⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee’s contempt for the tax collector is quite noticeable – actually his contempt for all “sinners”, of which he does not consider himself, is quite noticeable. He thanks G-d that he is not like the others, those sinners, rather than praying for the “others”. His prayer is self-righteous, his attitude the same. And Jesus makes it clear that the sincerely humble, and contrite-hearted sinner is justified before G-d. It seems that grace is paradoxical: it can be received by those who have learned empathy for others. Only the merciful can receive mercy, only those who forgive can be forgiven. The Pharisee had enough religion, but he focused it on ritual – fasting and giving a tenth – and he believed his “right-practice” justified him. Somewhere along the line he missed out on humility and loving his neighbor. People who are aware of their own need for forgiveness and grace will not be able to have contempt for others – that is the lesson we take today.

Pastor Dave

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” ¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

The Lepers do as Jesus commands…they keep their distance, as they should.  They beg the Master for mercy, as they should, and he hears their cries, as we hope he always does. They listen to the master, as they should, and run to the priests, as we always should. They are healed, as we knew they would, and they all return praising G-d, as they should, as we always should.  Wait – only one returns to praise G-d – and that one is a Samaritan – and, is that right? How could that Samaritan, the one so detested, be the only one to praise G-d for G-d’s mercy, and thank G-d in sincere gratitude? Could it be that 9 out of 10 “religious people” take G-d’s grace for granted? Could it be that 1 out of 10 “non-religious people” will come to recognize G-d’s grace for what it is – and will come to praise G-d as they should? Should we settle for those percentages – or be more involved in praising G-d and spreading the word?

Pastor Dave