‘
Thanks be to God I’m not like’ …
OMG as the kids say-- how many times have, I said that – not out loud but I’ve sure thought it a bunch. It may come out in different ways – you know the phrases: ‘
there but by the grace of God…’ or ‘there are consequences for bad behavior’ or ‘that would never happen to me’
I think you know all too well what I’m confessing here.
In fact, every month when I pay all my bills, I feel some of that because there were times when I couldn’t. Plus, ever since grade school [and that’s a while ago now], I’ve judged myself against others. [Again, I can’t be the only one.] That sort of way of seeing life as over and against other folks has made a deeper, fuller spiritual life harder at times. Because it sets up an ‘us and them’ status that keeps me from being grateful and/ or keeps me feeling like I’m better than other people. Nether one of those postures seems very healthy spiritually.
The Pharisee in our Gospel is a very learned and faithful man, super well versed in the Torah, knowledgeable in the prophets writing and the sacred history of Israel and seemingly secure in his place in the temple, in the hierarchy of life. He held a place of privilege and honor. It was in the eyes of many, a place of righteousness. But does that make anyone else who reads this parable wonder about the rest of folks, what about everyone else?
Enter the tax collector. Maybe he wasn’t the best man in town – tax collectors were working for the
man – and taking off the top of the collections was expected. The Publican, a fancy name for tax collector, seems repentant or is he just acknowledging his place?
This is where I can get hung up … I feel like both of them may need an attitude adjustment. But that won’t happen because they are not equal players in the story. I get this is a parable and should lead us all to consider how we pray, how we see ourselves, how God sees us, how we see each other.
But then where does that leave me? I pray to God to have mercy on me a sinner, to help me see the error of my ways, to give me grace to open my heart to see the value God gives to every one of Gods’ children. I want to pray in ways that encourage conversation, that lessen stereotypes, that call for engagement not estrangement. That’s a lot for this week. So be it.
Alison Schultz+
Priest in Charge
