The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14 CEB
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.”
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
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Hello NewDay Friends!
I trust you have had a good week. We continue to enjoy such a beautiful autumn season. It makes me grateful for the gift of eyesight, that we can view the trees changing colors, and doing their thing. :)
This week we celebrate Communion together on Sunday, will worship together, and encourage each other with the Hope of Jesus Christ. That is the main purpose of church for followers of Jesus Christ, and then we are to go out together, and live the new reality of heaven on earth, sharing this Hope through our actions, our words, how we live and love, with the Holy Spirit's empowerment.
The sermon passage for Sunday is in Luke 18, and it is the story of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee, both at the temple, going to church, if we were to tell this story from a modern day lens. It is a parable of their inner and potentially outer dialogue, about themselves, and where they stand before God, and really, how they each approach God in worship. As I have been reading and pondering this passage, the connection point of Communion is one I want to draw to your attention, as we prepare for Communion, and worship together, as well as engaging with the Word.
In the Communion liturgy each month, I share an invitation to the Table:
"Come not because you must, but because you may.
Come not because you are strong, but because you are weak.
Come not because any goodness of your own gives you the right to come, but because you need His mercy and help.
Come, not because you are righteous, but that you sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ and desire to be His true disciples.
Come not because you have any claim on heaven's rewards, but because in your frailty and sin, you stand in constant need to heaven and love.
Come, because you love the Lord a little and like to love Him more.
Come, because He loved you and gave yourself for you. Come and meet the risen Christ, for we are His Body."
May we approach God in this way, thanking Him for giving Jesus to us, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Kari