Comparisons - A Sermon for Sunday October 23, 2022

GOSPEL: Luke 18:9-14

The holy gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

The coming reign of God will involve unexpected reversals of fortune with judgment rooted in mercy. Jesus tells a parable in which the one who humbles himself is exalted and the one who exalts his own righteousness is humbled.

9[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The 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. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But 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!’ 14I 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.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

I’ve heard it said that comparison is the thief of joy;

a quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

In my own life, this is so true.

I love to go camping in the summer,

and I can’t help but notice the larger, newer trailers,

and I forget how grateful I am for my own,

old, beat up

and dented as it is.

My trailer can’t keep up with the Jones’s.

I love to go to the gym.

I used to spend time on Instagram

following fitness enthusiasts,

bodybuilders and powerlifters,

and I’d see how much they lift

or how defined their muscles are

or how many followers they have

and my accomplishments in the gym

seemed so small.

I see similarities in the church.

But there is a big difference

between going to church and going to the gym.

One is a gathering place of people

doing rituals to improve themselves,

with deep breathing,

with song and prayer….

and the other is church.

In my experience,

both church and the gym

have been places where we compare ourselves

to the other members,

and perhaps especially

comparing ourselves to those

who do not enter our doors.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

This is a big reason why I’m breaking up with social media.

I see the constant comparisons we make online,

and that constant comparison has stolen my joy.

In person or online

at the campground,

the gym,

the church…

We all compare ourselves to others.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

When we look at this parable of Jesus,

the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector,

remember that the Pharisees

were the religious elite of the time.

They were the guardians of the law in Jewish religion.

They were viewed as elites:

superior in holiness:

even more than pastors and bishops today.

Tax collectors, on the other hand,

were looked down upon.

They were employed by the Roman Empire

to collect taxes on all people,

including colonized people.

Tax collectors would skim some off the top,

or charge extra tax and fill their pockets.

If you think about it,

it is not that different than the Canada Revenue Agency:

CRA employees earn their wage

with a skim of the taxes we pay.

But this is expected,

and their wages are regulated,

there’s accountability.

2000 years ago,

tax collection was unfair

and served to oppress the average citizen,

let alone the colonized.

Tax Collectors were swindlers.

People hearing Jesus’ words

would have made their own comparison:

no sympathy for the tax collector,

admiration for the Pharisee.

And Jesus exalts the humbled tax collector,

who cries out

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

The tax collector trusts in God alone.

The Pharisee trusts in his own works

of righteousness.

“God, I thank you that I am not like other people.”

He will be humbled.

We hear this story of the Pharisee making comparisons,

and we place ourselves in the story,

and sometimes we are the tax collector:

we see our brokenness,

our sin,

the ways we exploit and take advantage

and we cry out for forgiveness.

More often than not,

we are just like the pharisee.

We ELCIC Lutherans compare ourselves too…

“If only we had as many people on a Sunday

as the mega church across town.”

or

“I wish we had a 5 piece rock band

and light show like that church.”

On the other hand,

humble as we Lutherans are,

we can also look down on other churches:

“Our communion table is open,

unlike that other church down the road.”

Or

“at least we don't have attendance as low

as that other church.”

Or

“at least I’m not that kind of Christian”

Often by comparing ourselves to other faiths,

we trust that we have it together,

that we believe the right things,

and that we do the right things.

It’s subtle, but it’s not unlike the Pharisee,

trusting in ourselves for our righteousness.

Remember,

we are not saved because

we believe that we are saved

by God’s grace through faith.

We are saved by God’s grace through faith.

There is a difference.

It is God’s work alone that saves us.

Intellectually thinking the right thing doesn't make us righteous. 

We are not saved because

we adhere to the right kind of doctrine.

The Pharisee was doing more than what was right.

Giving 10 percent of all his income,

fasting twice per week,

when only once was expected.

But Jesus exalts the tax collector

because he trusts in God.

The truth of the Pharisee and Tax Collector:

God loves them both.

But Jesus is harder on the Pharisee.

