In God we trust

Jeremiah 14: 7-10, 19-end. Two laments from Jeremiah where the sins of the people are acknowledged but where God is also accused of letting his people down and ignoring them. This feature of Judaism, being ready to criticise God, is largely absent from Christianity. It is an interesting question whether we would benefit either psychologically or spiritually by adopting a more Jewish perspective?

2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18. Scholars tell us that this is not a genuine letter by Paul but that doesn’t diminish its spiritual power. In it, Paul is depicted as remaining steadfast and valiant, sure of Christ’s ultimate victory and his own vindication despite being left to face his struggles alone.  Imagery taken from the games which were a prominent feature of city life in the ancient world has provided hymn writers for generations with attractive imagery.

Luke 18: 9-14. The man who was justified before God was not the proud man sure of himself and his status, but the sinner who was aware of his shortcomings, was ashamed of them and threw himself on God’s mercy. A valuable lesson that it is grace by which we are saved not works.

The themes today are the human condition and our relationship with God.

Jeremiah in his laments admits to the communal wickedness of the people yet still craves the help and support of God.

The end of Jeremiah’s piece today acknowledges the fact that there is no other God from whom they can ask for help so it is in effect a plea for mercy.

In his letter, Paul too is at the end of his tether, left alone by his supporters, but he has an unshakeable faith in the mercy and goodness of God. He is sure that he has followed God’s will and plan and is confident of his prize which he calls the “crown of righteousness”.

He felt God’s closeness and in his weakness that gave him strength.

Acknowledging our weakness and sinfulness before God is exactly the point of the gospel reading today. The proud man, sure of his own righteousness, and looking down on others with disdain is not the man who was justified before God. He doesn’t have a right relationship.

The man who was justified (that is declared righteous in God’s eyes) was the man who fully acknowledged his sins, was sorry for them, and begged God for mercy.

The tax-collector in this parable displays a proper self-knowledge and proper humility before God, whereas the Pharisee seems to think he is God’s equal and is blind to his true status.

Knowing that the line between good and evil cuts through every human heart and realising our need of God’s mercy lies at the heart of the Biblical revelation.

The core Christian understanding of our faith is that we all have sinned and all of us need to rely on God’s mercy.

We are saved by faith in God’s grace.

God’s Grace saves us. Totally free, unmerited saving Love and mercy offered to every single one of us. This is presented as an objective fact – the truth.

How we make that truth effective in our lives is through having faith in God’s Grace.