October 28, 2007 The Rev. James Lee Winter Thank God we’re not like those Pharisees!... Well, that’s probably honest but it doesn’t sound quite right does it? This is a dangerous parable. I think of it as like one of those Chinese finger traps. You know, those low tecj woven tubes that you easily slide your fingers into and then try to pull them out again. The harder you pull the more stuck you get. Think about it. I bet there are a few people here in Starkville who get a little resentful when Ole Miss people say or act like; “Well, thank goodness we’re Ole Miss and not State!” Ever heard that or thought you might have to punch someone for having that attitude. What is the next thing we think? Isn’t it something like; “Thank God we’re not like them.” Oops. Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. Both parts of that are important. Righteousness is not a laundry list of things done or not done, as important as those are, but it is being in right relationship to God. God is God and we are not and we are all dependent on God’s mercy and grace. So, self-righteous is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Besides, it’s really obnoxious and mean. “...and regarded others with contempt.” The tendency to justify ourselves, feel better about ourselves by tearing others down is a favorite human flaw. It’s like one wag said; “Thank God for all those below average folks who make it easier for me to be noticeably superior.” That looking at others with contempt is one that will back and bite us every time. Has. In this part of Luke, we are hearing a running dialogue between Jesus, his disciples, and the Pharisees. Let’s look at these two characters who show up in the Temple, probably late one afternoon on their way home. They stopped by to pray. Not a bad thing to do, incidentally. One was a Pharisee. Pharisees are not the cardboard cutout bad guys that they’re often made out to be. I think Jesus went after them so much because they came so close. Phariseeism was a lay movement that took seriously trying to live their faith. They prayed regularly - several times a day, they did the works of charity that scripture commanded, they tithed, at least. They actually were very disciplined and most often sincere believers. The Pharisees who followed Jesus had to change very little in their behavior. Some had a major attitude change to make, though. They could deliver a learned discussion of grace but they didn’t walk the walk. The tax collector, on the other hand, was guilty of a lot of bad things. Tax collectors then made their living by adding exorbitant markups to the tax bill Rome sent out and backed it up with Roman soldiers. They were guilty of extortion and thievery. They were locals who collaborated with the hated Roman occupation and profited from it. When this man calls himself a sinner, he means it. To follow Jesus, he would have to make major changes in his whole way of life. Still, Jesus says that when the prayers are over, one went home justified and the other not. He was not saying that all the good things the Pharisee did were wrong or unimportant. He was not saying that the terrible things the tax collector did were somehow right. He was saying that the Pharisee trusted in his own righteousness, when he was just as dependent on God’s grace as anyone else, and he regarded others with contempt. Notice here that contempt even for an acknowledged sinner is not condoned. The tax collector knew who he was in relation to God’s righteousness and, thus stood in right relationship to God. There is a part of us that buys this because we’ve all been on the receiving end of self-righteous contempt but there is that works righteousness side of us that wants to be able to earn salvation by offering God something of equal worth. For all of us raised to work hard and play by the rules - and those are commendable - it really is difficult to admit that we have nothing, can do nothing that merits the grace of God in Christ. Yet, admitting that and trusting, having faith, that just that grace has been freely offered to us is the best news any of us will ever get. So, it may actually be hard to be humble when - (fill in the blank) - but we have to try. But remember that finger trap, too. Just when I think I’ve learned the lesson, what am I saying? “Look at me, how humble I am.” When we do good, offer it as thanksgiving, celebrate the grace that made it possible, and let go of it. God will us release from the trap. God has released us. Grace makes righteousness.