[ Today's Readings ]
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
Are we too convinced of our own righteousness?
Well, do we fast and pay tithes and refrain from sin? These are good things, right? If we're doing the works we should be does this convince us of our righteousness? In some ways its hard to avoid. We really run the risk of believing that we have something others don't which puts even God in our debt. We begin to believe that you owe us salvation, Jesus. And we begin to "despise" and look down on those who don't do as many things as we do.
Jesus, we ask you to heal us of these dangerous illusions, these delusions of self-sufficiency.
Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
When we don't rely on you let us experience the poverty that we have apart from you. Help us to see that all riches are in you (see Philippians 4:19) and that apart from you we can do nothing (see John 15:5). Help us to return to you, to seek you in love first before sacrifice, and to truly come to know you.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth
Teach to approach you in humility and poverty of spirit so that we can receive your unfailing help.
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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