A Pharisee and a tax collector

a verse or two - 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 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 tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income."

'But the tax-collector, 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.'

Spiritual Walk and Musings: A Pharisee and a tax collector:

The problem with this story is that as soon as we hear that it is about a Pharisee we know that he is going to come out of it badly. Pharisees always do in Bible stories. Take a moment to appreciate the shock that Jesus' original audience must have felt on being told that a tax collector, treacherously collaborating with the occupying Roman government, was more acceptable to God than a religious celebrity. And then spare a thought for the Pharisee - think about going without water for a day in the dust of Jerusalem whilst praying for the nation, and then imagine yourself doing it regularly twice a week. 

The change of culture between Jesus' time and now tempts us to fall prey to exactly the same kind of self-righteousness. You can imagine a preacher finishing a rousing sermon about this parable by praying, 'God, we thank you that we are not like that proud Pharisee!' The fact is that the truth about us comes out when we are praying. Not when we are praying aloud for others to hear (when one is always aware of the reactions of the human audience as well), but when we are alone with God. 

That is when he listens to urgent, real, sincere prayer with a compassionate ear. But he will listen to proud or hypocritical prayer with a forgiving ear as well - that is the extent of how gracious God is. Why not, like the tax collector; go and stand in a place where you are quite alone, bow your head, put your hands on your chest, and tell God the truth about how you are feeling. [from www.surefish.co.uk]

To Pray and Ponder: A prayer by St Thomas More (1478 - 1535)

“Give me, good Lord, an humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient, charitable, kind and tender mind - every shade, in fact, of charity, with all my words and all my works and all my thoughts, to have a taste of thy holy blessed Spirit.”

Spring

a verse or two - SPRING

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring—
    When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; 
    Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush 
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
    The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush 
    The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush 
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
    A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning 
In Eden garden. Have, get, before it cloy,(*)
    Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning, 
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
    Most, 0 maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning. 

GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS (1844-1889) (*)turning sickly sweet 

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Spring

“GERALD MANLEY HOPKINS wrote some of the most ear-pleasing poetry of the nineteenth century. In his poetry Hopkins always tried to express the inner principle that gave a living object its delicate and surprising uniqueness. He sought to put into words the flow of the spirit's life that sweeps through the dull, dense world of matter and acts on the senses and, through them, makes the object alive to the beholder (or reader) . Here that object is a woodsy marsh in spring. 

Hopkins makes spring come alive to our senses by focusing on how the song of the thrush impacts the human ear rinsing and wringing it, striking it like lightning. He also does the same with the colour blue. This juicy and joyous spring is a "strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning in Eden garden." But just as paradise didn't last long due to humanity's sin, so spring doesn't last long. Thus, Hopkins urges us to enjoy it before it cloys and clouds over.

At the same time he urges us by Christ's power to return to innocence. We can do this by ridding ourselves of this world's encumbrances and enjoying time alone with God in nature by a stream, near the ocean, on a mountaintop, or in the woods. These creations of God still breathe with his creativity and remind us of life before sin corrupted the world.”
[The comments about the poem are from “A Poem A Day” by Philip Comfort & Daniel Partner.]

To Pray and Ponder: Time with God:

As you go around and enjoy the beauty of spring—let your senses inspire you to sing and whisper praise to God. Look at the beauty of God’s handy work. Enjoy the scent of the flowers and the feeling of fresh grass between the toes, or warmer winds on the face. I was sailing last Wednesday evening—in the dark listening to the lapping of the water—heaven. And then there is the sweet taste of honey. 

Oh my soul does rejoice and delight
    in the wonder of Gods handiwork. 
For he made you and me and delights
    in the wonder of His handiwork.
 

God Bless
Jon