Rev. Melanie Miller

October 28, 2001

Joel 2:23-32, Luke 18:9-14

In today’s gospel lesson Jesus does what Jesus does best. He tells a story. He tells us about two very different people and the different ways they pray. One man exalts himself and the other man humbles himself.

I cannot think of a better time to hear these words than during this time in our history. Our country’s history, our state’s history, our personal history. These are timely words, ancient wisdom, spoken for us today. And with this ancient wisdom, Jesus does what Jesus does best. He leaves us in an uncomfortable place. He brings us to place where we nod our heads and point our fingers, thinking we get it and then we see something more. We see the Pharisee for what he is, a conceded, excessively proud man, who is full of himself; self-righteous in the worst sort of way. Jesus brings us to place where we look at the tax collector, the lowliest person, with compassion, and even love. Jesus does what Jesus does best because he brings us to a place where we must look at ourselves. Jesus brings us to a place where must look at our behavior, our ideas, our lives, he brings us to a place where we must ask ourselves and ask, “Who am I most like? The Pharisee or the tax collector?” Do I exalt myself or am I a humble person?

I love to tell people about a woman I once knew, truly the most humble person I’ve ever known. Her name was Ms. Love. I kid you not! Ms. Love a music teacher and a church organist. She grew up with Salvation Army officers for parents. She was an amazingly gentle and kind person. She was selfless. Her ability to make beautiful music was gift she shared generously and humbly. I always remember something almost funny about her, though. She was even humble about her clothes. She almost always wore skirts, the only time I ever saw her in a pair of pants was in the middle of a Maine blizzard. And She always wore hats. I only saw her hair once, and that was because her long braid wasn’t tucked up under her hat. She must have owned hundreds of hats. They were always decorated beautifully, with flowers and ribbons, bows and pins. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing simple about her clothes. Her hats and skirts were of the finest quality; wool and linen and silk. Ms. Love and I shopped at some of the same stores. One particular store carried spectacular clothes and I remember one particular outfit that I did not purchase but coveted dearly. It was ivory linen with delicate lace. And the reason I remember this outfit was because several days after discovering it on the rack I saw Ms. Love wearing it. I said to her, my voice full of admiration and sincerity, “Ms. Love, your outfit is breathtaking, it’s just lovely.” Eye’s cast down to the ground, she responded, “These old rags.” That was, you see, her common response to any compliment made concerning her clothes.

So what do think? Is that humility? I’ve always puzzled over her response and wondered…Is that humility?

I need not worry about Ms. Love, though. I need only worry about myself. “Who am I most like? The Pharisee or the tax collector?” Do I exalt myself or am I a humble person?

I cannot think of a better time to hear these words than during this time in our history. Our country’s history, our state’s history, our personal history. These are timely words, ancient wisdom, spoken for us today.

These days it’s not politically correct to exalt oneself or humble oneself for that matter. Personal exultation is frowned upon since it is all to often seen as self-righteousness. Especially, when exulting one’s beliefs or culture or country. Any words that ring bells of cultural superiority or ethnic superiority are frowned upon.

I have been accused of claiming cultural superiority. In 1997, when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, not only did I shutter, but I ranted and raved. How could such a small group of people force women to leave their professional positions and be under house arrest? How could such a small group of men force women to cover themselves from head to toe in such extreme heat?

But I was told, “Hush. You don’t understand their culture. Their’s is a Muslim world where women live differently.” To which I responded even more loudly, “Muslim fundamentalism is not their own! It’s being forced on them. Before the Taliban took over 60% of the profession work force was women. Women are being killed everyday. Women are being killed for speaking and showing their faces. This is NOT a cultural issue. It’s a human rights issue.” And, still today, there are people who tell me I’m exulting my culture over another’s.

And then there’s the other side of the coin: Humility. To be lowly, modest, submissive, is not politically correct, either. We believe to have happy kids we must help them develop a healthy self-esteem. When we hear someone, especially a kid, referring to themselves in a negative manner we quickly intervene. We lift them up. We point out their good qualities. As we should. Eating disorders and self-mutilation are only two all to common problems in today’s youth.

Exalting oneself, humbling oneself. What’s a person to do?

Jesus does in today’s parable what Jesus does best. He sets a trap. And we find ourselves ensnared. Just we think we’re safe we say, “Yeah, I’m humble, I’m like the tax-collector, I’m not like the Pharisee.” And there we are saying the same words the Pharisee spoke. We are like both, we are both the tax collector and the Pharisee.

I am like the Pharisee, probably more than I am like the Tax collector…I echo his words, I say them all the time, many times with true sincerity…”Thank you God that I wasn’t born a woman under the Taliban”… “thank you God that I can fulfill my calling regardless of gender, that you have poured out your spirit on men and women alike.”

Maybe its not the same thing. Maybe these words aren’t like the Pharisee’s. Maybe these are genuine things to be thankful for. But I’m like the Pharisee in other ways. Every day I see people, I enter situations where I end the day uttering a prayer that sound something like this…

Today God. Today that woman lied to me. She came into my office with her high heels and her manicured fingernails and told me she needed money for food. When I said I could give her $10 dollars she asked for more…more! She wanted more. I suggested she go to the food cupboard for help. She said her husband is diabetic and he has special dietary needs that food banks don’t cater too. She took the ten dollars and do you think she would utter even the smallest thank you. All she wanted to know was why I couldn’t do more, as if maybe we might even owe her something. Thank you, God, I am glad that I am not like her.

And today, God, today I walked past a man in the street. His clothes were filthy, he probably had not bathed in days, his teeth were yellow and rotten. He smelled horrible. I watched him reach out to passers by. He hardly had enough strength to hold the cup, let along juggle it. How, in God’s name, does someone get there! Thank you, God, I am glad that I am not like him.

And today, God, I watched that women at the grocery store belittle and insult the boy with Down Syndrome. As he reached to bag her groceries she quickly reached out and stopped him. She said to teller, as if the boy were deaf, “I don’t want him touching my groceries. His nose is dripping snot and he’s wiping it with his fingers. I don’t want his snotty fingers on my groceries.” The venom and hatred in her voice made me ashamed. Thank you, God, I am glad I am not like her.

Thank you God, that I am not like them at all. What hope do I have God, what hope?

Humility. Exultation. Are you more like the tax collector or the Pharisee?

Today’s Gospel lesson is about God’s Grace! God’s prerogative to love as God chooses. Not because of anything we do or fail to do but simply because God loves. Of course, we are guilty of being at times the self-satisfied Pharisee and at other times the sinful, but repentant tax collector. The Pharisee, needs no grace from God, he is so satisfied with his obedience he leaves no window of opportunity to be blessed. But the tax collector, whether virtuous or not, and whether or not he plans to be virtuous in the future matters not a whit. He is blessed because he asks for mercy.

With this ancient wisdom, Jesus does what Jesus does best. He leaves us in an uncomfortable place. He brings us to place where we nod our heads and point our fingers and believe we get it. Jesus does what Jesus does best because he brings us to a place where we realize the people Jesus chooses to love are not the people we would choose to love. The leper, the poor, the powerless, the prodigal. Grace and love are given to those of us who stand in judgement of others.

“Who am I most like? Maybe that’s not the question to be asking. Perhaps the simple phrase, “God grant me your grace. Be merciful,” are the only words left this morning.” God grant us mercy.