What If?

Luke 18:9-14  The Pharisee and the tax collector

 9 Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: 10 “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

I heard that over the weekend – the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  It was an interesting presentation and one that’s had me contemplating the message that Jesus was trying convey in that particular moment, but then my mind wanders and…

In the lesson, they both go to temple (church in today’s terms).  The Pharisee lifts his voice very high and begins to thank God for how great he is and how thankful he is for NOT being a tax collector.  The tax collector bows and asks God to forgive him because he has sinned.

I believe the point of the message was that one should not look down upon another and also we should humble ourselves before the Lord our God – which are messages each of us should take to heart.

…If you read the story, it does not say where each of these men went or what they did afterward.  I suspect that they each went back to their respective lives with little changed.

But what if?  What if the Pharisee heard the prayer of the tax collector and instead of looking down his nose, he listened to the words and realized himself that he has made mistakes, and humbly came to God to ask for forgiveness?  What if after humbling himself, he offered his hand to his brother in Christ and helped the tax collector off his knees?

What if the tax collector heard the prayer of the Pharisee and instead of grumbling about the words and condemnation spoken by the Pharisee, he took the words to realize he has work to do.  What if he realized that the Pharisee was someone he could work to be more like even with all of the flaws he knows the Pharisee doesn’t acknowledge about himself?  What if the tax collector takes the hand of the Pharisee and instead of accepting the help up they help each other up?

I’ve been a “temple goer” for a number of years, and I’ve been both the Pharisee and the tax collector.  I’ve also seen and heard both within the confines of the church.  But what if instead of seeing or being either one, we work to be more like Christ?  What if that’s what Jesus was asking us to do?

Prayer:  “Father God, I humbly come to you and ask for forgiveness.  I’ve made so many mistakes.  Father help me to change.   Let me see when I start to judge others and Father help me to be a humble role model for those around me.”