Saturday 21 March 2009

Background

Just before this passage, Jesus has been teaching about thekingdom of God (17:20 - 18:8). Nowhe turns his attention to what that means for both the poor and theprivileged. God's kingdom is an upside-down kingdom where the poorare considered rich and those who think they are great discoverthey have much to learn.

Those who would follow Jesus need to look not with their own eyesbut with God's. To look at ourselves with God's eyes, rather thanthose of the world, can be profoundly disturbing.

This is not a parable told against the Pharisees. If it were, wewould find it a lot more comfortable. It would let us off the hook.Instead, the 'Pharisee' stands for those who believe themselvesbetter than most. People who separated themselves from others tomaintain their purity before God.

The Pharisee is described as "standing by himself" and as he prays,he looks up, a cut above the rest. And yet he can't resistcomparing himself with others. He thanks God that he is not likeother people. He lists all his virtues. He asks nothing of God. Hisprayer is all about self.

Contrast this with the tax collector. He is standing "far off" -far off from other people, far off from God. He is unworthy in hisown eyes and so looks down. He beats his breast, which is a sign ofremorse. His prayer echoes that of David in Psalm 51 -"God, be merciful to me, a sinner".

At the conclusion of the parable the positions are reversed. It isthe one who knows his need of God who goes home justified, putright with God.

The Pharisee's attitude separates him from both God and neighbour.Once again, we're reminded that love of God needs to go hand inhand with love of neighbour and right understanding of ourselves.We depend on God's grace, and that grace is received by those whoare graceful to others.

John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, spoke of being"perfected in love". He urged the early Methodists to examinethemselves regularly, not only before God, but before each other.He encouraged them to seek to grow in grace and in holiness. Themore people grew, the more they realised the ways in which theyfell short of perfect love.

We are challenged about where we are onthe journey - not where we are in comparison to others.

To Ponder

What faults do you find so concerning in othersand why?

Who helps you see yourself as you really are?

How do you seek to grow in grace andholiness?