Thursday, October 3, 2002
Thursday, October 3, 2002
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were
righteous and regarded others with contempt.
There is an old story about a senior minister at a large
metropolitan church who entered the sanctuary one day, knelt at
the altar, and prayed, "Oh, God, I am the worst of sinners. I am
nothing. I am a worm." Over and over he repeated these
degrading words. His associate walked by and was very impressed
by the senior minister's humility. He knelt down beside him and
also prayed, "Oh, Lord, I am the worst of sinners. I am nothing.
I am a worm."
While the two ministers were praying, the custodian
happened to walk by and overhear them. Impressed, he went in,
knelt beside them, and repeated the same prayer: "Oh, Lord, I,
too, am the worst of sinners. I am nothing. I am a worm." The
associate pastor stopped praying, looked over at the custodian,
then with his nose turned upward, he turned to the senior pastor
and whispered, "Look who thinks he's nothing."
One of the chief reasons that the medieval church put
pride at the top of the list of the Seven Deadly Sins is that
pride causes us to look down on others. Particularly is this a
temptation for deeply devout people.
(Luke 18.9
NRSV)
Fredrick Buechner once said, "The trouble oftentimes with
religious people is that they try to be more spiritual than God
himself." And when that happens we begin to look down on others.
Dear God, keep me humble with a servants heart, as I share your love to all of your people.
Amen.
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