Thoughts for the Day

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘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.” 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!” 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.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This is a totally impossible parable! Why? Because as soon as we so "Oh those terrible Pharisees!" we are doing exactly what our righteous Pharisee is doing, aren't we? He was a good and righteous man, and not a thief, rogue, or adulterer, neither was he a tax-collector taking more than he should and handing over the least he could! But as soon as we divide people into "us" and "them", or into different groups, and decide some are "in" and some "out" we shall find ourselves separated from God for He is the only one who can judge our hearts.

So what about the tax-collector? Well he doesn't repay what he has stolen neither does he make a sacrifice in the Temple for his sin, yet Luke tells us that he went home 'justified'. The word 'justified' means that God has declared a sinner righteous because of their faith. In Christian terms we would say that God, the righteous judge, declares that someone though sinful is righteous because of their faith in Christ. In other words he or she has come into a right relationship with God.

So this story is not about a self-righteous man and a humble man, or perhaps we should say a pious Pharisee and a desperate tax-collector. It is about God who judges the secrets of our hearts and who will declare whether a person is justified - that is He wants to welcome us back as His children when we come to Him with nothing but our need for Him. When we stand before him with all our frailties and faults and simply rely on His mercy, we like the tax-collector may return home freed from sin.

Father-God,
we come to You this day
to offer You our praise and thanks
that You sent Your Son to redeem us
from our slavery to sin.
We know we are not worthy
to be called your children,
but our need is so great,
we ask You to have mercy on us.
Forgive us,
and teach us how to make amends
by changing our lives
to be the child You would have us be.
Amen.