Scripture Text (NRSV)
Luke 18:9-14
18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves
that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
18:10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and
the other a tax collector.
18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I
thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'
18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look
up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful
to me, a sinner!'
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified
rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
Comments:
Seems that doing everything right is not enough. Nancy WI
Nancy,
Doing everything right is not enough? What do you mean?
You should check out Rev. Tx contribution of last weeks Gospel... a
very good story... regarding doing the right thing...
Blessings,
pulpitt in ND
" God, I thank you that..."?
The Pharisee should have prayed, "God, I thank me that..."! The
Pharisee's prayer has more "I"s than a potato.
STAN in TN
I love this parable. The minute you end up saying, "and I thank God
that I'm not like this Pharisee" ... zap... you become just as guilty.
John near Pitts.
This Pharisee is an interesting character. He is such a tragic figure.
He seems to do all the right things for the wrong reasons! He has no
need for God. He is self contained. It is obvious that he didn't hear
Jesus in Saint Matthew's Gospel when he said, when you pray, fast, and
give alms don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing,
etc. There is a sense of emptiness, and estrangement in the life of
this "separated one".
The publican (the tax collector) only has himself to offer, and he
knows his need for God.
tom in ga
pulpitt in ND Thanks for the story tip. It is a good one. Hope others
look it up too.
We are so often the pharsee. Trusting in ourself rather than God. When
I wrote that comment, it seemed like many of of my parishners and
sometimes myself, feeling good about following the law, but forgetting
where our strength is. Justification is not by works but by heart!
Nancy-WI
Looking for suggestions for All Saint's Day to lift up in worship
those who have died in the pass year, names will be in the bulletin.
Any suggestions for liturgy or prayers would be appreciated. Nancy-Wi
Nancy-Wi: Get your hands on a United Methodist Book of Worship. The
Liturgy for Communion for All Saints Sunday is good. Pastor John in CT
Thanks Ct! Boy do I feel a bit stupid, didn't see it in there and I am
a newby! Thanks for sharing. Nancy-WI
A little riddle...what is the one thing that you may have, and the
moment you say you have it, it is gone and you have it no more? A
great read is "The Little Flowers" of St Francis of Assisi. These
little episodes from 800 years ago give a glimpse of a man, Francis,
who went from being a "normal" person to a profoundly/extremely CHrist
centered and Christ -driven, obedient person.The book has one story of
how a brother monk tested Francis' pride one day. After Francis had
been off praying, the monk complimented him on his piety and
devoutness, saying how much everyone admired him. At once Francis was
beaming, smiling, gazing up heavenward silently. The suspicious monk
asked him why he looked so happy. Francis said that it was such a gift
to think that God could take him - the worst, most useless, most
wretched, unworthy sinner to ever take a breath, and use him to draw
people to God to be saved, and so he was thanking God and asking for
more forgiveness. Anyway, that's a paraphrase of the story. The answer
to the riddle, of course, is humility. That makes talking about it
soooo tricky. The moment we open our mouths about anyone other than
ourselves, or about our accomplishments, we may be like the Pharisee.
This passage is also a good reminder to go about ministry ( and all of
life as a disciple) without being concerned about results and outcomes
and success. Just be faithful - that's enough to do - and leave the
results to God. This I have learned in my own ministry and must be
reminded of often. Jim in CT.
As I read these thoughts on humility I'm sitting in my office waiting
for my vestry to decide on what my salary will be for next year. They
seem happy with me and so I have certain hopes. At the same time, you
all remind me that the only real value I have is the one that derives
from my Lord.
It's so easy for us to get caught up in the various measures of our
"success." How many of us don't like to be told that we've just
preached a good sermon as we shake the hands of our parishioners as
they leave church? How many of us don't have just that tiniest bit of
satisfaction when we receive a family from some other church in town
-- we've got something that those other Christians don't! We're not
like them and people with discernment see that and join us.
Darn it! If they give me a raise it's going to be in part for the very
activity that leads me to most closely resemble that Pharisee!
Craig
Nancy-wi: We're asking people to bring candles - one candle and a
holder for each person in our church, or family, or community who has
died since last All Saints' Sunday. As the names are read, someone
will bring a candle forward to be placed on the altar - the acolyte
will light it. The candles, like our departed friends, will each be
different, but they will glow with the same light. One member said she
would like to bring a candle "For the American heroes of 9/11", and
that seems fitting.
Re: humility - There's the story about the preacher who was so humble
that his congregation gave their pastor a medal. They took it back,
though, because the pastor tried to wear it.
Another aside: if any of you have the opportunity to witness Bill
Oberst's portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth, do. A very restrained and
carefully detailed presentation, he simply says the words of Jesus
(with, I think, a fair amount of humility). Since hearing "Beware when
all speak well of you" in that context, I have really been wrestling
with those words.
Checking in early ... kbc in sc
Geez... is it All Saints Sunday this Sunday? I know it's Reformation
Sunday. Why do I keep seeing the Pharasee w/ Jerry Falwell's face? "Ah
thank Gawd that I'm not like those homosexuals and abortionists...."
Frankly, I've always believed that Jesus came for just this very
reason: how the religious establishment takes and molds God's gift of
Self into it's own institutionalized power instrument. Jesus mainly
wags his finger at the religious establishment, while speaking words
of grace to the marginalized. "We" in the church must be very
careful/humble/fearful and in great trembling translate Jesus' message
of Grace. I fully expect to get to heaven and have God tell me,
"Pamela, it didn't have to be so hard!" As I write this at 12:06 a.m.,
listening to ABC... maybe I'll entitle my sermon, "Religiously
Incorrect!" Peace, Shalom, and Salem to all. Pamela
According to the Episcopal Calendar, All Saints Sunday is November
4th, in the Octave of All Saints Day, November 1st.
tom in ga
Don't know if I will go on this or @ tim and Joel..feel a sermon
coming on about RAIN-Pouring out but like your ideas. Maybe use this
as example if you go this way. The Movie that is just out "riding in
cars with boys" About a girl who had dreams, but made mistakes, but
ended up following her dreams See, even wneh we make mistakes , we can
still come back to God anytime- and He makes our dreams come true.
Even when ly ride in cars with boys! LadyPreacher in Ohio...UMC
I read an article years ago in seminary that suggested that the
Pharisee (even though he was fictitious) might not have been quite the
caricature we presume him to be. A Pharisee was TAUGHT to trust in
himself, that he somehow had a handle on the truth and upon God, and
the society of the time would have confirmed it. Many people looked up
to the pharisees. It was his paradigm.
Also, the text doesn't say specifically that the Pharisee was
condemned; just that the tax collector was justified. How tragic to be
in a righteous-seeming state of limbo! One cannot receive that which
one doesn't ask for - in this case, justification.
One of my older girl's vocabulary words this week is "verbose." The
Pharisee's prayer seems "verbose," filled with meaningless chatter
that is designed to assure the Pharisee of his own place in life.
Still yet, there is no mention that the tax collector even changed his
ways! How life-changing was his justification???
One more thought - the prayer that Hebrew men were to pray every
morning (I can't quote it exactly; my source is at home) thanking God
that they were not women so that they could follow God's law. As much
as we bristle that anyone would thank God that they're not women, the
crux is about being able to follow the Law - women of that day
followed tradition, but were not seen as religious leaders able to
grow closer to God. Therefore, observing the Law would have been seen
as a gift from God - a privilege - and thus something to thank God
for, and since only males followed the law (and thus be closer to God
- in the Hebrew mindset), then thanking God that they're not like
others might have been a natural product of their upbringing.
Jesus, of course (and especially in Luke), is making the mindset do a
flip-flop. And I wholeheartedly agree that even today we must tread
lightly the practice of humility.
early thoughts ... Sally in GA
I just read a cute idea in "Forbid Them Not," a children's worship
resource.
They suggest singing "Jesus Loves Me" from the standpoint of the
Pharisee and then from the Tax Collector!
