Being good by virtue of one's merit is one way of being good. Another way, though not the best, is to ensure that one is better than the others. That way one 'automatically' becomes good - when in comparison to others. Another way: in order to appear good, make sure the others around appear bad!
The Gospel of the day, wherein we read the prayer of the Pharisee and the Publican, we hear of another way of being good: making our best effort and asking God to help us be good. The Publican does that and is appreciated. The Pharisee too is being good but at the cost of making others appear bad! The difference could as well be between appearance and being.
However, cannot really blame the Pharisee. He was actually keeping all the laws that he was taught and all the religious practices that he was indoctrinated with. So in that sense taking pride in doing what is told and from centuries has been practiced and handed down cannot be negated outright. The downfall however is in putting down the Publican. Being good oneself does not require a quantitative measurement of the others goodness - unless one only wishes to appear good, among others.
The Gospel of the day, wherein we read the prayer of the Pharisee and the Publican, we hear of another way of being good: making our best effort and asking God to help us be good. The Publican does that and is appreciated. The Pharisee too is being good but at the cost of making others appear bad! The difference could as well be between appearance and being.
However, cannot really blame the Pharisee. He was actually keeping all the laws that he was taught and all the religious practices that he was indoctrinated with. So in that sense taking pride in doing what is told and from centuries has been practiced and handed down cannot be negated outright. The downfall however is in putting down the Publican. Being good oneself does not require a quantitative measurement of the others goodness - unless one only wishes to appear good, among others.
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