Tax Collector

He was in turmoil inside. The agony and guilt of his lifestyle were plaguing him severely. Former friends shunned him. His family was ostracized. The riches he had accumulated were ill-gotten gains that didn’t bring him the happiness he had hoped for. The leaders of his community considered him a traitor because he worked for the hated Roman conquerors. He collected taxes for the Romans and charged extra for his own benefit. He thought it would make his life comfortable. The result was anything but comfortable. Most of all he felt completely estranged from God.

What should he do now? In his desperation he found his way to the temple in Jerusalem. To his chagrin he spotted a Pharisee, a so-called holy man, nearby. The tax collector hesitated but his need was so great that he ignored what would undoubtedly be the accusing looks of the self-righteous Pharisee. He would likely be thinking that this guy doesn’t deserve to be here. He should be kicked out.

The tax collector could hear the Pharisee’s proud prayer. “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers -or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” He thought God was lucky to have him around.

“He’s right,” the tax collector must have thought. “I don’t deserve mercy from God. I can’t pray like he does.”  In his despair he could only manage one sentence, “God. have mercy on me, a sinner.” In that one sentence the tax collector did the three things that counted. He acknowledged God as the Lord he was accountable to, he admitted he was a sinner and he asked for mercy. It was granted. Jesus’ comment was, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” See Luke 18:9-14

I’ve used some imagination for the build-up to the temple scene but it is likely close to what went on.  The main idea is biblical. The triple A plan is still what God expects from us: acknowledge, admit, ask.

Grateful to be on the sunny side,

Henry Wiebe