Many of our old favorite hymns distill down to a message of "I'm saved
and going to heaven, nyah nyah nyah NYAH nyah!"
Sally in GA
Thought you might find the following notes helpful on humility and
Pride:
Bernard of Clairvaux The Steps of Humility and Pride
The truly humble man is truthful and courageous
The poor, meek sinner humbles himself with tears and thirsts for
justice. He sees himself as he truly is, with all his sin and misery.
Such a heart that knows misery, knows mercy.
The heart does not need words, nor can words and precepts obliterate
the longings of a loving heart which God cannot fail to see.
Humility is a virtue by which a man has a low opinion of himself
because he knows himself well.
... pay attention to what you are, because you are truly full of
misery. This is the only way, if you are to learn to be merciful. If
you have eyes for the shortcomings of your neighbor and not for your
own, no feeling of mercy wil arise in you but rather indignation. You
will be more ready to judge than to help, to crush in the spirit of
anger than to instruct in the spirit of gentleness.
Hypocrite, first cast the beam from your own eye and then you will see
better to cast the mote from your brothers. The heavy, thick beam in
the eye is pride of heart. It is big but not strong, swollen, not
solid. It blinds the eye of the mind and blots out the truth. While it
is there you cannot see yourself as you really are, or even the ideal
of what you could be, but what you would like to be, this you think
you are or hope to be. For what else is pride, but as a saint has
defined it, the love of one’s own excellence. We may define humility
... as the contempt of one’s own excellence.
... the conceit of the proud Pharisee: I give you thanks, O God, that
I am not like the rest of men. He has admiration for himself alone
.... The Pharisee damned all others, excepting only himself, and
fooling only himself. ... The Pharisee wave aside mercy when he denied
his misery. ... He gave thanks, not that he was good but that he was
peerless. His gratitude was inspired not by any good he saw in
himself, but by the evey he saw in others.
Boasting: His hunger and thirst are for listeners, someone to lsiten
to his boasting, on whom a big man is. .. He asks the questions, gives
the answers, cuts off anyone who tries to speak ... shows off his
learning. ... his aim is not to tach you nor to be taught by you, but
to show how much he knows. ... his mouth ... a river of smart talk.
When a man has been bragging that he is better than others, he would
feel ashamed of himself if he did not live up to his boast and show
how much better than others he is .... he is never at rest.
He swallows all the praise others give him. He is quite complacent
about his conduct and he never examines his motives now; the good
opinions of others is all he needs ... he thinks he knows more than
anybody .... he believes in his inmost heart that he is holier than
others.
We are doing All Saints, next week.
We provide the candles and family members can take it home. We also
dedicate memorial gifts.
I heard of a congregation which held a potluck following the service
and you brought the deceased favorite food. ONe year is was mostly
chocolate.
We remember their life by reading their names in worship. Then the
sermon relates our memory of the gracious acts of Christ, our hope for
forgiveness.
Jonesey in WI
I'm reminded that when you point a finger at someone you have three
pointing back at yourself. God asks us to truly humble ourselves. To
know our need for forgiveness, in every day, in every area of our
life.
We in the church are often considered hypocrites. We say one thing and
do another. We call people to love others and we stab people in the
back who disagree with us. We attack and point fingers. (I've read it
on these pages)
Our God desires a contrite heart. One that acknowledges our sinful
human desires and become renewed spiritually. The church is a hospital
for sinners, not a play ground for saints. We also can not cheapen
grace by ignoring the sin in our life, nor the life others. All are
called to repentance. "...Let it begin with me." Yes peace comes when
we begin with the log in our eye. But we also can help others know the
sin in their life. That is Christian community.
Yes, I'm a hypocrite, but I'm closer to God than the one who stands
outside and points in. I'm a sinner needing God's grace. I don't
deserve to be forgiven, but in Jesus Christ I find mercy. Then I can
strive to be more like my Lord and Master, in a process of humble
sanctification.
Jonesey in WI
One idea I've used for All Saints Day or Memorial Day... before is to
send a letter a couple of weeks prior to the celebration of All Saints
Day...to all the people who have had a loved one die in the
congregation... (those whose services I had or were held in the
church's sanctuary)... and then I had a gal (Actually Julie Wolf, a
lay person from Minot, ND) she came up with the idea on her own, she
does it during Memorial Day weekend...) you ask for three pictures...
happy times, sad times, family times... then they are made into
slides, it takes a day or so to get them back... we also made slides
that said... "In loving memory of ____________" Faith UMC'S family
includes... (name or list the relatives who survive them) then the
birth and death dates... then we time it to music, usually just
instrumental... however, last time we did it before my move to the
current church I serve, I found a piece by John Denver, one of the
last songs he wrote prior to his sudden and tragic death... it is
entitled... "All this Joy..."
The words go something like this... "All this joy, all this sorrow...
all this promise, all this pain.. . such is life, such is meaning...
such is Spirit... such is Joy..." etc. etc... it is a beautiful
song...
then, you darken the lights of the sanctuary and it becomes a silent,
yet coorperate prayer of the congregation... the last slide reads...
"In loving Memory of ALL the Saints who have witnessed to us through
their faith and their lives.."
It is a powerful medium...
One year we had a picture of a grandmother reaching up to pick an
apple off a tree, almost as if she was taking the hand of God... other
times you see the smile of a grandparent for a grandchild... etc.
etc... picture DO speak a thousand words of hope... to future
generations... children are messages we send to a time we will never
see...
Blessings to you all,
pulpitt in ND or pulpitt@att.net
pulpitt in ND: what a nice service!!!
This year will be my new church's first-ever All Saints' Service.
They've had a lot of loss this year and I think it would be good for
them. In years past, I've asked families to come forward to light a
candle (sometimes a votive we provide, and others a candle they
provide) and say something - and I invited the whole congregation to
share a memory (as the Spirit moves, of course).
Meanwhile, back to our Pharisee and Tax Collector brothers. Ellsworth
Kallas has an EXCELLENT treatment of this in "Parables from the Back
Side." I even laughed out loud once, but it's not that it's so amusing
that makes it good: it's that his is about the most accurate
description of today's Phariseeism.
What makes me wince is that as soon as I say, "Yes, Lord, I need your
grace - but I'm better off than so and so" is the very point at which
I've become the Pharisee. When we ask, "Why me?" says Kallas, we are
the Pharisee.
It's a delicate line we tread. I've got a title (I hope): "A
Superiority Complex," but I'm not sure if that's quite right, though.
Sally in GA this is tougher to preach than I thought!
Here's a good quote (cited in Kallas) by Dr. Samuel Shoemaker.
"A person must turn to God, he said one Sunday, 'not as a gentleman in
search of religion but as a sinner in search of salvation...' then he
became even more direct, insisting that the respectable sinner has no
right to feel superior to someone whose sins are 'merely disreputable
when his own are absolutely disastrous' "Perhaps this statement in Dr.
Shoemaker's sermon strikes a chord in each of us: 'The wickedest
people I ever talked to are not the out and out pagan sinners, they
are t he people who have grown too good ever to be open to the
conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit, the people who believe that, on
the whole, they are all right, the people who enjoy a good reputation,
and live on the flattery of their neighbors. People like this can say
their prayers a hundred times over, and confess their sins with all
the unction in the world, and never become even dimly aware of sins
that are the standing despair of the people who live under the same
roof or work in the same office with them.'"
Sally in GA
If I may be so bold, may I give my observations from the postings and
my own musings on this passage, which by the way in Australia, we
combined last week. This week we use Luke 18:15-30.
What I have found so interesting, is just how difficult it is to talk
about our own humility, without pride raising its ugly head.
My difficulty when we do this Pharasaical analysis of our spiritual
life, is that we often point to the lowest denominator. That is we
guage ourselves off of each other. I am confident that the publican
had massive amounts of good qualities, and so did the Pharisee. What
the publican did, was to guage himself against God. The all gracious,
all knowing, all loving being. When we place our life against such a
backdrop, we have no choice but to acknowledge our own unworthiness.