Jesus is harder on the religious insiders - like us.

Maybe it’s because we tend to focus

on our spiritual disciplines.

There is nothing wrong with spiritual disciplines,

like fasting or tithing,

they can help us grow in faith,

I would encourage us to be diligent in spiritual disciplines:

prayer,

bible study,

acts of service,

singing in the choir,

knitting prayer shawls,

these ministries help us grow in faith.

Yet no amount of fasting or tithing,

bible study nor serving

can make you right with God.

You are right with God,

only because of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Jesus’ caution with the Pharisee:

Spiritual disciplines don’t make us better than others.

When I go to the campground,

I am not less than the family with the brand new trailer,

and I am not more than the couple sleeping in a tent.

There should be no place for comparison there,

it steals the joy of vacation.

When I go to the gym,

I am not less than the world class power lifter,

and I am not more than the newcomer.

The gym is a place to improve on myself physically,

and there should be no place for comparison with others,

for it steals the joy

of accomplishment and health renewed.

When we compare ourselves to other people,

it either elevates or lessens who I am,

and either elevates or lessens others.

Humility is tough:

it is hard to be humble when you’re perfect.

More accurately,

humility is hard because we love to compare.

Humility is hard when you don’t think very highly of yourself.

humility is hard when you think too highly of yourself.

Humility is hard when you don’t think you’re worthy of joy,

that you don’t deserve happiness,

or that you’re just not enough.

Humility is not about thinking poorly about yourself,

it’s not thinking you’re less than you are

and not thinking you’re more than you are.

In humility, you can claim these truths:

You are a child of God.

You are loved,

you are forgiven,

you are cherished,

you are filled with the Holy Spirit.

You are worth being saved by God,

you are worth being heard by God.

And while claiming these truths,

we can claim another:

that we are all sinners,

I am a sinner.

I am no greater than the person beside me,

nor the person who doesn’t enter these walls,

for we are all one in Christ.

So how do we stop that thief of joy?

how do we stop comparing ourselves to others?

A couple tips from psychologist Dr. Amy Silver. (https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/mind-body/comparison-is-the-thief-of-joy-a-psychologist-explains-how-to-stop-doing-it/news-story/e4ff079b144d743427305efa37c0d1f5)

1. Recognize when you are most susceptible

to making comparisons.

For me it was social media and the gym.

Where and when are you comparing yourself to others?

Deep down,

it is probably related to something you value.

Pay attention to your values.

2. Practice self compassion.

You can be humble and love yourself,

you can like yourself,

and you can stop being so hard on yourself.

Accept your emotions,

welcome them,

and give yourself some love and compassion.

3. Don’t let fear paralyze you:

take courage,

you are God’s child,

fearfully and wonderfully made,

you are enough,

you are more than your perceived limitations.

4 & 5: Consider other perspectives and take action.

By God’s grace we can do that here in church.

Church is where our focus is on God;

gathered together by God’s Spirit,

centred in Christ’s Word,

nourished with the sacraments,

and then we imagine what God is doing in the community

and in the world,

and join God’s work:

loving and serving our neighbours.

We get perspective here,

and we are reminded that God is with us,

that we are all in this life together,

so we clothe ourselves with humility,

and with compassion.

Letting go of comparisons

can start at the Communion table.

This is the place where we all come forward with open hands,

as beloved children,

and as beggars,

equal and united,

At this table, it doesn’t matter

if you’ve been a life long gym goer

or life long church goer.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time at church

or your 3rd or 300th time,

for all are fed here.

At this table, there is no comparison,

we all receive God’s mercy here.

This is God’s table.

You are welcome here.

God’s Spirit calls and gathers you here,

and God feeds you with the Bread of Life,

forgiving you,

saving you,

strengthening you,

giving you new life.

May we stop with the comparisons,

and find joy no longer being stolen.

May we take on humility,

both as sinners and as beloved children of God,

May we take our place at the Lord’s Table,

and amidst our differences be united in Christ.

Thanks be to God. Amen.