Olds and me
Life is different here. Last evening, heralding the approach of driving rain with stiff breeze and a continuous and brilliant electrical display of lightning over the Gulf, which we watched from 7H porch. Predawn this morning, with a blast the fire alarm siren goes off and its announcement "An emergency ... Do not use the elevator".
Between all that, a decent night's sleep. Up to sacrifice to Father Nature once soon after midnight and back to sleep, all is well and Life has been Good.
From the gospel of Luke this coming Sunday, the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican,
Luke 18:9-14,
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a publican (tax collector). The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this publican. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the publican, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'"
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.
++++++++++
His self-aware humility does not make the publican a good man, but a forgiven man, being "justified" means that he is declared righteous even though he is not righteous.
The Pharisee is living in accord with God's will as he understands it, believing that he must do certain things to earn God's love, and as he has checked all the boxes, he gives himself an A+. He devotes his life to trying to please God, and his selfrighteous pride is quite human for us sons of Adam. All else he might need to do is pray "What else do I need to do?" But he doesn't.
As both men are sinners, both have good qualities. Perhaps their complimenting good qualities would equal human perfection, IDK. Before I praise and emulate the Publican I'll wonder whether he sins all day every week then every Sabbath comes to temple for confession and absolution?
My question is unanswerable because the parable is not offered from history but as a story with a point, Jesus meaning us to "get it" and act accordingly, accordingly in this case meaning to be humble. The Pharisee will go on believing he is doing everything possible to make his life pleasing to God. Tomorrow morning will the Publican go back to his tax booth? Of course he will, it's a good living. So will everyone in church who says the Confession of Sin and watches as the priest waves the sign of the Cross in Absolution; I mean, there's always next Sunday.
The cycle is Creation, Sin, Judgment, Repentance, Redemption. Now and then at Children's Time, our rector shows us the literal meaning of "Repent". It's quite specific. Turning around and going in the opposite direction doesn't include going back to the tax booth tomorrow morning.
Ah well ...
But what does the Oldsmobile have to do with it? It was a major part of Life is Good.
T
Between all that, a decent night's sleep. Up to sacrifice to Father Nature once soon after midnight and back to sleep, all is well and Life has been Good.
From the gospel of Luke this coming Sunday, the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican,
Luke 18:9-14,
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a publican (tax collector). The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this publican. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the publican, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'"
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.
++++++++++
His self-aware humility does not make the publican a good man, but a forgiven man, being "justified" means that he is declared righteous even though he is not righteous.
The Pharisee is living in accord with God's will as he understands it, believing that he must do certain things to earn God's love, and as he has checked all the boxes, he gives himself an A+. He devotes his life to trying to please God, and his selfrighteous pride is quite human for us sons of Adam. All else he might need to do is pray "What else do I need to do?" But he doesn't.
As both men are sinners, both have good qualities. Perhaps their complimenting good qualities would equal human perfection, IDK. Before I praise and emulate the Publican I'll wonder whether he sins all day every week then every Sabbath comes to temple for confession and absolution?
My question is unanswerable because the parable is not offered from history but as a story with a point, Jesus meaning us to "get it" and act accordingly, accordingly in this case meaning to be humble. The Pharisee will go on believing he is doing everything possible to make his life pleasing to God. Tomorrow morning will the Publican go back to his tax booth? Of course he will, it's a good living. So will everyone in church who says the Confession of Sin and watches as the priest waves the sign of the Cross in Absolution; I mean, there's always next Sunday.
The cycle is Creation, Sin, Judgment, Repentance, Redemption. Now and then at Children's Time, our rector shows us the literal meaning of "Repent". It's quite specific. Turning around and going in the opposite direction doesn't include going back to the tax booth tomorrow morning.
Ah well ...
But what does the Oldsmobile have to do with it? It was a major part of Life is Good.
T