Ash Wednesday 2021

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

[Jesus] 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.’

I'm not sure if it's human nature for someone to think they are better than anyone else. However, this is undoubtedly the Pharisee and tax collector's case that find themselves together praying in the temple. The apparent "sinner" here is the tax collector, knowing that he has defrauded his people working for the government and probably skimming off the top. However, he seems also to be the most repentant... standing there beating his breast and asking for God's mercy.

The Pharisee seems pompous and arrogant, thinking that he couldn't be as bad a "sinner" as other folks. After all, he's a Pharisee. He boasts, probably out loud, about how much he fasts and how much he gives, and how much better he is than the other sinners. 

Jesus uses the Pharisee in comparison to those "who trusted in themselves," namely the Pharisees to whom he was speaking, who thought they were righteous. The tax collector is someone that the Pharisees would abhor, and Jesus using this reference would make them very angry, especially if Jesus was saying that the tax collector was justified.

Jesus says that the reason the tax collector was justified and forgiven is because of his humility. The Tax Collector was self-convicted and asked for mercy rather than boasting about what right he had done. The Pharisee was just thankful that he wasn't "as bad" as the other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, tax collectors. The Pharisees that Jesus was speaking with would immediately relate to their feeling of superiority. 

Jesus says that the humble will be exalted, and the exalted will be humbled. I pray that this Lenten season, we all find humility in our hearts and not think that we are any better than anyone else.