He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The 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. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But 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!” I 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.’
Luke 18:9-14
Photo from Wiki.
The human ego is tricky.
ReplyDelete"We all are dust, of course, and to dust we shall return!" Nods piously.
"Thank goodness I'll be returning to far better dust than those people over there!"
If you grow fruit and veg you get a very good sense that you are but dust and it gives you a wonderful tranquillity about it. Over the years that I have been growing stuff, the rhythms of it have really got into my bones - winter comes and everything freezes and dies, and then when spring comes nature springs back into life again, as if nothing had happened. Things die and rot and the goodness goes into the soil and contributes to what is growing there next year. There is something soothing about the regularity of it and the fact that you have your own small place in it like everything else.
ReplyDeleteMark, the human ego is tricky. The Scripture passages which I post are for mainly for me. If anyone else chooses to "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" and find meaning in them, then that's an entirely good thing.
ReplyDeleteLovely, words, Cathy. My husband is the passionate gardener in our house. He lives by the rhythms of the growing seasons. Certain months of the year are blocked for travel purposes, because of the vegetable garden. My joy comes in eating the fruits of his labors.
Sorta puts a different slant on the idea of what true humility is... Not that I am better or worse than you, but just "I am a sinner."
ReplyDeleteNice insight, Hillbilly. Not better or worse than anyone, just one sinner amongst the other sinners.
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