All in this Together

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 ESV). During any crisi

s I have found that both the best and the worst of us all seem to be magnified. The watch-phrase of the pandemic has become “We’re All In This Together.” In a very real sense, because of the global impact, this is true. Practically no social or economic group has been spared. And, yet we seem to be as divided as ever. I have given this some thought; and, while I am not an expert in the field, I have come to a preliminary conclusion. We’re divided because we fail to understand the basic nature of humanity. That basic nature is our sinful, self-centered hearts and minds. In our reading today Jesus describes two very different attitudes. At the temple, where he went to pray, the Pharisee felt right at home. This was where he belonged, of course, and anyone listening to his prayer would be duly impressed, right? But the Pharisee did not come to pray to God; he came to talk about himself. He did not come to thank God for his grace, mercy, and forgiveness; he came to declare how glad he was that he was not like other people. He followed all the prescribed religious duties and always gave a tenth of what he made. Compared to others, the Pharisee seemed nearly perfect. God had to be pleased with him, right? Certainly he was much better than that tax collector standing “at a distance.” Jesus quickly set the record straight. The Pharisee went home just as he had come, unrepentant and full of himself. But the tax collector went home forgiven and justified. What matters to the Lord is not how good we think we are, how much we give, or how -often we go to church. What matters is our attitude, specifically that we ¬realize our need for God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Only then will we be justified. Before you begin the rigors of your day, may I encourage you to ask yourself, “What is my attitude before the Lord?” In a very real way we are all in this together; and, no one will survive without the grace of God!