Proper 25, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Joel 2:23-32 with Psalm 65 or
Sirach 35:12-17 or
Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 with Psalm 84:1-7 and
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 and
Luke 18:9-14
Life has a language.
And Scripture has a word for us.
As usual the words of Jesus capture the power of connection and the sadness of disconnects that plague the lives of a Pharisee and publican as deeply as they touch us. And, as usual, Jesus would have us look for life where we would least expect to find it. We learn again, perhaps because we need to learn it over and over again, that the pitcher of success often fails to hold the water of life. We learn that faith is not an accomplishment, that prayer is not an achievement, that role is secondary to what we do in our various roles. We learn that the boundaries that surround us must be porous rather than sharp, fluid rather than controlled. And we learn that although connection is a leading cause of life, circumstance most decidedly is not.
Although we might expect such a teaching to occupy a chapter or two, Jesus wraps the parable in a text with just five sentences:
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “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.” 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!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
In a pastoral view of the Leading Causes of Life forgiveness opens the door to connection. We escape life, instead of living it, if we think that all connections will be pleasing, that all relationships will not have a tight spot or two, that everybody will comply with the same set of understandings. And so we must bring forgiveness to the forefront. If we do not the attitude of the Pharisee will separate us from each other just as surely as it isolated him. His world view, in a moment of prayer, disconnects him from “other people.” At every turn there is yet another layer of disconnection. Instead of eating he fasts; instead of spending he tithes the prescribed amount thus diminishing the gift. He wants to keep (who might steal his money) at a distance; and perhaps has too much experience with tax collectors who want a piece of his money to allow them safe space in a church that is trying to “stand for something.” Little did he know his string of disconnects would also sever him from God's justification. The boundaries of his life were drawn in the sharp lines of judgment rather than forgiveness. Such a life is both lonely and fragile.
It is telling that time is so often plays a central role in Jesus' teachings. At one moment Dives was sitting high; then he lost it all. At the beginning of his prayer the Pharisee is wrapped in success; but then he is humbled. The parable stretches over time, just as life in our churches stretches over time to reveal the necessity of forgiveness, the importance of connecting with “difficult” committee members or onerous committees. It takes time to realize how important it is to connect; it takes time to realize that without forgiveness we will soon cut ourselves off from the waters of life.
It is the publican who makes the point. He knew the depth of his disconnect has made him a sinner. There was only one solution, and that was a reconnection in a sacred place. Like us he may have wondered, “Am I welcome here?” And he summoned to courage to risk a confession. He asks God for mercy. And what is mercy? It is a gift. It is the receiving and bestowing of compassion. In Hebrew it is loving-kindness found in the womb, that living crucible of connective tissue that protects and yields life. The publican who we sense wishes to be reborn asks for such a connection.
It is tempting, as it always is in parables, to identify the “bad guys” and the “good guys.” But we must be careful before doing so. Last week Jesus told was that we were supposed to take the words of an unjust judge to heart. Only he could tell a moral story with such an unexpected twist. This week ever-so-different lives of Pharisee and the publican end up on the fertile ground of humility. “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
It may take a while . . . both connection and forgiveness always do, but in the end the rich soil of humility will gives to both. And, who knows . . . perhaps we too will share its blessing.
Larry
Graphic from Vie de Jesus Mafa, 24, rue Marechal Joffre, 78000, Versailles, France
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