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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are Luke 18:1-14; Psalm 58; 88; Isaiah 58.
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Time in erodes awareness of. I share that observation with church leaders when I help them with their mission planning or in the process of calling a new pastor. The longer we are part of a church the less aware we are of our unique identity, the practices we take for granted, and even how we relate to one another and those outside the church. That’s why it is so important to listen to the observations of new people and take seriously even critical comments we might receive in online reviews. We may just be unaware of something we’re doing that doesn’t make sense or even causes confusion or even offense.
Perhaps that’s what is going on with the people in Jesus’ day. The pharisees were so ingrained in their view of proper religious conduct that everyone thought they were the best of the best. This is what true religion looks like, they must have thought. Long robes. Long prayers. Large philactories. Pious poses.
So then Jesus tells a parable about two men who went up to the temple to pray. One a smug self-righteous pray-er. The other a lowly tax collector – the lowest of the low. Some tax collectors would levy taxes on the people at a rate far beyond what was due. They would then keep the extra for themselves. They were considered to be greedy, dishonest, unclean, disloyal, and spiritually compromised.
So I’m thinking that when Jesus tells this parable both the self-righteous Pharisees and the common folks were scandalized. The tax collectors might have snickered in dismissive rue at Jesus’ naiveté. Yeah, sure, they might have thought, like I and my buddies could actually be justified by means of that prayer. Or better yet, Why would I ever pray that prayer? If I did, I’d have to change my way of living.
We may have become jaded by the repeat of this story (time in). We might be unaware (eroded awareness) of how truly radical Jesus’ prayer actually was.
But let’s let this story arrest us. Let’s let the truth of God’s promises to humble and penitent people rest in our soul. Then let’s go sit with that tax collector and say with him, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Have a listen to this song and hear about the place where kings and those without a name sit down together. It makes me think of coming to the Lord’s Table to receive God’s grace there.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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