I am taken by Paul's spiritual journey through his letters, and I have
a theory that slowly, but surely, despite his great theological
contribution, he began to realise his total unworthiness. 1 Timothy
1:15. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the foremost.
I like Jim in CT who explained it in a riddle. This is why the
spiritual life is so difficult to expound. As soon as we think we
grasp it, it eludes us again.
None of us is worthy, and yet all of us are!!
God's blessing on your preaching this week-end, because I empathise
with the various posters who have verbalised their struggle with this
text.
I pity those, who believe they have mastered our Lord's deepest
intention.
Thanks to all for some good work this week.
Regards to all,
KGB in Aussie.
PS: I do not know why we have diverted from the lectionary this week.
Can I add, that Philip Yancey raises a similar dilemma in his book
"What's so amazing about grace?". As soon as we attempt to talk about
it, we lose it or we diminish it.
Thanks for the space.
KGB.
Sally in Ga
Your quote from old Sam Shoemaker reminds me of a lawyer in Southeast
Missouri one time warning me to "look out for those who are as good as
hell!!"
What is so scarey about this pharisee is that everyone looking at him
from the outside would see such a pious and holy man, totally
dedicated to Yahweh; and yet it is simply a "mask" that he wears for
he is closed to God and to the community, there is an emptiness and a
dread deep in his bones. How do you open up such a man. It is like a
patient seeing his psychologist who knows the language and thus keeps
himself from receiving help -- using the language to hide behind.
tom in ga
Nancy WI At our annual conference we have a memorial service for
clergy and spouses who have died in the year. We have a rose for each
one and a incoming elder places it in the vase as each name is read. I
have done this in worship for those members who have died, using youth
or children or confirmands to place the rose in the vase. It is very
powerful.
Kd Tx
Another All Saints Sunday Activity
It it too late for this this year, but keep in mind for next year. A
couple of years ago at my former church we put together a collection
of Saints Stories. I invited people to share stories of the saints in
their lives, people living or dead who were instrumental in
establishing their faith. Parents, grandparents, teachers, even a
preacher or two. Anyone who was an example and teacher of faith and
God's grace was a candidate. Some of the persons were known by most in
the church others were known only by the writer. Either way it did not
matter. What mattered was the telling of their story. Through these
memories and stories, the faith of these saints lives and touches
lives of others. Some of the memories were a paragraph or two to a
page or more. We collected these and made boolets which were
distributed on All Saints Sunday. We had a good number of stories
finally come in and everyone was happy with it. Of course those who
did not submit stories wished they had after. You need to start
planting the seeds pretty early, say August or Sept. and keep watering
them by reminding througout sept and oct. Anyway, it turned out to be
very special. Plus as a pastor you learn much about the saints and
foundations of the congregation.
KD in Tx
KGB in Aussie,
You wrote, "None of us is worthy, and yet all of us are!!" You seem to
know more than I think you really know. I am not going to argue this
point with you, for I think you are more right than wrong, but what
concerns me here is our desire to include everyone and at the same
time suggesting that "it really doesn't matter" the type of person you
are. I can live my life with God or without God, it really doesn't
matter. Help me understand what you are saying, for it may help me
understand myself better.
tom in ga
Yep, I'm glad I'm not like other people... Muslims, Hindus, Budhists,
Taliban, ... soemtimes we get pretty high and mighty over the rest of
the world...
It's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way...
Better lookin' all the time,
pulpitt in ND ;?)
Tom in GA wrote of the Pharisee, "there is an emptiness and a DREAD
deep in his bones."
I think of folks who have a high need to self-affirm (above and beyond
healthy recognition of one's gifts) and brag, which, whether or not he
realized it, the Pharisee was doing. Braggarts are typically very
afraid underneath. Once we have encased ourselves in super-piety, the
encasement becomes too tough for God to penetrate.
I'm looking for illustrations!!! This is tougher to preach than it is
to exegete; once we start, we tread oh-so-closely in the footsteps of
our brother the pharisee.
When else have we, in all earnestness to do and to be good, encased
ourselves in piety or religion? It is not until we allow God to bring
us forth from our cocoons that we will emerge into new life with him,
but we think because we've experienced conversion we know what "new
life" is about. I think that WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!
The dread is that God will not find us acceptable, so our nature will
be to work towards a spiritual goal. Therein lies the paradox: can one
really WORK for spiritual ends?
Sally in GA
Thank you all for your thought provoking feedback! I work part time as
a Deacon and part time as a mental health social worker. One issue
that often pops up is the fine line or 'clash' between
psychology/social work's focus on improving the self-esteem of clients
and on the other side the Christianity's view that all must confess
their sins- their deep unworthiness before God in order to become
'whole' again- healed again. Does Jesus' parable here about the
Pharisees versus the Tax Collector clash with our society's emphasis
on improving people's self-esteem? For example, how might a battered
woman understand this parable of Jesus? "Oh Jesus, forgive me for
being such an unworthy wife..."??? Does this perpetuate the vicious
cyle of oppression and violence or not?
I am sorry I am asking more difficult questions than providing
insight. Please help me or tell me, am I off the track here???
As Sally said, this is much more complex to preach than originally
thought!!! Will in CT
God, I thank you that I'm not like those terrorists, so completely
sure that what I believe in is the only way to be, the only right way
there is.
Great comments from all this week. Sorry I have not contributed much
recently. What Sally says is true -- this is harder to preach than to
exegete. It strikes me that Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount commanded
us to "be holy as our Father in heaven is holy." That's a pretty tough
commandment to live up to. But it also confirms the fact that we are
to compare ourselves with the holiness of God, not one another. And
when we do that, like the tax collector did, we can recognize our
sinfulness and plea for forgiveness. Note: the Pharisee compared
himself only to other sinners, and thus thought he was OK -- a
big-time flaw. As for the apparent conflict with our psychological
need for a positive self-esteem, once we have confessed our sins and
asked God to forgive us, He does forgive us, and He makes us His very
own children. How much greater sel-esteem can a person have than to be
a child of God, redeemed by the blood of His only begotten Son on the
cross, and given the promises of eternal glory in heaven. It doesn't
get much better than that. As for preaching this message, I have been
considering the recent ad put out on TV by the Ad Council following
the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. It has numerous people from all around
our nation of all different ethnic groups and social/economic
statuses, each saying, "I am an American." As I thought about that ad,
I wondered what makes them an American. It is not their skin color or
their jobs or their tattoos (or lack of them) or their ethnic
background or any other of these sorts of things. It is their pledge
of allegiance to our nation and acceptance of our nation's authority
over them. Then I asked myself, what makes a person a Christian. It is
not our church membership or the jobs we do in the church or the
number of people we feed or the money we give to the church or other
charities or any of these other things. It is our confession of our
unworthiness and our acceptance of God's grace for salvation. I am not
sure where this will lead. I feel like the kid with the pile of manure
-- surely there is a pony (sermon) in there somewhere. God's blessings
to you all in your search for the right words to help all of God's
people. Art in KY
Will in CT:
The conflict between self-esteem/sense of my own sinfulness isn't
restricted to mental health or care of the abused circles. It's a
reality for every Christian, I think, although your situation may
provide the extreme examples.
There is a line in one of our prayers, thanking God "that you have
made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you." The emphasis
is not on our merits but on God's grace, that together work to allow
us to be co-creators with God of the Kingdom.
Hope that's at least a little helpful.
Heather
Tom in ga,
I will try.
Essentially, as Paul puts it, all of us fall short of the glory of
God, and therefore, none of us is worthy of God's acceptance. Romans
3:10 says it most strongly, "There is no one who is righteous, not
even one;" And yet, in the same breath we proclaim that Jesus came to
call sinners, ALL sinners. Romans chapters 10 - 12 discuss a lot of
this material.
