Preachrblog

“Two Kinds of People” Luke 18:9-17 There's an old saying, “There are three kinds of people in the world:  Those that can do basic math, and those that can't.”  (Think about it) Today Jesus, in our Gospel reading, presents us with two people, and by extension two kinds of people.  And I don't mean “Democrats” and “Republicans”.  There are two kinds of people in the world.  Pharisees and Tax Collectors.  The proud and the humble.  The self-righteous, and those who claim no righteousness of their own. This Pharisee.  His hubris is almost unbounded.  In his very prayers he expressed how full of himself he is.  “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” First he begins by claiming superiority not just over the tax collector, but over “other men”, indeed, implying he's far above most (or even all) men. They are extortioners, but not me.  They are unjust, bu...

Luke 17:11-19 October 9th, 2016 “Mercy for Lepers” “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” “Well, friends, first you have to ask me into your heart.”  No... “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” “You do your part, and I'll do mine.”  No... “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” “Oh, but what have you done for me lately?”  No... “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” “Go, show yourselves to the priests”.  In other words, “I'm way ahead of you, fellas.  The healing is already a done deal.  No strings attached.  I have had mercy on you, in fact I'm all about mercy.  No need to pay me for this, you couldn't afford the price anyway.  But receive this gift.  Just go and make it official, now, with the priests.” So our merciful Lord, in yet another example of his great compassion, heals the 10 lepers.  He saved them, as only he could, from a fate worse than death.  For apart from the physical horrors of leprosy, their ...