October 23, 2016 - Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost - Comparisons

Amazing worship service today where Creator youth and young adults led worship with readings, Assisting Minister and musicians.  Musicians included Sonnet on violin and Nate on guitar.  Their songs from other countries opened and closed worship.  I was able to enjoy sitting next to my wife for worship rather than participating as a musician.

The Gospel Lesson was timely - Luke 18:9-14.  This is the parable where a Pharisee and a tax collector go up to the temple to pray and the Pharisee prayed '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.’

The tax collector is more humble in his prayer. He won't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

Jesus ends the parable saying, "This man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.".

In the past I read this as Jesus extolling the tax collector's humility but now I wonder if there is something more going on as well. We know the Pharisee will go down to his house justified.  If the tax collector goes home with the same attitude because of his prayer, then, perhaps, Jesus is observing that God is not in the ranking - judgement business at all.  Neither man's actions change God's love or the grace that he offers.

There is a beautiful song this reminds me of that T Bone Burnett sang during his "Christian" period (about the same time as Bob Dylan's).  The song is called Trap Door:

It's a funny thing about humility
As soon as you know you're being humble
You're no longer humble
It's a funny thing about life
You've got to give up your life to be alive

You've got to suffer to know compassion
You can't want nothing if you want satisfaction

Tonight the world looks like a different place
Tonight the moon is turning in its place
Tonight we find ourselves alone at last
Watch out for the trap door
Watch out for the trap door

It's a funny thing about love
The harder you try to be loved
The less lovable you are
It's a funny thing about pride
When you're being proud
You should be ashamed

You find only pain if you seek after pleasure
You work like a slave if you seek out the leisure

Tonight the world looks like a different place
Tonight the moon is shining on your face
Tonight we find ourselves alone at last
Watch out for the trap door
Watch out for the trap door

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I wonder if we can all watch out for the trap door.