In the gospel we are talking about justification. I will accept that
it is not necessarily about salvation, but it does have traits of that
in the wording. Exalted or humbled in whose terms? Isn't what is being
discussed in this passage about our justifying our worthiness to
obtain God's grace. In other words, the movement from humility (humus
- earth, dirt, excrement) to exaltedness (humpso - lift out of the
dirt), means the movement out of thinking earthly. Humility and
exaltedness in these terms doesn't have obvious earthly or physical
symptoms, but an inner awareness of God's acceptance and consideration
of the world from divine perspectives.
For me, the Pharisee, was essentially practicising the very human
characteristic of exclusivity,(regarding himself as better than
someone else - a very religious characteristic by the way) whereas the
publican was involved in inclusivity, (saw everyone as better than
himself). I struggle in the church, when we begin to place boundaries
upon God's acceptance. It can be exemplified in three questions.
Jesus came to save all humanity? Jesus came to save Christians and/or
Jews? Jesus came to save .......? (put in here your own suggestions)
In each case, except the first, we then seemingly have to develop
boundaries of worthiness. eg; Circumcision, Accepting Jesus into your
heart, Professing Jesus Christ with your lips, Being baptised in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing in creation or evolution.
I regard these as all signs of humankinds inability to accept
unworthiness, rather than some pious worthiness.
So I guess I arrive at a position, to say, that in my understanding of
God's redemptive acts played out in Jesus Christ, (He) effectively
deemed everyone worthy of (His) acceptance. Whether we are or not, I
am not privileged or even worthy to judge. And so the Pharisee and the
publican continue to turn up in our churches and in our own attitudes.
As I said at the beginning, I would try. Hope this helps you consider
where I am coming from.
Thank-you as always for this inspiring forum, which often stretches my
grey matter, beyond my comfortableness.
Regards to all,
KGB in Aussie
I was recently at a retreat with Flora Slosson Wuellner as the leader.
She talked about dangerous rhetoric, such as a recent quote she shared
as being spoken in relation to current events, "Now the world is
divided between the righteous and the sinners." It's so easy to see Us
and Them and draw the line to make sense out of the chaos. And we
think, since we are people who worship God, that we ought to know who
is good and who is evil. But what happens when we adopt such rhetoric
in the name of God? The quote was a statement made by Osama Bin Laden.
Let's be careful about even saying, "I'm glad I'm not like those
terrorists!" lest in that very statement we begin to resemble them.
Language is powerful, I think that's one lesson we're learning in
these days especially. PM in PA
I thank the Lord that I am White, Male, Middle Class, and American!
I'm no fool. I know I am cut more slack, given more credit and more
opportunity by society because I am these things. But I am not proud
of any of these things, for none of them are my accomplishments. They
were gifts from my parents, and theirs. I can hardly take credit for
becoming Christian, given my heritage and God's prevenient grace
calling me to grace. I was raised where and when and by those for whom
Christianity was as expected as speaking English. I id make a decision
that others of my contemporaries didn't, but it wasn't hard to choose.
I had a lot of help, encouragement, and support. I am not a self-made
man. Any good in me was implanted in or urged upon me.
I get in trouble sometimes when I say "I am not proud to be an
American." I hardly dare say it now, but it is true. I am grateful to
be an American. I am proud of things I have worked for to achieve. I
was born American. Nobody asked me choose my nationality. I think the
only ones that should be allowed to buy bumper stickers or t-shirts
proclaiming them to be "proud to be American" are those who have
worked to earn their fare, studied to take the test and gained their
citizenship by their own efforts. The rest of us should sing along
with John Denver,"Life ain't nothing but a funny, funny riddle, Thank
God, I'm a country boy!"(or substitute, I'm A-meri-can). Go ahead,
tear me apart, you flag wavers. What we need, both nationally and
personally, is less pride and more gratitude.
Now here are some things the parable left unsaid- We don't know what
sin the tax collector was burdened by. He may not have been talking
about his carreer choice, though certainly that is what a Pharissee
would see as sinful. This is not Zacheus(sp?) up the tree who vowed to
repay all he overcharged. We often see obvious sins in each other that
the other doesn't see, and don't see what is really tearing their
hearts apart. We don't know if he conquered his sin or if he came back
to the temple frequently. We don't know if he ever became an
upstanding member of the community. What we do know, because Jesus
said so, is that on that day he went home justified. A broken and
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. The tax collector gave
the good sacrifice that day.
Most of the posts so far look at the Pharisee. How bad was that guy.
How can I keep from being him. Nobody seems to be asking,"How can I be
more like that head-hanging, chest-beating tax collector?" The
Pharisee's problem was that he compared himself to the tax collector.
We won't get much farther comparing ourselves to the Pharisee. There
is no indication that the tax collector even noticed the Pharisee was
there. Like him, this is between God and me (or maybe you). Only when
I stand alone before God and see, and own, and confess my
unworthiness, am I able to truly recieve that amazing grace which has
always been there waiting for me to live in. tom in TN(USA)
Will in CT:
Exactly my point!! Although Jesus addresses the parable to those who
"have already received their reward" in the positive regard of people
and a nice status in society, there is a temptation, then, to become
more sinful that we actually are in an effort towards piety. One who
has accepted this in him- or herself might see the need for repentance
for sins that aren't really theirs.
Theologically, however, even though one might have accepted that we're
more sinful than we are is STILL working on a human level: dreading
that we're NOT OK with God (to borrow from a 70's pop-psychology
title).
Sally in GA
P.S. Can you tell I just love Tom's word, dread???
When I was thinking about the pharisee it occurred to me that his
stance is a result of going the perfection route. If we really do
think we can live our lives and get it all right we eventually are
forced to settle for being further up the ladder than others. Our hope
for getting it all right will always end in failure. When I preach on
this I suspect I'm going to end up talking about grace-- just how hard
it is to understand it, know it and actually receive it. Ace in Canada
Sally in GA ... "dreading that we're NOT OK with God (to borrow from a
70's pop-psychology title). "
Reminds me of the Stern-Price parody of that book ... the title of
which was "I'm OK, You're Not So Hot"... sort of the attitude of the
Pharisee.
This Sunday is the end of my "vacation" from preaching. Going back to
it next week with All Saints Sunday (in the Episcopal tradition) using
the All Saints Day lessons. Hope to see you all there.
Blessings, Eric in KS
The Publican knows his unworthiness before God, he knows he is
rejected by his own people, he stands before his God knowing his need
for mercy.
The Pharisee ("The Separated One") stands alone in his own
"righteousness", judging others as unworthy, he stands alone in his
virtue, using his virtue as a shield, unable to receive God's grace.
It is almost as though he prays only to himself.
The Publican, on the other hands, stands with empty hands before God
... how I wish that I could be that empty! My own inner dialogue
blocks my own prayer, and I too am filled with dread as I seek in the
dark the One who can free me from my goodness.
tom in ga
Eric in KS and others,
Personally, I prefer the title "I'm Dysfunctional, You're
Dysfunctional"! A much truer assessment!
Rick, Ducking and running in Canada, eh?
So much joyful intensity in this weeks postings.
Yet, again and again we encounter the difficulty of the human brain to
hold in tension the paradox of truth. We are told that the Holy Spirit
will bring us into all truth, and that truth is a two edged sword. Yet
our physical impediment means that we often can only see one side at
any given time. Its a kind of pendulum thinking, as we shift from this
side to that.
God, and Jesus in his teachings, seem to have no such difficulty. A
God of justice and wrath who is also the God of love. God who is both
man and god at the same time. The themes of Repentance and
forgiveness. Humility and exaltedness, sinfulness and righteousness.
See, but do not see. Hear, but do not hear. I could go on and on. The
scriptures are full of them. For us humans these intangibles are just
too difficult to grasp. And so I think we often opt for the easy
option. That is to stand on one side of the paradox, or to hop from
one foot to the other, as we contemplate its meaning.
As people are finding as they tease this parable out, it is so
difficult to find a neutral ground in it where we can be comfortable.
