops in the case of priests) are often accused of having favourites, especially when we feel that we are the un-favoured one.

So, does God have favourites? The first reading assures us that “the Lord is a judge who is no respecter of personages.” But then Sirach goes on to state that God “shows no respect of personages to the detriment of a poor man, He listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication, nor the widow’s as she pours out her story.” From what Sirach has been saying, God does seem to have favourites – He seems to show favour to the poor, the orphaned, the injured party, and the widow. How do we make sense of this?

A distinction must be made between “favouritism” and “favour.” Although God does not show favouritism, He does show favour. “Favour” here means approval of something or an act of kindness beyond what is due. It is a pure act of generosity to those who are undeserving, to those who have not earned it through their own merit. Our Lord Jesus Christ was preeminent in enjoying the Father’s favour. We hear the Father expressing His special favour during the baptism of the Lord at the River Jordan, and later at the Transfiguration. The three apostles who were present were favoured with this revelation, whilst others were not. Likewise, though our Lord often spoke in parables, He favoured His own intimate inner circle by unpacking the mysteries hidden within these stories for them. God clearly grants certain people with His favour throughout the Bible. But, again, God's favour is not the same as human favouritism.

Human favouritism usually includes better treatment, decreased responsibility, and a higher social standing. It is given to those who have not earned it (meritocracy), or simply by virtue of their close ties with the giver (nepotism and cronyism). This is the world's definition of favouritism. However, having God’s favour does not result in an easy life. Often it includes increased demands and even challenges; it requires great responsibility, and ultimately, those who enjoy God's favour, must be prepared to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary, was greeted by the angel Gabriel with these words: “Greetings, O so “highly favoured” one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). We don't know why Mary was chosen, as favoured by the Lord, but as a result of it, she had to endure much hardship.

In today’s readings, we are reminded that God especially shows favour to the humble, the lowly, the poor, and the repentant sinner.  St James tells us that “God opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble” (James 4:6).  In fact, this is what happened in the parable told by our Lord in today’s gospel. The gospel of the two men praying in the Temple, the Pharisee and the tax collector, reveals to us what kind of prayer penetrates to God. We first notice a difference even in their respective postures. One stands with unbowed head as if the temple belongs to him, while the other “stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast.” The second man behaves as if he has crossed the threshold of a house in which he really does not belong. Interestingly, our Lord notes that the first man “prays to himself”, not even praying to God but reviewing to himself the list of his virtues, assuming that, when God Himself notices them, God will respect them and marvel at them. It is as if he is expecting God to fall down and worship him. Moreover, the Pharisee catalogues his virtues as a means of setting himself apart from other men, none of them can hold a torch to him, none have attained his level of perfection. When one thinks of oneself as perfect, as self-sufficient, as having it all together, one no longer has any need for God. The tax collector, on the other hand, acknowledges that he is far from perfect, far from sufficient. In fact, he recognises his own depravity and therefore in need of God’s mercy and grace. God filled the vacuum of this man’s emptiness with His abundance.

This parable, therefore, unravels the mystery of why God, though not having favourites, continues to show favour to the weak, the lowly, the humble, the oppressed and the repentant sinner.  When a man acknowledges that he is in a vulnerable situation, he acknowledges that he is unable to rely on his own personal strength or resources. In such a desperate situation, he ultimately comes to recognise that his only recourse is God. Those who are contented, trouble-free, happy, satisfied, self-sufficient, who claim to be morally perfect do not think of God, because they have no need of Him. It is only when we are divested of every human security; when we recognise our abject impoverishment and utter weakness that we begin to turn to God with great desperation. It is only in such situations that we are prepared to relinquish control, in fact, we humbly confess that we are not in control, that we must surrender ourselves entirely to the providence of God. This is why the poor and weak man finds favour with God, for only a poor and weak man acknowledges that he has an empty place for God to occupy. The proud and the righteous are too full of themselves – there is no room for God in their lives.

Today’s readings also remind us that humility is a necessary condition if we wish to come before the Lord to worship Him. Sirach promises that “the humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds.” Authentic worship requires a humble heart, a humble disposition and a humble posture. Have you noticed how so many have reduced reverence to performing mere perfunctory head bows (often with great reluctance) from the days when we used to genuflect whenever we came before the presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Modern man seems to be so absorbed with his own self-importance that he bows to no one, not even to God. God is no longer deserving of our bowings and genuflections. But when a good man, a humble man, a man who recognises his own unworthiness, is in the presence of greatness, he knows how to abase himself whether it be in posture or attitude.  The humble man does not presume familiarity in the presence of greatness. He knows this would be contemptuous. True humility leads to exaltation - not of ourselves, but of the God who created us, saved us, and loves us.

Yes, God does not have favourites because there is no need for God to play favourites when there’s enough grace for everyone. His supply of grace is unlimited, and there’s absolutely nothing God’s grace can’t cover, no sin so deprave that cannot be forgiven. As St Augustine assures us, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us (to be loved)”. But be ready to accept the gift that comes with God’s favour – the cross. The Christian journey starts at the foot of the cross. There’s no way around it. There’s no shortcut. There’s no exception. There’s no favourite. So, if you’ve been wondering why life seems difficult even after you’ve done everything necessary to be a good Christian, stop feeling sorry for yourself. You’re not that special. If Christ, whom the Father loved exceedingly, would have to suffer and die on the cross, do you think “favoured” life would be a bed of roses? Remember - those who enjoy God’s favour, would not be denied the privilege and glory of the cross, for it is through the cross, as St Paul promises, “the Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”