October 24, 2010

Luke 18:9-14
“Above Average”


Today, Jesus shares another parable – this time, the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, with all those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.” (Luke 18:9)

Often, when I read one of these stories, I think: which one of the people in the story does Jesus want me to be like; which one is doing the right thing and which one needs to change? And always, the unsettling part about his parables is that more often than not I am there, in the story. So today, my mind rewinds once again and I hear myself saying, “Boy, I’m sure glad I’m not that guy over there. His life’s a mess!”

It’s parables like this that easily make me uncomfortable and make me squirm because in them I see myself. Perhaps you do, too. Regardless though, there is a lesson here for all of us, even when we would rather not hear it. After all, who wants to be the one Jesus is talking about? And yet, we are.

We are average people who tend to see ourselves as better than average. Studies have shown that it is common for 90% of those in certain professions to rate themselves superior to their colleagues. Professor of psychology David Myers, found that most drivers — even those who have been hospitalized after accidents — believe themselves to be safer and more skilled than the average driver? “The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, or anything else,” notes humorist Dave Barry, “is that deep down inside, we all believe that we are above average drivers.” We do all live in Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above average. - Garrison Keillor)

Two people went to the temple to pray. One a pious, devout, religious person prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people — thieves, murderers, adulterers — or like this tax collector. I fast, I pray, I tithe all I have.

The tax collector could hardly even pray. He beat upon his chest crying, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Two people were in church on Sunday morning. One, a lifetime member of the church, the teacher of a Sunday school class, and member of the Church Council, prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like a lot of other people; my parents always brought me to church, made sure I was in Sunday School when I was young, and taught me right from wrong. I give the church as much as I can, I volunteer my time at the food pantry, I help tutor children at the elementary school when I can, and I hardly ever miss church.”

The other, there for the first time and seated clear in the back, muttered in an almost inaudible voice, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Both went home after church, one justified, the other not. One experienced God’s grace that day, one did not – not because one was bad and the other good or that they got what they deserved. In this story, what both received was "in spite of," not "because of."

There is a lesson here for all of us. If you see yourself somewhere in this story and as a result change your ways so you might become closer to God, that’s a good thing – but know that’s not the real lesson because the parable is not about us – it is about God. It is a picture of how God behaves, of what God does and who God is. God’s grace is given us in despite of who we are rather than because of who we are.

Two people were in church, wanting to be close to God, to be set right with God. But rather than focus on these two people and their actions, we should focus instead on the actions of God. It is not a matter of our acting more like one than the other. Instead, it is a matter of God’s always acting (at the worst time in our life) to bring us close to God.

Two people prayed in church. God came close to one and not the other. The one is justified, made right with God. The other goes home empty. Why? I don’t know, it’s a story about God, not us. But I suspect it has something to do with our reliance on our selves to do things, even become close to God. It’s been said, “When you trust God, you get God. But when you trust only yourself, you get … only yourself.” Perhaps God can only help those who cannot help themselves. Why? I don’t know. Maybe there is lesson in that as well.

The message is not “Okay, people, be humble.” The tax collector wasn’t being humble. He just did not know what to pray. He was down, his life was a mess, he was separated from God and he didn’t know what to do about it. Imagine being in his shoes. You come, not knowing whether or not you ought to be here. You have done things you shouldn’t have. Everyone around you looks so righteous, so close to God, so near to getting it right. But you feel far and distant from God. When it comes time for prayer, you don’t know what words to use. You’ve made mistakes. You’re down. You don’t know what to pray. But more than anything else, you want to be close to God.

The good news is, that’s when God meets us, justifies us, and blesses us.

Jesus said, “I’ve come to find the lost, and lift up the lonely. I’ve come to save the sinner.” Thank God, because when is that not us?!