The truth in here is like a razor's edge. So delicately thin, that if
we purport to be one thing, we may have inadvertently slid over onto
the other.
I love our Lord and his challenging gospel, and especially I love his
message that the way to the kingdom is always via the narrow door. How
narrow does that door become when confronted with such a parable as
the pharisee and the publican?
I have especially enjoyed the posts this week, and the honesty of the
contributors who have revealed their struggle to come to terms with
the depth of Christ's message contained in the words of this parable.
I believe, we are in a very healthy state in the church, when we can
admit such difficulty.
Gods blessings upon you all as you preach the Word, this week.
Regards,
KGB
I'm a first-time contributor and not a preacher, so I hope you'll
indulge me if I feel moved to submit the following story. It's from
the book "The Spirituality Of Imperfection" by Ernest Kurtz and
Katherine Ketcham:
One day a rabbi, in a frenzy of religious passion, rushed in before
the ark, fell to his knees, and started beating his breast, crying,
"I'm nobody! I'm nobody!"
The cantor of the synagogue, impressed by this example of spiritual
humility, joined the rabbi on his knees, saying, "I'm nobody! I'm
nobody!"
The shamus (custodian) watching from the corner, couldn't restrain
himself either. He joined the other two on his knees, calling out,
"I'm nobody! I'm nobody!"
At which point the rabbi, nudging the cantor with his elbow, pointed
at the custodian and said, "Look who thinks he's nobody!"
Blessings...
OneWhoIs in PA
Two more images;
Mark Twain's quote--"He was a good man in the worst sense of the
word." and SNL's Dana Carvey and "Church Chat" and the Church
Lady..."I'm going to say a little prayer AGAINST you."
KF
To Rick in Canada, eh?
My Canadian neice proudly wears a button which reads: "Ask me about MY
dysfunctional family" and on her car is the bumper sticker "We put the
FUN in dysfunctional"
One can find just about anything to be proud of, eh?
Blessings, Eric in KS (near Ottawa)
I'm thinking that in these times what we most need is a reminder of
God's mercy. Maybe that is why I was drawn to the following quotes.
Hope they are helpful.
From William Willemon: "The most surprising character in the parable
is neither the Pharisee nor the publican. The shocking character here
is God.....We shall attempt to avoid a simple, moralsitic
interpretation of this story in favor of a theological proclamation
about the marvelous (and sometimes exasperating !) grace of God"
Pulpit Resource 1995
And from Weavings on "Mercy" Sept./Oct 2000 from an article by Elaine
M. Prevallet, SL...
"What kind of space do we create around ourselves ? Just as inner
peace and contentment create a certain ambience around us, so does
internal prickliness. Internal attitudes of harsh judgment either upon
ourselves or upon others make us prickly; they indicate that defenses
are up, that entry into our heart space will encounter thorny
obstacles. Their effect is that people will almost automatically feel
on their guard in our presence. If we really believed that we were
surrounded by love, and if we were to entrust ourselves to that love,
we would instinctively and effortlessly provide gracious, warm, and
comfortable space around us ready to recieve and welcome persons as
they are....Mercy makes our hearts spacious; it also mercies the space
around us. Mercy becomes the space we live in." VMRT in CT
Thank you all for the GREAT conversation this week! This passage has
permeated almost every prayer I've offered privately and publicly and
every conversation I've had this week.
This parable is INTENDED to be a judgment against the Pharisee - the
Scripture itself tells us that. However, the pericope also does not
specifically say that the Pharisee was condemned. Grace fills our
emptiness, our dread, and perhaps, brothers and sisters, being honest
in the dread of theological paradox, God's grace is most active.
I remember my professor, Bill Mallard, asking "Can we recognize the
Incarntion when it's right in front of us?" His lecture was about
Luke-Acts!
I ask your prayers on a personal level - I've not only got a BIG, BUSY
weekend and our church's yearly meeting, but my father will be facing
his 2nd surgery within a month for two aneurysms on his descending
aorta. His first surgery was for colon cancer - which was not in his
lymph nodes, Praise God!! Still, I know prayer surrounded him the
first surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I covet yours now.
Sally in GA
This is my first contribution. I came across this while reading C.S.
Lewis. It seems so appropriate for regarding the Pharisee and the
Publican. It seems from reading Lewis that the reason God hates pride
so much in his creatures is because it is the very vice that keeps his
creation from enjoying Him the Creator. In our self-sufficiency we
find no need of the Sufficient One. We are vertically deficient. Since
pride is so competitive in its nature the person in whom this demon
resides and grows sees his fellowman as an object against whom he must
compete rather than a fellow pilgrim whom he must embrace. Thus we
become horizontally out of synch. Ron Houston (Sunshine Baptist)
I just picked up a book by John Gray on raising children. In it, he
talks about the difference between raising "good" children and
"compassionate" children. Fear and punishment might raise "good"
children. But love and co-operation raise "compassionate" children. I
think, in the parable, the Pharisee might be raised in an atmosphere
of fear and has become very "good." But the Publican might be trusting
in the love of God, is dealing with self-deceptions, and hence is
potentially one who is or will be more "compassionate." The goal of
Jesus probably was to have more compassionate people rather than good
people. Brent in Pincher
Brent in Pincher wrote: "...the difference between raising 'good'
children and 'compassionate' children..."
I know what Brent is saying. But I wonder if anyone else is getting
really, really sick of the word "compassionate"....
Blessings, Eric in KS
A true story.
It was my senior year in high school. Senior high youth got to serve
as elders and diaconate in junior church. That Sunday, three of us
were sitting in the same row. It was prayer time and one of the
leaders was offering the prayer when my friend Darryl poked me in the
side and whispered, "Look at Jimmy, he doesn't even bow his head when
we are praying." All of a sudden, it hit me. Yes, but at least he has
his eyes closed and is not looking around as we are nor is he talking
as we are doing.
PhilN, MO
I thought "compassionate" was a pretty good word. I'm just glad I'm
not like other people who are getting tired of the word
"compassionate." I found an illustration in a book called Sunday
Morning by Dennis Clark. A psychiatrist was telling a friend about his
toughest case: "I had this patient who lived in a total fantasy world.
He was absolutely convinced that somewhere in South America he had a
fabulously rich uncle who would someday leave him a fortune. All day,
every day, he just waited and waited for a letter telling him to come
down and claim his fortune. He just sat around and waited!" "Amazing!"
said the other doctor, "were you able to help him?" "It was an
eight-year struggle, but with determination, skill, and insight, we
made excellent progress - until..." "Until what?" "Until the stupid
letter arrived!" Clark says: "Illusions! We all have them, but in most
cases there's no letter. The pharisee in today's gospel gives us a
good look at how powerful and how dangerous an illusion can be. There
was a good bit of truth woven into his illusion.... But mixed in with
it was a piece of sheer fantasy: 'I am not like other people.'" Brent
in Pincher
Brent (the Pharisee?) in Pincher: "I'm just glad I'm not like other
people who are getting tired of the word 'compassionate.'"
Brent, this is the funniest thing anyone has written in weeks!
I'm tired of the word "compassionate" for the same reason I've grown
tired of "evildoers" -- they are morally loaded religious terms being
over used by politicians who (imho) use them inappropriately.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Sally in GA
I just placed your Dad on our church and conference prayer lists as
"My friend Sally's Dad". Before another person asks - what is Dad's
first name?
Praying -- Pastor Binny
Eric in KS: I know what you mean about the overuse of some names. Its
kind of nice, though, that in your cirlces "compassionate" is being
overdone. I bet there are a few places where it might be a little
crisp. Brent from Pincher
It seems that here, as in most of Jesus' parables, the real question
is not to decide "who" we are in the story (i.e., either the repentant
tax collector or the pompous Pharisee)--but rather to see that we are
BOTH by turns. Each of us embodies humility and arrogance--parts of
our lives "return home justified" while in other parts we are merely
"praying to ourselves."
