The 21st Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25C), Oct. 24, 2004
Jer. 14:(1-6)7-10,19-22; Psalm 84 or 84:1-6; 2 Tim. 4:6-8,16-18; Luke 18:9-14
Most of us were rightly appalled when we saw images of obvious prisoner abuse at Abu Ghuayb prison in Iraq. These atrocities, after all, were committed by folks on our own payroll. At about the same time, videos of Al-Qaida-sponsored beheadings of Western civilians became widely available on the internet. Predictably, these horrors were frequently linked on both talk radio and on op-ed pages of many newspapers. The general gist of this linkage was the self-serving conclusion that, “At least we’re not as bad as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.” No, we haven’t beheaded anyone in front of a camera — and that makes us feel good about ourselves.
Human beings are incredibly skillful at minimizing our own shortcomings through focusing on the deeds of others that we consider to be “worse.” A person who might get pulled over going 75 mph on the interstate might consider himself not as bad as the motorcyclist in Minnesota who got arrested for doing 205 mph. Both acts, however, are illegal. We might emotionally neglect a chronically ill family member as a way of getting even for our being inconvenienced. At least we’re not physically abusing anyone, we rationalize. But both, of course, are serious crimes.
Jesus is well aware of our tendency toward comparative self-righteousness, and he unequivocally condemns it in today’s gospel reading. “God,” prays the Pharisee in the Savior’s parable, “I thank you that I am not like other people; thieves, rogues, adulterers...” — or even that al-Zarqawi fellow, we ourselves might add. But Jesus won’t let anyone get away with that sort of faulty reasoning. What other people do, he makes clear, has no bearing whatsoever on the seriousness of our own personal sinfulness. God doesn’t grade our sins on some sort of celestial curve. Instead, we’re fully accountable for our individual decisions and actions.
Today’s readings urge us to a depth of honesty that requires our constant repentance and amendment of life. When we truthfully admit, along with the prophet, that “our apostasies indeed are many,” we’ve begun our journey toward humility. When we cease to use the sins of others as justification for our own, and use them instead as the occasion for us to pray from the heart, “May it not be counted against them,” then we’re well on our way. In the end the words of our Lord are indeed true: “All who exalt themselves shall be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Look It Up
How does Jesus condemn self-righteousness in the parable of the prodigal son? (Luke 16:25-32)
Think About It
How might the crises facing the Church play out if self-righteousness were removed from the mix?
Next Sunday
The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 26C), Oct. 31, 2004
Isaiah 1:10-20; Psalm 32 or 32:1-8; 2 Thess. 1:1-5(6-10)11-12; Luke 19:1-10
