Luke 18:9-14 Pentecost XX
Humility is resistance to Empire. Empire values more wealth than others, power over
others and status above others. Empire
values appearing to be the best, the most and being right. The Kingdom of God values what Jesus taught,
commanded, and modeled - sincere humility.
By God’s Grace we are counted as worthy of redemption
and salvation. It is not by works of
Law. This is well established in the
best of Pauline theology as commentary on Jesus’ teachings. Self-righteousness does not exist. Believing oneself to be righteous creates
division among people. It falsely makes
some believe that they are superior to others, and it creates divisions. Status above others is not faithfulness to
God or Neighbor as self. Gratitude for
God’s Grace and the redemption of Jesus comes from a realization of need – the need
for God’s mercy. Self-righteousness
presumes a lack of need for God’s Grace, sets up a false superiority of spirit
and creates contempt for others who do not “measure up.” This is not faithfulness to God or Neighbor.
The ridiculous scene of one person lifting himself
up as superior to others as an argument for his own virtue with God is
absurdity. Pointing the finger at others
in order to make oneself appear to be better comes from a very low view of
self. It is reminiscent of Luther’s teaching
about the absurdity of one beggar at the foot of God’s throne pointing out that
another one kneeling next to him is a beggar.
The need to be “better than” someone else, anyone else is a desperate
attempt from a place of self-loathing to elevate the self in one’s own eyes and
in the eyes of others. This false
superiority leads to division, discrimination and disdain for others, and not agaph. This is not faithfulness to God or Neighbor.
The genuine humility of the other person, requesting
mercy because of his unworthiness, is counted as righteousness, for it is a
recognition that our only righteousness is the righteousness of Christ
Jesus. We are in the need of Grace and redemption,
and God gives it freely. It is insane
for one who has free access to that Grace of God to pretend to be so good as
not to need it. That is nature of
hubris, of arrogant pride. This is not
faithfulness to God or Neighbor.
“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all
who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This is all about the recognition that we are no better or worse than
any other human being, and that we need to treat each other with the mercy we need
from God. It is about the understanding
that we are all in need of God’s Grace and redemption, and that we are to give
that to others around us who we may consider unworthy, just as God does with
us. It is about obedience to the one who
has demonstrated agaph with us to show us
how to live with one another. Active
commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy, and especially the
most vulnerable among us takes humility, even as Empire demands hubris.
Paul’s theological exposition on agaph witnessed to in Philippians 2:1-11 commands
followers of Jesus to have the same mind in themselves that was in Him, when He
humbled Himself though He was God, even to humiliate Himself to the point of
giving His life for unworthy people. It
is in this indescribable gift of Grace that the recipients are counted as
worthy, elevated to worthy by God. In
our living of agaph we must pass on
that humbling love to others by lifting them up – to be Christ Jesus for
them. Why? Because they need it, just as we need
it. It is not about worthiness, but
about need. In order to us to have
Shalom (completeness, wholeness and well-being that lead to peace), we must
know that we are valued, loved and worthy in the eyes of God and others.
Though Empire values strip that away systemically, intentionally,
and insidiously, and destroy lives, the Kingdom of God values lift-up, build up,
and bring us home. We are worthy because
Christ Jesus makes us worthy.
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