It begins early in life. At school we are grateful we are not like “those kids”. If we go to University, we are grateful we are doing a decent degree, unlike “those students”. At work, we are grateful that we don’t do “that job”. In our lives we are glad we don’t live “there”. We are glad we drive “this car” as opposed to “that car”. All through this runs the unspoken implication that we are “better” than those who do “those degrees”, work “those jobs” or live in “those houses”. And I haven’t even touched on the one that’s closest to home, “I’m glad I go to this church, not that church”. “I’m glad I believe this as opposed to believing that”.
Our reading this week covers the parable of two very different men praying two very different prayers. On one hand there’s the Pharisee, the elite group in Jewish society. His prayer consists of reminding God how great the Pharisee is, how lucky God is to have him on God’s side. He’s grateful he’s not like the other man praying at the same time. He’s a tax collector who is from the bottom rung of society. The tax collector knows he’s not worthy of God’s grace because he knows he’s a sinner. He pleads for mercy from God for all he has done wrong. Yet Jesus tells us that God responds to the prayer of the tax collector by forgiving him all he has done.
We read this parable and give thanks we are not the Pharisee, but in doing so, we become the Pharisee. Jesus told this parable as a warning to “all who were confident of their own righteousness”. If we think it applies to others, it means it applies to us. Like Jacob last week, it takes some effort to come face to face with the truth that God wants us to see. When we think we are better than others we are blinding ourselves to grace. Only those who know they need grace will receive it. Only those who know they need forgiveness can receive it. How can you ask for something unless you know you’re missing it? As a church we’ve wrestled with a lot of theology recently, and this parable comes at an opportune time. Instead of thinking we’ve got it right and others have it wrong, maybe we need some humility and grace to accept others may not be lesser than us for their lifestyle or beliefs. Rather it may be that all have fallen short of God’s glory and all are in need of God’s grace. That includes us.