A LOW ESTATE

There was once a fine and upstanding doctor of the law, he was well regarded and admired by the people. He was looked up to as a righteous man and often the people asked him to solve their questions about religion and how to be holy like himself. The day soon came for all the people to make their way to temple where everyone began to pray to and petition God. The pious doctor of the law cried out, “I thank you God that I am not like the other people, cheaters, sinners and adulterers. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my income to you.”

But the tax clerk, a man despised stood away and at a distance and dared not to even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead that man beat his chest in his sorrow pleading, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner!”

… Jesus held his gaze on the little group of people who shifted uncomfortably in front of Him. He finally spoke, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14

Some within that group were confident in their own self-righteousness and they had grown to despise other men and women they believed were not righteous like themselves. And so it is today. Do we not hold the same self-piety when we look on those who are other and do we not champion our own because it fits the narrative of what we feel is just? Oftentimes we will couch it in pious talk but deep within our hearts we have thrones made to what we want.

These days lately are vicious and cruel, rather than walking circumspectly, rather than do the painful work of self-reflection and bridge building we choose to lean on the easy way of the doctor of the law where we cherish our own piety and thank God that we aren’t like the rabble.

Mercy and compassion!

An unyielding heart and full fidelity to Him and Him alone and a back turned to those whose fruit is dead and who tells us to spit down on the other.

The holy and self-satisfied man of faith who believes that he himself is set above everyone else or the outcast sinner, who in his low estate desperately realizes his need of God? I would gladly walk the hard and dusty path with the outcast if given a choice.