18:9 He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s a communal dimension to the smugness of the Pharisees as well. They were the ‘in’ people, part of a group who supported each other and validated each other’s religion. The tax collector ‘standing far off’ is on his own, without that kind of support. Christians look to their churches for support and comfort. I want to suggest that maybe Christians too should watch out that they\/we don’t get too smug about our ‘righteousness’, just because they\/we have the comforting blanket of being with like-minded people. If we want to find Jesus, maybe we should look ‘far off’, away from our community of people ‘like us’ and seek the lone and ‘contemptible’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nice walk the other day. A couple of dams are out of bounds to walkers at the moment, so some routes are not possible. Here’s Rhodeswood Reservoir partly drained to facilitate work on the dam wall (at the other end)…![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bobjanet.org.uk\/bobsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/wp-15717239926214592748464037691035.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m still working out what this retirement thing is going to be like. I have to think the best is yet to come. – When I was young all things seemed possible. I had loads of talent for sciencey stuff. But looking back on my paid life, I haven’t really contributed anything. Maybe I never would have been able – I have character flaws, like a lack of courage and a lack of anger. I still feel as if I ought to have done better, though. So yes, maybe the best is yet to come!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morning light on the moors out the back…![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bobjanet.org.uk\/bobsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/wp-15717280834208066727271867667113.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here is Sunday’s gospel reading… Luke 18:9-14 18:9 He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, … <\/p>\n