I see a strong connection between this parable and Paul's "closing
argument" for his life (see post under epistle reading).
TK in OK
Welcome first time contributors,
One Who Is, old but good joke, thanx for reminding me of it just in
time to use it in a sermon.
Sunshine Baptist, one of your fellow baptists was wishing for more
contributions from same. Glad you waded in. Can't go wrong quoting C.S.
Lewis, who has something pithy to say on nearly any subject.
Why did the Pharissee not go home justified with God? He never
realized he needed such, having been justified with(and by) himself.
How lonely! The publican came in alone but left with God as his
friend. How lovely!
Pharissees and publicans, and Jesus dined with both. WWJD? Answered.
Now I need ask,"What should I do?"
On lighter side- If the publican returns to his old ways, is he a
re-publican? Just kidding, put down those stones! tom in TN(USA)
tom in TN(USA, I like your thought that comparisons are odious.
Whether envious or arrogant, they deflect my need for God, whatever
that is. Now, who said it here first, this desparate preacher needs a
good story. It's Saturday -- talk about need; I'm not proud at all!
(Well, except for ....) - bob at the beach
Because this Gospel always comes up near halloween, a few years ago, I
preached about masks, the ghastly looking halloween masks I'd seen the
night before at the parish 'spooky spaghetti supper' contrasted with
the spiritual mask I frequently wear when I pray to Jesus. 'Too often,
my prayer mask looks alot like I do this morning in these lovely
vestments, with my eyes are turned heavenward, hands clasped in
prayer, and as I talk to God I offer up prayers that are jewels of
self congratulation and smugness. You guessed it, during all too many
prayers I wear the mask of a pharisee but behind that cherubic mask
hides my true spiritual face which more often looks like the ghastly
scarred and snarling ghoul masks for sale in the store. I went on to
say how hard it is for us to realize that Jesus loves our gnarled and
damged faces the one we work so hard to hide with a mask of
perfection. Christ doesn't want us showing up on his doorstep like
trick or treaters with our self righteous masks on and our bag open,
He desires us to show up with our masks off and to simply empty our
bag of sins at his feet. That's why he loved the tax collector etc.
Hope this might help someone who's still looking. Joel on Nantucket
Island
Dear All
Only my second posting thanks so much for your assistance. As a father
and full time worker in London and a preacher in my time off your
assistance is greatly appreciated. I have been most struck by the
recurring theme of "comparisons" in the posts and am taking that as my
theme.
I'll begin with a section of Praise based on Isaiah 40 - Who is there
Like You? Then move on to Confession that we are not like Jesus. The
sermon will be three points
1) Comparing Humility & Pride - general stuff on this
Humilty is the opp of bad pride but pride can be OK if it is not
boastful.
2) Comparing the Pharisee & the Tax Collector and our ability to be
like the Pharisee and lack of ability to be like the Tax Collector
3) Comparing the Pharisee's pride with Paul's assurance
Concluding as an earlier poster stated that in the end the only person
we should compare ourselves with is Jesus.
In the prayers we will be comparing our wealth (and pride and self
rightouesness?) with that of the ordinary Afghani (and the pride and
self righteous of the Taliban & Al Queda) and asking for wisdom and
discernment as to how to pray.
Hope this may inspire anyone still looking for a hook to hang the
whole service on
Adam in Hertford UK
Looking for suggestions for All Saint's Day to lift up in worship
those who have died in the pass year, names will be in the bulletin.
Any suggestions for liturgy or prayers would be appreciated. Nancy-Wi
Hi Nancy,
I use the Great Thanksgiving for All Saints Day from the UM Book of
Worship... and as part of the prayer name all those who have died
during the year. A bell (we use a hand bell) is rung after each name
is read. You can also light a candle for each person being remembered
-- either have a family member, or a member of the congregation do the
lighting. This has proven to be a meaningful way of remembering the
saints.
revcve in NY
Thank you for your responses. They are very helpful and give me a lot
of various views to look at this parable. Tomorrow I'm eagerly looking
forward to discusing this complex parable with parishioners for the
Bible Study group...
Bless you all...-Will in CT
Not by works, but Faith...
Isn't that what Martin Luther got in so much trouble over...
heard a joke the other day...
A pastor UM or Lutheran doesn't really matter... died and went to "the
other place" ok, HELL... got down there, noticed a friend of his was
there too... said to the friend,
"I don't know for sure, but doesn't that guy over there in the corner
remind you of those pictures of Martin Luther we saw in seminary..."
"Well, kind of, but what would he be doing here?"
"HEY!" says the other, "I didn't think WE'D be here either..."
"You've got a good point there!" "I'm going to go ask him!" Sure
enough he does... the man is tapped on the shoulder,
"Aren't you Martin Luther, the great reformer."
"As a matter of fact I am!" he says kind of sheepishly...
"What on earth are you doing down here...?"
to which Martin Luther replies...
"I was wrong, it was works!" ;?)
With grins, and thanks for all your help folks,
pulpitt in ND or pulpitt@att.net
So Craig,
Did you get a raise?
Thanks for your honest contribution... I'm just now re-reading things
for Sundays Sermon attempt... glad I've got the "extra hour"...
With grins,
pulpitt in ND
Well.. it's pretty late, and after reading all the contributions.. and
the need for some levity... I'm reminded of an old joke, about horses
on my uncle's farm...which I'll paraphrase in terms of this
passage.... "Down in the Temple there were Pharasees praying, and
there were tax collectors praying. And the pharasees were sayin' more
prayers than the tax collectors do. Now why were the Pharasees prayin'
more prayers than the tax collectors do?..... Because there were more
Pharasees!" Pax and Pas from Pam
Previous:
I'm preparing for this text one week ahead of time because of the
United Methodist tradition of "laity Sunday". Is anyone else out there
doing the same? Wes in Western Illinois
I am also preparing this text a week ahead of time. I am not sure how
I will approach it but it strikes me that it is very important that
the pharisee thinks so highly of himself while the tax collector is so
repentant. However, I also noted in the commentary that it would not
be helpful for the text to be presented in such a way that our
parishnors leave church glad that they are not the pharisee. We all
have a little pharisee in us- how best to bring this out I have not
decided. In addition the pharisee was practicing his religion as he
understood it. Oh well, what does anyone else think? TSM
As a lay person preparing this lesson, I thought a key point was that
the Pharisee thought he had done enough to be good. The tax collector
knew he had not done enough. The flip side is that the pharisee was
working to be good, the tax collector would probably leave planning to
sin again. Who is better, both are wrong. We too have part of each in
us.
There's the story of the schoolteacher who said, after reading this
passage, "Now, children, put your hands together, close your eyes, and
thank God you are not like this wicked Pharisee!"
Pharisees in general are much underrated, and Jesus is not 100%
anti-Pharisee in Luke's gospel - he did have dinner with one, even if
he gave him a telling-off - and how do we know that if the Pharisee
did not take the message to heart?
Shalom!
Barbara, London
Barbara,
That is a wonderfull story. It is amazing how we ofeten hear the text
in a way that we want to hear it. I don't think that we are any use as
Christians unless we see ourselves somehow in solidarity with those
who have failed. The Pharisee was not so much guilty of self
righteousness (Though he was that) but of distancing himself from
those who have got it wrong or struggled. In contrast, the tax
collector who by nature was a dodgy kind of person, identified with
all those people whom the pharisee was so critical of.
Its intereting that if he had really looked, the pharisee would have
found himself in much better company with all the really bad people,
rather than the righteous. After all, right in the middle of all
these, he would have found Jesus.
John (UK)
Hum, let's see, what's the message here?
From the Pharisee, we learn a lesson about religious humility. It's
not that the Pharisee was a bad person -- quite the contrary, he was
in all likelihood a very good person. His error was one of pride (in
his goodness). I wonder how many of us who are ordained silently
suffer from similar error. How might it focus? "Oh, God, why have you
sent me to preach to *these* people!" "Dear God, what a terrible mess
the world is in -- how can I fix it?" "Dear God, you do love me more
than others, right? At least a little bit more?" "God, I thank you
that I am not like my parishioners, ...!" I know that there are many
among us who do not suffer from this error, but for those few among
us, myself included, who do, God gives us the Pharisee.
