9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The 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. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13But 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!” 14I 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.’  Luke 18:9-14

I have a confession to make, I was caught this week! When a minister begins a sermon with that statement it’s always guaranteed to capture the congregation’s attention!

I was caught thanking God that I was not like a certain group of Christians.

I was caught by Jesus’ words in this morning’s parable, “God, I thank you that I’m not like……”

Hold that thought for a moment.

The Church celebrates Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday of October. It was on October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg.

While it had profound and lasting impacts on the political, economic, social, literary, and artistic aspects of modern society, the Reformation was at its heart a religious movement. 

The Reformation was the great rediscovery of the good news of salvation by grace through faith….”By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God –not the result of works.” Eph. 2:8-9

Grace: the undeserved, unmerited, love and favor of God.

We are called to extend undeserved love and favor to others…even though they have done nothing to deserve it.

Often it’s the little things in life that require grace….

A number of years ago I purchased some BRUT cologne. I think I was longing for my high school days. I was leaving the church office and on the way out one of the long time members came in the door, passed by me, and said, “Has the exterminator been here?” I wanted to say, “No, and you smell like mothballs!” But I restrained myself.

Listen to the following words of Dr. R. Alan Culpepper:

“Those who trust in their own righteousness will regard others with contempt, and those who regard others with contempt cannot then bring themselves to rely on God’s grace.”

“Persons who exalt themselves over others and boast of their virtue before God will discover they have cut themselves off from both.”

“Persons who are aware of their need for grace and forgiveness will not be able to despise other people.”

There was an interesting article in the October 23 New York Times regarding the Colorado Rockies.

“As a Jewish player who attended a Catholic high school and a Lutheran university, Jason Hirsh knows what being a religious minority feels like. So last December, when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, Hirsh wondered if what he had heard about his new organization was true.” (That the Colorado team was a “Christian” team.)

“Hirsh said not once during the season had he felt uncomfortable with the place Christianity occupies within the organization. There are guys who are religious, sure, but they don't impress it upon anybody,'' Hirsh said. ‘It's not like they hung a cross in my locker or anything. They've accepted me for who I am and what I believe in.’”

One of the other players said, ''When you have as many people who believe in God as we do, it creates a humbleness about what we do,'' ''I don't see arrogance here, I see confidence. We're all very humbled about where this franchise has been and where it is now, and we know that what's happening now is a very special thing.''

Since the Rockies have lost three games in the World Series it looks like they might end up being very humbled!

“The nature of grace is paradoxical: it can be received only by those who have learned empathy for others. In that regard, grace partakes of the nature of mercy and forgiveness.”

“Only the merciful can receive mercy…..”

We all are on the journey together.

I often feel like Charlie Brown on the cruise ship with Lucy. The ever-philosophical Lucy says,

“Some people take their deck chairs to the front of the ship to see where they’re going. Some people take their deck chairs to the back of the ship to see where they’ve been.”

“What kind of person are you Charlie Brown?

He says “I’m the kind of person who can’t get my deck chair open.”

My wife Nancy knows me better than anyone. She will testify that, even though I stand in the pulpit on Sunday mornings, there are many occasions when I can’t get my deck chair open. I testify to that fact myself.

Philo of Alexandria: “Be kind,” For everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.”

Henri-Frederic Amiel: “Life is short and we have not too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark way with us. Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.”

A number of years ago when I read the following words by Gerald May I thought, “May is right! That’s my experience, too.” He said, “The people who have taught me the most about love have had more than their share of what we call dysfunction, self-doubt, suffering, and failure.”  (From The Awakened Heart, p. 4).

Gerald May also wrote:

“Fully functional people are organized, disciplined and able to get what they want out of life. The very idea of discipline makes me feel guilty. I have broken nearly every resolution I have ever made.

And as for getting what I want out of life, what I want most is love, and love comes only as a gift.

All I can “do” is be willingly, active, open to receiving the gift. I know love is a gift because I have experienced more love in my life than I could ever have deserved or earned. I cannot take credit for any of it. It is all grace.

I have no doubt that God has knit together the joys and sorrows, the successes and failures. I am too grateful for words.

I have seen so much grace in the midst of so much brokenness in myself and others that I know we are held together in God’s love.”

I love his words. They are so true.

We receive God’s grace in Christ.

We give grace to others.

Grace releases us to love and give.

Amen