When considering the virtues, there are some which are hard to attain.  Perhaps the hardest to maintain is humility.  Did you hear of the gentleman who received the humility award from his congregation – a beautiful lapel pin?  They took it back when he wore it on Sunday!  Humility is certainly The Elusive Virtue – once you realize you have it, you don’t!  In his popular book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes about humility, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”   Warren goes on, “Humility is thinking more of others.  Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don’t think of themselves.” [p. 148; General 5, 8] Our Gospel lesson this morning is a lesson for humility.

           No one in Jesus’ listening congregation had any doubt as to the righteousness of the Pharisee.  Obviously, the Pharisee had no doubt!

 

'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 

 

The tax-collector, on the other hand, is convinced, not of his own righteousness, but of his sin:

 

‘But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 

 

           Don’t you know Jesus’ congregation readily agrees with both of these characters?  They are certain of the Pharisee’s righteousness, and probably a bit envious of it; they are also certain that a tax-collect is one of the most hideous of sinners.  And don’t you know Jesus’ congregation that day was shocked when they heard Jesus pronounce:  “(T)his man went down to his home justified rather than the other.”  In other words, when addressing God, even the righteous do well to be humble – even as elusive as humility can be.

           The Pharisee, as if to convince God of his own righteousness compares himself to others: the tax-collector, convinced of his sin, offers himself to God; and there lies the difference:  “for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

 

I do not know how many of you remember, in the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia.  Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters.  News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident.  It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction – not even thick fog.  The cause was human stubbornness and pride.  Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby.  Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other.  Each was too proud to yield first.  By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.  Hundreds of lives lost because neither of two captains thought soon enough about someone else!

Adapted from Closer Walk

December, 1991

Stan Whites

General-5, 10

 

           The Pharisee prayed comparing himself to others; the tax-collector prays offering himself to God.  When Jesus prayed in the Upper Room, he prayed for his disciples and offered himself as the high priest – the intermediary for their edification.  He did not pray, Lord, I’m glad I am not like the Roman rulers; Lord, I’m glad I’m not like the Temple authorities; Lord, I’m glad I’m not like Judas.

           When Jesus prayed in the Garden, he did not pray, Lord, I’m glad I’m not like these disciples who cannot stay awake for even an hour to pray; or Lord, I’m glad I’m not like those who would use physical force to suppress divine intent; or Lord, I’m glad I’m not like those who sneak around in the dark to accomplish their selfish ends.  No, in the Garden, Jesus offered his “self” to God praying: “Not my will; but thine!”

           When Jesus hung from the cross, he did not pray, Lord, I’m glad I am not like those who use power to achieve their ends; or Lord, I’m glad I’m not like these two thieves who have violated the social contract; or, Lord, I’m glad I’m not like these who find entertainment in the execution of pain on others.  No, from the cross, Jesus prayed, “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

           So, how is it with us?  Do we pray to God, Lord, I’m glad I am not like others?  Do we pray reminding God of our righteousness?  Are we so convinced or our correct-ness that we need to remind God how correct and immaculate and appropriate and contrite we are?  Or do we cast ourselves on the mercy of the merciful One and like the despicable tax-collector lay our selves before God with “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”?

           When we confess our sins in worship, do we ever – just for an inkling moment – think to ourselves, I’m glad that’s not my sin?  If so, humility as eluded us, for sure!  When we hear the words, “Christ died for us while we were yet sinners” – does it ever cross our minds that our sins surely did not warrant Christ’s death; did we think of the “we” as simply those who were sinning way back when Jesus was living?  When we hear the pronouncement, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven” does it cross our minds that we were glad we were not like other sinners?  Or did we cast our self on God’s great grace, as the tax-collector who prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!”?  You know, when addressing God, even the righteous do well to be humble – even as elusive as humility can be.

 

  When the funeral cortege of Charlemagne came to the cathedral, they were shocked to find the gate barred by the bishop, “Who comes?” shouted the bishop.

  The heralds answered, “Charlemagne, Lord and King of the Holy Roman Empire!”

  Answering for God, the bishop replied, “Him I know not!  Who comes?”

  The heralds, a bit shaken, answered, “Charles the Great, a good and honest man of the earth!”

  Again the bishop answered, “Him I know not. Who comes?”

  Now completely crushed, the heralds say, “Charles, a lowly sinner, who begs the gift of Christ.”

  “Him I know,” the bishop replied.  “Do come in!”

[Adapted from Clergy.net-1, 3]

 

           Standing before the Lord in prayer, the Pharisee in the Gospel knew only his own self-righteousness; the tax-collector knew only his sin.  For Jesus, only one went away justified…  For this teaching of Jesus; and for the Gospel of grace, thanks be to God.