Proper 25C 2007 Luke 18:9-14

I have to say it was a lovely last Tuesday night where most of us were gathered for the Every Member Canvass Kickoff Dinner. I noticed two great similarities with one of the characters in this parable for today. Of course, I don’t mean the self righteous one who stood in a space where he could be seen praying by everyone who went up to the Temple that day. The one who declared for all to hear: “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.” Well, hmmm, like most people he wasn’t all bad. That part of giving a full tenth of his income was really good. And I’m sure as a result of the inspiring words from Andy and Vicky on Tuesday night that those of us who aren’t doing that will get with it.

But we are mostly like the tax collector, aren’t we? None of us like the tax collector but we recognize that both governments and churches need money to operate. But as I was thinking about all of us on Tuesday night I realized that those of us who haven’t moved to a church I won’t mention realize that we aren’t pure as the driven snow; that we haven’t been perfect enough to look down on any one – and never will be. That’s the first similarity between us and the tax collector who hid in a corner of the Temple Court beating his breast, begging for mercy.
The second similarity is the one in that great Gospel him that we sing every year, I think:

Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer,
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer,
Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer,
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer,
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer. (1)

And just let me say a propos of that great Gospel hymn, that all those people mentioned therein, especially preachers, are standing in the need of prayer. And I appreciate more than I can say that most of you who read the prayers of the people, make sure I am listed as one standing in the need of prayer.

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. We are always, I think, in danger of that. There is an old story about the three men in the synagogue, the rabbi, the president of the congregation, and the janitor, who competed to see who was most in need of mercy and forgiveness. The rabbi and the president of the congregation concluded that they had won by saying, as they looked at the janitor beating his chest and asking for mercy for his great sinfulness – they said, ‘Look who thinks he is more sinful than we?! Jesus would also have told this parable for their enlightenment.

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners taking their time eating, and new tables not opening up. They weren't even close to the front of the line. Peck's friend grew impatient, and said to the actor, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' who you are?" "No," said Peck, "if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren't."


The Pharisee in our gospel reading apparently had never learned this. His prayer is an advertisement for himself. He's selling himself to God. And Jesus’ point is that he didn’t need. The God who loved him knew who the Pharisee was and that he was not a bad person. But the Pharisee would have been better off had someone been there to whisper in his ear that if he had to remind God who he was, then he wasn't. (2)

Last story: “A martial arts student was meeting with his master and teacher at a table, having tea. The student said to his master, "I've learned all you have to teach me about defending myself. I want to learn one thing more now. Please teach me about the ways of God."

“The master took the teakettle and starting pouring the student's cup full of tea. Soon the cup was full and began to spill over onto the saucer. But the master continued to pour the tea until it spilled over the saucer and then onto the floor.

“The student finally said, "Stop, stop, the tea is spilling over. The cup can't take any more." The master then looked at the student and said, "You are so full of yourself that there is no room in your life for God. It is not possible for you to learn the ways of God until you learn to empty yourself." (3)

Now please stand and sing LEVAS 177 before we say the Nicene Creed.

1. LEVAS # 177
2. Sermon Resources for October 28, Sermon #2 'The Good, the Bad, and the Justified', in eSermons email, 22 Oct 2007.
3. R. Curtis Fussell, “Learn To Empty Yourself” in Deadly Sins and Living Virtues, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., eSermons Illustrations for October 28, 2007.