From the Tax Collector, we learn a lesson about infinite patience. Few
folk were either as feared or as down right nasty as tax collectors at
the time of Jesus. My understanding is that they purchased the right
to collect taxes in a given area (much like a franchise), then were
permitted to get all the taxes they could get. It was, by my
understanding, a rotten, evil and most corrupt system, practised
probably by rotten, evil and corrupt people. Recognizing, rightfully,
the error of his life, the tax collector turns to God begging mercy,
and, through the infinite patience of God who waits upon us all, is
granted same.
Was the Pharisee humbled? Of course he was, and probably needed to be.
Was the tax collector exalted? Of course he was, and probably needed
to be. Each was at a different place in the journey to faith, and each
needed a different response. The question of the day, for me, is, what
kind of response do I need -- humility or patience? (That is to say,
at this moment in my journey to faith, am I more like the Pharisee, or
more like the tax collector?)
The answer is important only from the viewpoint of further formation.
God extends hope, forgiveness, patience and love to both!
Jim
There is a strange catch-22 here - as soon as we hear the Gospel we
wish to act like the Publican (Tax Collector); and immediately when we
try we become a Pharisee. One more notch for my belt!
It's about grace, really, God's prerogative to love as God chooses.
Not because of anything we do or fail to do but simply because God
loves. Of course we are guilty of being at times the self-satisfied
Pharisee and at others the wicked, but repentant tax-collector. The
Pharisee, however, needs no grace from God, he is so satisfied with
his obedience he leaves no window of opportunity to be blessed. But
the tax- collector, whether virtuous or not, and whether or not he
plans to be virtuous in the future matters not a whit - he is blessed
because he asks for mercy. He leaves "justified."
I just had the thought that the heroes of biblical stories are unlike
the heroes we would choose. We like winners with virtue and integrity.
The heroes of biblical stories are often anything but virtuous. As a
North Carolina boy, I have watched the saga of Kerry Collins fall from
grace with the Carolina Panthers football team. He is the anti-hero,
the quitter in a macho sport. He has fallen into disfavor league-wide.
How strange to read Dick Butkus, his new coach in New Orleans (the
Saints, paradoxically enough) saying that perhaps they can give Kerry
a chance for redemption. Kerry is in the perfect position to realize
his need of grace. I hope he asks. He may find something that football
and the press and his fame will never be able to give him.
Homiletically, this might be a good opportunity to speak on the heroes
of the Bible. I think this parable summarizes a common thread in
Luke's gospel - that grace is given to people we don't expect. The
Samaritan leper, poor and powerless, the prodigal and wayward. Seems
to me that grace is also given to those of us who stand in judgement
of others, if we can take the logs out of our own eyes!
Mark, in NC
Random thoughts: I will be preaching this text on "Loyalty Sunday,"
the commitment Sunday of our stewardship drive. The pharisee gives 10%
but is not justified. Does this let people off the hook from tithing
or does the scripture challenge us to go beyond......
How do we hear this story as the echoes of the Cain and Able
sacrifices come to us from the OT. What makes ANY sacrifice
acceptable? Is the tax collector making a sacrifice?
Ann in Louisiana
For Jim, Thanks for your thoughts.........having just preached
yesterday on the relentless persistence of God in seeking us out, it
may be useful to touch on that once again this week in light of God's
patience and perseverance despite our human frailty. I am reminded of
Maya Angelou, who talks about how she prays at night saying "God,
today I screwed up at least one hundred times, help me to make it only
ninety-nine times tomorrow!" Thanks for your thoughts, SueCan
40 or 50 years ago, I could have preached a real pulpit pounding
sermon on this text. The theme would have been hypocrisy, which is
what Jesus usually criticizes the Pharisees for. But you have to say
this much for the Pharisees, and hypocrites in general; they take
their faith/religion serious enough to be hypocritical about it!
Within our present cultural context, I'm not so sure as to what the
"sin" is not so much hypocrisy as religious apathy. Today, a
Pharasaical attitude toward the faith might be a goal! (This is
somewhat tongue-in-cheek of course.)
40 or 50 years ago, I could have preached a real pulpit pounding
sermon on this text. The theme would have been hypocrisy, which is
what Jesus usually criticizes the Pharisees for. But you have to say
this much for the Pharisees, and hypocrites in general; they take
their faith/religion serious enough to be hypocritical about it!
Within our present cultural context, I'm not so sure as to what the
"sin" is not so much hypocrisy as religious apathy. Today, a
Pharasaical attitude toward the faith might be a goal! (This is
somewhat tongue-in-cheek of course.) In our tradition, this sunday is
Reformation sunday. Is this not one of the hallmarks of the
Reformation, justification by faith. Here are two responses of how to
"get right" with God. Of course, in order to "get right" one has to
sense that something is wrong, which is extremely difficult to convey
in a therapeutic society which sees the human predicament not as
sinners in need of redemption, but as basically well-intentioned
people who make an occasional faux-pas. As Willimon notes, there was a
time when people were afraid of being caught doing something sinful in
front of their minister...Today, we're afaid of saying something
immature in front of our therapists! Buran in Flordia. P.S. Mike, in
NC -- That's Mike Ditka, not Dick Butkus!
Just a thought: Along with the obvious themes of grace,
self-righteousness, and humility--I think there is another aspect of
this text needs to be explored. The Pharisee stood "by himself" and
listed his accomplishments. The Tax Collector stood "far off" and
cried out for mercy. Both of them are alone. Both are away from other
worshipers. Here is a wonderful opportunity to illustrate the need for
community. TIM (Florida)
I think I am going to preach this text from the perspective of
repentence. Perhaps Jesus is reminding those to whom he speaks that in
order to be in a whole and healthy relationship with God we must first
claim our own stuff. Having a relationship with God is so much more
than acknowledging what we do right, it is about claiming that part of
us that messes up. That part of us that knows we fail ourselves, God
and one another. How to do this and not beat people up, I am not sure.
However, it is something that merits thought. tsm
I'm doing a "dialogue sermon" this week, with one of us taking the
part of the Pharisee, and the other the tax collector. But we want to
update the characters so that people hear the story fresh (I think we
typically hear this as the Pharisee being the "bad guy" and the tax
collector the "good guy" since we know the end of the story. But
Jesus' listeners would have heard it very differently and been
surprised by the end of the story). So we're considering making the
Pharisee a Pastor, who is "justifiably" (interesting word) proud of
his congregation and the work s/he does with them, and who does indeed
"do everything right." But we're having a little trouble coming up
with a modern profession who would fit in the category of a 1st
century Palestinian tax collector. Trying to think of someone who has
sold out to the system for personal gain...? Any suggestions would be
greatly appreciated!! I'm still a novice to this site, but I
appreciate all the comments - just knowing you all are out there is a
source of great support! nwolc/ct
I think of the subtleness of sin and self-deceived righteousness we
all struggle with. One of my favorite seminary professor's stories was
of a Sunday school teacher who was teaching on the text of the smug
pharisee and the humble "publican." She summed up for the children why
it is so important that we practice humility (praying in the closet
vs. on the temple steps). She concluded her lesson with this action
step: "Children, pray after me: we thank you lord that we are pious,
and righteous, yes even humble... like the Publican... and not smug
and arrogant like the Pharisee." It's like my friend, who bragging to
me one day said, you know Mike, humility really is one of my BEST
qualities!!
