Wednesday 9 May 2007

Now that we have set the prelude to this new parable yesterday, we can move into it.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. (Luke 18:9) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 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. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' (Luke 18:10-12)

The most striking image here is that we have these two men up at the temple. It was a place filled with people. It was where the people of Israel gathered to worship their God...and this is the God of all who gather. Well, within that setting , the Pharisee is "standing by himself." Separated from other. This "holy" man is separated from others. It is a place he chooses to be - separated from others...by himself. That would also lead us to say that he is separated from the God to whom he prayers. In this faith, to be separated from either God or others is to be separated from the other. This is a definition of sin. So we have this Pharisee, piously praying about the condition of others and what a "good boy am I," and yet, he does not see his great separation from the God to whom he prays. He approaches God not as one who has been graciously embraced by God. He approaches God as one who has earned the right to be in God's presence by what he has been able to do. He counts on himself. He is breaking the first commandment upon which all commandments are based. He has placed himself and his actions above the actions of the one God of all.

Connection: Sometimes amnesia would not be so bad. That is, if it allowed us to stay present with those around us without looking back at what we have done - to the good or to the bad. For in that moment, we would all be together at a point of equality that may allow us to look at and treat others as though we are in the presence of God when we are with them.

Come, O God of This New Day. Come and remind us of your love and how you invite us to reconsider all the ways we judge and value life so that we might begin to look at our neighbors with the love you have for us. Amen.