SOCIAL DISTANCING

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Scripture

Luke 18:9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Comments & Reflections

In this parable Jesus reveals the dynamics of “social distancing” long before that actually became a common phrase in our life. As we will see, many people have been doing it for thousands of years, but not for the same reasons we are doing it now.

The biblical version of “social distancing” happens when our adherence to the faith slowly devolves into self-justification. Let me explain. In the faith, we are always encouraged to practice various methods of discipleship. This include prayer, study, serving, giving, and most of all, the practice of forgiveness. For most of us, discipleship takes concentrated effort and consistent discipline because we are battling against our human nature that wants to do the opposite. But if we gain any measure of success in our practices, the danger becomes getting wrapped up in what we do versus why we do it.

In the parable, this is the fate of the Pharisee. Apparently he not only met the religious expectations of the day, but exceeded them. What happened? His focus was on what he had done. Notice that his prayer asks nothing from God, and at the same time, he looks down others who don’t meet this standard of practice. So what is the outcome? He has unwittingly “socially distanced” himself from anyone not as “good” as he is.

I doubt we would practice that against anyone who is publically repentant as the tax collector in the parable. But what is our attitude toward people who are not repentant, or indeed, defiant toward God? Do we, like the Pharisee, mutter a backhanded “thanksgiving” that we are not like THEM (whoever “them” might be.)

In this season of Lent, let us adopt an attitude of the tax collector. In this time of coronavirus, let us give up the practice of “spiritual distancing” from others who are not like us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive us when we pull away from others because we see them as “less than.” Remind us that without your love and grace, all of us are nothing. In this time of being physically separated from each other, draw us closer to you and each other spiritually. Give us your peace. Amen.