Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost: Humility, Mercy and Serving Others

Today's Scripture Readings

Sirach 35:12-17 (NRSV)

Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

and as generously as you can afford.

For the Lord is the one who repays,

and he will repay you sevenfold.

Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it

and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;

for the Lord is the judge,

and with him there is no partiality.

He will not show partiality to the poor;

but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,

or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

Psalm 84 (BCP., p.707)


2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 (NRSV)

I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

Jesus 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."

 
Blog Reflection

Luke 18:14 is referenced in The Rule of St. Benedict in Chapter 7 about humility.  The words: 'be merciful to me, a sinner!'  are part of the Jesus Prayer.  "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  How could it be by accident that this Gospel consists of these two texts from the early Church?  Humility and mercy, combined with serving others are our lessons to us from the Holy Scriptures, are part of the tradition of the Church and an important element reason.   How then, does it become part of how we live the Gospel in our every day lives?

I believe that the parable offers us some important insights for us to ponder.

The traditions by which we celebrate God's work in our lives are very important.  It is nudging us to keep in mind that all the good that we have, is part of God's amazing love shared with us.  However, this parable tells us to take it all to a deeper level.  That deeper level, that space where God lives in each of us, is the place where God knows us best, and desires to be transparent from us towards others.  The greater challenge for all of us, I believe, is to let ourselves become open to the transforming and transparent love and mercy of God in our lives, our communities and well beyond ourselves.   To be projected into our society that is full of greed, bias, violence and darkness beyond the inability to see things clearly.

Each of us finds the self-righteous individual in this parable acting in us, whenever we prize our piety more than the relationship that is suppose to grow because of those things we do in prayer, Scripture reading and worship.  We all like to give ourselves that pat on the back, and think that God must also be there, and excusing us for ignoring the radical poverty around us, in those who are marginalized in in both the Church and society.   That is the arrogance that comes from enjoying God for ourselves, and failing to recognizing that all of that is worthless, unless we also accept and live in the light of God's mercy given to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The tax collector in this parable knows that he has done wrong in his life.  And he isn't taking God's grace for granted and assuming he does not have to take any responsibility for himself before God.  He prays, knowing that it is only because of God's mercy, that those things that he has done are forgiven him, so that he can be healed and serve others with some kind of a realistic image of who God is in his life.   He does not wear rosy colored glasses about his need for God's salvation.  He opens himself completely, with all vulnerability to trust in God's mercy with all humility, so that he may serve others in true personal freedom.

As we continue to struggle through the economic challenges we see all around us, along with the visible attitudes and behaviors of discrimination and cruelty, it is important that we see how we ourselves contribute to the social injustices around us.   We each have a prejudice in our hearts about someone who is different from us.  We talk about how horrible violence is in our cities and towns.  But, we do not pay attention to how we violently talk about people of different religions, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions, etc.   When we get a big bunch of excuses from our elected officials concerning why we do not have adequate health care for all people, tougher gun control laws, and rapid racism and sexism, we just pretend that it must be disappearing by itself.  Jesus through this parable, invites us all to confess our sins, receive God's mercy, amend our lives and be transforming disciples in the world around us.   It begins with that first step of humility in the Rule of St. Benedict to keep before us the consciousness of God at all times.   To have reverence for God in our actions, our conversations, our prayers and our response to God in obedience through service to others.

Let us keep each other in our prayers, so that we may live in humility by being receptive to God's mercy.  May we also be open to serving others so that God's transforming grace can be transparent in our world.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of
faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you
promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 25, Book of Common Prayer, p.235).


Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).


Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. (General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, p.125).