To nwolc/ct,
Although I can see everyone's point that the tax collector was someone
who sold out for greed, I have an extra understanding of Jesus' use of
the tax collector in his parable. The tax collectors in Jesus' time
were outcast for the very reasons everyone has mentioned. Many did not
want to be friends with them. Remember that Jesus was criticized for
eating with prostitutes and tax collectors. So I would not have a
problem with using an IRS agent for the tax collector. I have
sometimes envision the modern day "tax collector" as those who are one
the bottom rung in status or acceptance such as garbage collectors or
atheists or even a crude Christian (one who is faithful, but does not
talk and act like "cultured" Christians, if you get my drift).
Hope you think of something, even if I haven't given you any ideas.
Brandon in CA
Brandon in CA: I have a big problem with your suggesting an IRS agent
as the unscrupulous villian in this parable. My husband is a
professional tax accountant and has worked with IRS agents for years.
Of course there are "bad apples" in any profession, but the agents my
hasband has worked with are for the most part honest, intelligent
people doing a highly unpopular job. They really don't need any
gratuitous evil stereotyping. AL in OR
To: nwolc/ct
Seems one would be stepping on some personal toes if an actual job
title is substituted for tax collector - i.e. lawyer, IRS agent, repo
person.
Why not use: con man, drifter or maybe a "self impose risk" title such
as smoker, pot smoker, gambler, etc
Dave/Wasilla, AK
Gee, nwolc/ct ,
I really like the idea of giving a modern face to the old tax
collector. My understanding is that the tax collector was required to
collect a certain amount for the Roman gov't, and anything extra he
could get, he could keep. Hence, despised. I am thinking: a pimp would
qualify, IRS guys maybe not, as they don't keep anything extra for
themselves (do they?). Also maybe a little despised: dog catcher, HMO
administrator, politician, mortician -- but maybe not sinful. (Please
don't tell me about all the great people of the above type - I'm
kidding....) Gee, nwolc/ct , please let us know what you choose!
HW in HI
Okay, so it is Mike Ditka and not Dick Butkus (all football players
look alike to me) - I'm kidding of course. TIM, interesting notion on
the "community" idea which I was thinking on yesterday myself.
Particularly I'm thinking about the Pharisee who seems to compare
himself favorably with others who don't measure up to his standards.
I'm wondering why it is we must put others down in order that we might
measure up. And how that tends to split communities apart. There's a
story, which may be apocryphal, about an athlete who was taking a
break from an Olympic tryout in the Triangle area of North Carolina
(Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). Concurrently with the tryouts there
was a Special Olympics event being held at Wallace Wade Stadium at
Duke Univ. The athlete was watching a footrace between several of the
special athletes when suddenly one of them tripped and fell. The
others, rather than continuing on their race to the finish, all
stopped and went to see about this fallen competitor and after seeing
he was okay, all joined hands and ran together across the finish line.
The Pharisee and tax-collector are far apart from this experience of
the kingdom of God.
Mark in NC
The Pharisee protesteth too much! But why not, look at who he was - a
tither, a disciplined fast-er. This man is a serious believer. A look
at the Publican - he is afraid to come too close, he keeps his face to
the ground, and yet he beat his breast - for what - we all know he was
a sinner, a tax collector - one who took money from his own people and
gave it to the Romans!
Well, Jesus has done it again - subverted my world, turned my life up
side down, as soon as I think I have it, I DON'T! When will I finally
learn. Sure I can give a good sermon on this text, I can even honor
the Publican, but I know when I do, I speak as a Pharisee, one who is
unable to let go of my own self-righteousness (don't tell my
congregation)!
Tom in GA
Friends:
We observe the last Sunday in October as Reformation Sunday,
too--perhaps a holdover from olden days when the differences between
Protestants and Catholics were magnified. However, there is still
something useful about observing our faith heritage, as well as the
milestone events that make us who we are today. Martin Luther had
profound things to say about the nature of faith and of our human need
for salvation that can only be satisfied by the grace of God. Luther,
priest and reformer, had a powerful sense of his own unworthiness.
This gave him a great sense of vulnerability, of course, to the wiles
of the Devil. We all have heard the (perhaps) apocryphal story of his
throwing an inkwell at the devil, lurking in the shadows ready to
tempt him (is it true that the ink stain is still on the wall of the
Wittenberg church?). The connection with the parable, to me, is that
the pharisee did not have a very highly developed sense of his own
sinfulness, his own vulnerability. Thus his witness was marred by
excess pride, a pride that kept him from truly being a light to those
who were in the darkness around him. Luther had no illusions about his
own sinfulness. Even his acts of faith were susceptible to sin. Thus
God has to be in our hearts and deeds constantly or else we are truly
in danger of subverting our own best intentions. Luther's advice to
"sin boldly" was not a hypocritical, thumb-your-nose-at-tradition
challenge to do whatever feels good. It's just a reminder that if we
wait to FEEL righteous, we're in the most danger of all.
Of course, I don't feel too righteous most of the time. My
congregation keeps me pretty humble. But it's in my neediness after
all that I find the mercy and love of God. I also find whatever real
hope and joy that life may hold. So we'll be singing "A Mighty
Fortress" and remembering those lessons. Have a beautiful October day!
-- Tim in Deep River
Thanks for the ideas about the real issue being how we compare
ourselves with each other. It is true that both characters in this
story are sinful; the greatest sin seems to be the pumping up of
onesself by putting down of the other. This is an issue that's real,
every day, for ALL of us.
Question: is it true that the pharisee is praying in the traditional
form? Would this have been a common prayer, akin to "I thank you that
I am not a woman"? If so, here is another implication: true worship,
redemptive worship, is that which comes from the heart and
acknowledges our sin. Not that printed prayers are a problem, because
sometimes the words of our heritage can be vehicles through which we
can pour out our hearts -- but that failure to be honest about who we
are, and self-protective practices like trying not to cry when we are
moved to do so in worship -- are roadblocks to the salvation process.
Kay (P.S. It's good to be back after several weeks out of the
lectionary! I've missed you all!)
Jesus was a Pharisee. That is why he had so much criticism of
pharasees. That is what I heard Krister Stindahl say when he was dean
at Harvard. It was part on one's duty to go through a check list of
what they did and did not do as accountability to God as part of one's
regular devotions. You can bet that Jesus audience was identifying
very strongly with the pharasee in the beginning of the parable. The
punch line of the parable that turns our world upside down is that the
judge rendered the verdict in favor of the tax-collector. The
disturbing, compelling, requirement of the parables is that we know in
our hearts that it is true that we need humility. We know that it is
true that the tax-collector experienced a catharsis which comes only
when one opens his/her life to God in honesty that scrutinizes one's
very soul. We know that it is true that God touches our hearts
precisely when our hearts are really open and our egos don't have a
handle on everything. Manzel
A thought from Pheme Perkins, from her book "Hearing the Parables of
Jesus": "The story is a good example of what social pyschologists have
in mind when they speak of people internalizing a negative attitude.
The two men assume positions and postures that are ascribed to them by
the social definition of their relative worth. The Pharisee expresses
everything that his society recognizes as reprehensible, and then sees
that summed up before his very eyes in the tax-collector. The
tax-collector's hesitant entry into the temple, his position at the
back, and his posture when praying all express the same evaluation of
himself that is put forward by the society at large." As to why the
Pharisee would not wish to be in relationship with the tax-collector,
Perkins writes: "How can a person feel anything but anger and
revulsion at being required to associate with those who symbolize what
his or her culture has taught him or her to despise?" (pp. 174, 175).
I think of Fred Phelps and his ilk from the Baptist church in Topeka,
KS, showing up at Matthew Shepard's burial service with signs
expressing virulent hatred for gays and lesbians. In language even
worse than that used by our text's Pharisee. Certainly there are
strands in our Christian cultures that teach us to despise others on
the basis of sexual orientation. As Martin Marty noted in an op-ed
piece that I read in Sunday's LA Times, religious rhetoric such as
"Love the sinner, hate the sin" often unfortunately paves the way for
brutality toward the "sinner." Perhaps Jesus' parable can lead us to
think about the (sometimes dangerous) power of religious rhetoric
which separates "us" from "them." Doug in Riverside, CA
