Where is our trust?

Read--Luke 18: 9-14

We have before us two familar characters in Jesus' parables: a Pharisee and a tax collector. On of them, the Pharisee, was in in the upper layer of society. The tax collector was on the bottom rung. They were polar opposites, and everybody knew it. By virtue of his social standing, the Pharisee was thought to be the most "right with God". After all, he is a religious leader and instructor in faith and spiritual matters; it would stand to reason that the Pharisee would be justified in the sight of God--as opposed to the tax collector, whom most would not even acknowledge existed. Why would God want anything to do with someone who would cheat and extort God's people? Yet the tax collector acknowledges himself to be a sinner in the eyes of God and simply pleads for mercy. The Pharisee outlines his credentials and seems to have an expectation of being exalted. But Jesus says that the one who goes away justifed is not whom people would think. The tax collector leaves the Temple in a better relationship with God than does the Pharisee. It is a lesson on the far-reaching nature of God's grace. God's grace is such that even the dreadful tax collector finds himself made right with God. God's grace is such that what seems right to human wisdom is often folly and out of line with God.

But, like so many of Jesus' parables, there is another layer here. In this under-layer, Jesus asks the question of where trust is placed. Jesus' point is that Pharisee placed his trust in his own works and deeds, in his credentials, and in his social standing. He trusted that those would assure him a place in God's realm. The tax collector knew that he was nothing but a sinner and could rely upon nothing but the mercy of God to be accepted by God. Jesus, I think, makes it clear that there is no room in God's realm for those who believe they don't need God's grace and mercy; there is no room for those who can do "it" for themselves. Instead, God's realm is populated by those who know that God is their only hope, that God is their salvation, and that God's grace is all they need. It is an interesting question for us to chew on: Where is our trust? Do we trust in what we do, in who we are (according to the world), or what we have? Or do we trust only and wholly upon the grace of God?
God of grace, we are but sinners. Save us, we pray, from the tempation to build ourselves up. May we entrust ourselves wholly to you. At the same time, may we see othes as you see them and accept them as you accept them and us. We pray in Christ's name, AMEN.