“THE REAL PUBLICAN”
Saint Luke 18. 9-14
The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity: 27 August Anno Domini 2006
Fr Watson
He spoke His famous parable for all of you gathered here this morning because you trust in yourselves, you are self-righteous, and you despise others.
One reason this parable is so popular among Christians is that they love to see their neighbor, antagonist and adversary described and represented so well as the Pharisee. And yes, your friends and foes are Pharisees, but alas, so are you.
An important fact to note is that the Pharisee did not sin by fasting twice a week or by giving tithes. These are both things which the Lord in Scripture approved of. You should fast and give of your first fruits; you should love God and your neighbor. It’s not the correct action that counts but rather it is the wrong intention that nullifies.
The first Jew damned himself by His statement of self-justification: “I thank You that I am not like other men.” Those words were his sin. Those sentiments are your sin.
To use extortion, to be unjust, to be a tax collector were all methods which the Publicans were accused of; they are all descriptions of not only taking what doesn’t belong to you, but of exerting your will, your strength, your wants and desires over against your neighbor; they are the very opposite of loving your neighbor. Our Lord, in the Second Table of the Law, forbids you to act, think or speak these ways.
Under the bright glare of the piercing scalpel of the Commandments you are condemned. Daily you “extort” others in your quest to have things done your way. Daily you collect “taxes” which you should instead remit, absolve and forgive. Your “old man” doesn’t like being humble. “I am not like those “higher critic theologians,” or those “holy rollers,” “papists,” “synergists,” feminist-liberals, “bronze-agers,” or sacrament-denying Protestants.” “Thank you God, that I am not like other men, but rather am a “confessional Lutheran.” I repent that I think like this; that I speak like this without charity toward my brothers. The label “confessional Lutheran” doesn’t save; Christ saves. Repent that you do despise all of those fellow creatures originally made in the image of the Triune-One; those fellow mud-men who just like you have been paid for by the blood of the Lamb. Don’t despise and hate and belittle the Jew, the A.C.L.U. member, the homosexual, the gangster rapper, or the Muslim; pray for them, show them charity when you can and show them Jesus whenever you can.
But it is equally important, that you do not think that you are the Publican in this parable because you “do” anything. You are not forgiven and saved because you stand afar of, bow your head, close your eyes, beat your breast, and say the Confession of Sins and then the Kyrie, in our Mass (although these are all good things). You are saved because Jesus loves you in spite of your pharisaic self. You are forgiven because Jesus obeyed for your disobedient extortion; He bled for your unjust thoughts; He died for you adulterous hearts.
Of course it is His desire that you believe all that He Is and Did! His doctrine is His identity and mission; His life! He wants you to be a “confessional Lutheran,” which means simply to be a confessing evangelical, catholic Christian; a follower of your Master! He delights when you make confession, whether private or corporate… if it’s from the heart and not mechanical or feigned. Jesus smiles with Godly affection when you sing the Kyrie; He hears you dear brothers and sisters.
His actions and work are what place you into the shoes of the Publican in this parable, His Gospel allows you to be humble and contrite, and therefore justified and exalted…IN HIM!
The key to our Lord’s parable is not that you “do” anything, that you must “obey” and mightily “sanctify” yourselves and be like the Publican. The publican was an extortioner, an unjust man, and an adulterer. You need do nothing and you are still all those things by your sinful natures. No, my children, the heart of this story is Jesus. The God of gods, the Light of lights, He Who is One with the Father and Spirit, became flesh, for you. The Man/God Christ Jesus became the Publican for you, so that you would become exalted in the eyes of the Father. Though perfect, immaculate and sinless, your Savior became a thieving tax collector in the eyes of the Judging God. Your Jesus redeemed you from Satan and hell by being condemned as the adulterer you daily are. Jesus humbled Himself, stood afar off on Golgotha, and had His breast beat, and more, so that you would be clothed in royalty and given the best seat at the eternal banquet. Jesus spoke to the Father: “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”
You are forgiven! You are just in your Lord. You are exalted this morning at His feast, held in your honor and for your good.
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost