Gospel LK 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
We've heard this before. It must be an important message. Jesus places a premium on humility and despises arrogance and self-righteousness. It's the tax collector (in today's times, I think of a sleazy used-car salesman) who is exalted while the Pharisee is humbled. How can this be? After all, the Pharisee fasts, tithes (on his whole income!), and follows the commandments. He's clearly better than everyone else and even declares this to be so. But is there room in his heart for God? It seems as if he has no need for God! The tax collector, in all his humility, understands that he's not "all that." He knows he's a sinner and begs for God's mercy. He opens His heart to God. He surrenders to God. He submits to God's sovereignty. The tax collector creates room in his Heart for God to take up residence. And God will gladly do so when He is invited. He doesn't force His way in. I am at my best when I accept that I'm a sinner, that I've fallen short of what God wants and expects from me. Am I humble enough to declare my need for God, my dependence on God?
No comments:
Post a Comment