Written by Scott B. Hayashi
Luke 18:10 (NRSV) Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
We find two familiar people in our reading from Luke. The Pharisee is a virtuous man—and he knows it. The tax collector is a sinner—and he knows it too. The Pharisee cannot see the tax collector as being made in God’s image. For all of his virtue, the Pharisee cannot imagine the tax collector fasting twice a week and tithing his income. The Pharisee goes to the temple to pray, but instead of devoting his entire attention to God, he focuses on the tax collector’s shortcomings—and his own goodness.
The tax collector does not look at the Pharisee. His whole attention and devotion are deeply focused on God’s goodness and mercy. The tax collector is a sinner—his whole culture reinforces this message. He deeply understands his need of God’s mercy.
Perhaps we might learn to see that we all—those of us who are modern-day versions of Pharisees or tax collectors—are in need of God’s mercy.
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