Wonder Part 2

²⁷But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,

The proud religious man stood and prayed:  “God, I thank you that I am not like other people…” 

The parable, found in Luke 18:9-14, is about the point of view of the Pharisee.  And the point of view of the tax collector.  Both who are demonstrating an ant’s-eye point of view —  very limited, ground level, view of things.  

It is a story about how we perceive ourselves, and others.

It is also a pointed story about how God sees — perceives us.  

It is telling us that God’s perception is nothing like our perception. 

It is also about our ability — or inability — to come before God willing to be genuine. Willing to be honest about who, and how, we truly are.

Tax collector, in that culture, were considered scum.  Someone who worked for the oppressive Roman government.  Cheating his Jewish bothers and sisters.

The Pharisee was a well known proponent of God’s Law.  A respected, so called “religious” man, who appeared to be honest, following all — or most all — of what he believed were God’s rules for life.

Sinner and Sinner come before God with very different perspective on their worthiness and/or unworthiness.

And, both perspectives are incorrect.  

God, according to Jesus, wasn’t all that impressed with the Pharisee’ list of good deeds. 

And, the tax collector was probably totally unaware of how impressed God was with his pure and honest prayer.  His genuine presence as he knelt there. 

It is pretty clear to me that God’s perception and our perception don’t come close to agreement.  

Just take a quick look back at history.  God picked the most unlikely people to assume the places of honor and position among his people.  

Moses, David, Mary, Jesus, Paul or how about the shepherds in the field, of all people?  They were just one step above a servant in that culture.  And yet, it was the shepherds to whom the angels announced the most important news in the history of Christianity.  

All unlikely, probably unacceptable, candidates for service in God’s holy name.  

According to human standards that is.  

Clearly what we see,  

       what we perceive, 

           what we think we know,

                                         are all quite different from
                                         what God 
                                                       sees, 
                                                             perceives 
                                                                          and knows.

That is why it simply does not make sense, to the human intellect, that scum could receive God’s approval over “religious” people of the world. Or anyone who is held in high regard and social standing.

However, apparently God sees something, knows something, that we cannot see or know.  

Because God can see past our lists and verbiage.  God knows our internal thoughts, our private rationalizations.  

God sees us at the heart of what/who we really are, to where our deepest secrets live. 

God, being God, has total advantage.

So what do you and I do with all of this?  How do we obtain better perception — better perspective?

My first thought is to ask, a question I often ask: where am I in this parable?  

Can I honestly pray with the tax collector: “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.”  

Period, no buts,  No additional explanation.  

Or, am I tempted to skirt around such genuineness by justifying my short comings with my own list of glowing qualifications?