Worship - Luke 18:9-14 - Pentecost 20 - 10-23-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 10-23-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 18:9-14

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Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Luke 18:9-14.  The Pharisee and the Tax Collector . . .

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Today's sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL
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No Contempt

This week's Bible reflection (Penitent) starts a sermon about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Indiana Jones style.  Giving the Pharisees a different look at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"No Contempt" podcast

Penitent

This week's Bible reading from Luke 18:9-14 reminds me of the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" -- Especially this scene:

“Only the penitent man will pass. Only the penitent man will pass. . . "
“The penitent man will pass. The penitent... the penitent. The penitent man... “
“The penitent man is humble before God.”
“He kneels before God. Kneel!!”

And because Indiana Jones knelt – he didn’t get his head lopped off by the giant rotating blade.

I wonder what kind of treatment Hollywood could give the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?

What if Indiana tried to decipher and ancient clue based on this parable?
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector”
“A Pharisee and a tax collector. Tax collector”
“The Pharisee thanked God and exalted himself. Stood there and Exalted
himself”
“The tax collector stood far off and asked God for mercy. Far off. Asked God for mercy.”
"All who exalt themselves will be humbled. All who humble themselves will be exalted."
"Humble themselves."
"Stood far off."
"Mercy."
"Stood far off."
"Far off! Run!!"

And because Indiana Jones ran far off, he just missed being trampled by a giant herd of stampeding rhinos.

What’s the common element in the Bible reading, the Indiana Jones scene, and my silly Hollywood version of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?

• I don’t think it’s about making a villain, hero, or a scapegoat out of any of the characters.
• I don’t think it’s about finding ways to make God love you.
• I do think, rather, that it’s about learning to be humble, and trusting in God’s unending mercy.

No contempt

This week's Bible study post (Every prayer) gets a little bit of background and maybe a tiny (or none at all) bit of controversy as this week's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.  
"No Contempt" text
"No Contempt" podcast 

Every prayer

Here's this week's Bible study post -

In Luke 18:9-14, a Pharisee and a tax collector prayed.  One bragged and the other begged for God’s mercy.

God heard both prayers.

God hears every prayer.

It’s too easy to think, “I don’t brag when I pray.  I must be better than someone who does.”

And that is just like bragging that you’re not like the other one . . .

God loves the Pharisee and the tax collector. 

God loves everyone.

I think that’s important to remember.  Every prayer means every prayer.  Everyone means everyone.

So a Pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray. . .

Earlier this week I remembered one of my favorite movie scenes and how it relates to being humble in prayer (Indiana Jones) Now that little bit of fun has been expanded into Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk.

"So a Pharisee and a Tax Collector Went to the Temple to Pray. . ." text
"So a Pharisee and a Tax Collector Went to the Temple to Pray. . ." podcast

Indiana Jones

Here's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc.org

I love this scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

“Only the penitent man will pass. Only the penitent man will pass. . . "
“The penitent man will pass. The penitent... the penitent. The penitent man... “
“The penitent man is humble before God.”
“He kneels before
God. Kneel!!”

And because Indiana Jones kneeled – he didn’t get his head lopped off by the giant rotating blade.

I wonder what kind of treatment Hollywood could give the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18:9-14?

What if Indiana Jones were trying to decipher and ancient clue based on this parable?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector”
“A Pharisee and a tax collector. Tax collector”
“The Pharisee thanked God and exalted himself. Stood there and Exalted
himself”
“The tax collector stood far off and asked God for mercy. Far off. Asked God for mercy.”
"All who exalt themselves will be humbled. All who humble themselves will be exalted."
"Humble themselves."
"Stood far off."
"Mercy."
"Stood far off."
"Far off! Run!!"

And because Indiana Jones ran far off, he just missed being trampled by a giant herd of stampeding rhinos.

What’s the common element in the the Bible reading, the Indiana Jones scene and my silly Hollywood version of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector?

• I don’t think it’s about making a villain, hero or a scapegoat out of any of the characters.
• I don’t think it’s about finding ways to make God love you.
• I do think, rather, that it’s about learning to be humble and trusting in God’s unending mercy.
  

What are your ideas relating to this week's reading?