{"id":4504,"date":"2022-10-23T19:46:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T19:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/23\/pride-vs-humility-based-on-psalm-841-7-and\/"},"modified":"2022-10-23T19:46:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T19:46:52","slug":"pride-vs-humility-based-on-psalm-841-7-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/23\/pride-vs-humility-based-on-psalm-841-7-and\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPride vs. Humility?\u201d based on\tPsalm 84:1-7 and Luke 18:9-14"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

My
\nfavorite seminary class was \u201cPrayer in the Christian Tradition\u201d
\nand it was kind like a lab class for prayer. \u00a0 We prayed a lot, in a
\nlot of different ways, and then we reflected on it. \u00a0We read books
\nabout what other people thought of as prayer, and we discussed it,
\nand then we tried it, and we reflected on it, and then we discussed
\nit again. \u00a0We learned about prayer types, and we had time to assess
\nwhich prayer types we tended towards and which ones… well, drove us
\nnuts.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Most
\nof the prayer in that class would have qualified as \u201ccontemplative
\nprayer\u201d, in that it sought to be a means of opening ourselves to
\nGod. \u00a0Generally speaking I think of contemplative prayer as being a
\nseparate category from \u201cpetitionary prayer\u201d where the goal is to
\nask God for things, although I admit to that being overly simplified.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So,
\nanyway, one day in my prayer class we’re given the assignment to pray
\n\u201cThe Jesus Prayer.\u201d \u00a0We were supposed to do it for a while, maybe
\n30 minutes or an hour or something, and the professor suggested that
\nwe actually pray it \u201cas is\u201d for a while before changing it. \u00a0So
\nwe got the experience of praying it as it was, and then got to see
\nhow we would change it and how that would feel. \u00a0Now, the Jesus
\nprayer is, “Lord
\nJesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nThis is not exactly my God
\nlanguage. \u00a0Had the assignment not been clear (and the professor not
\nhad my respect) I would have changed it immediately. \u00a0But, I gave it
\na try. \u00a0And that day at least, it was a moving thing to pray. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nIt made space in me for
\ndifferent things to emerge than in the prayers I tend towards. \u00a0It
\nmade space in me for different things to emerge than in the language
\nI would usually adapt towards.\n<\/p>\n

\nThis week, I was given the gift
\nof praying the Rosary with someone for whom it is a favorite prayer
\npractice. \u00a0Much of the Rosary is \u2013 also \u2013 not my preferred
\nlanguage for God. \u00a0(Although some of it is amazing!)<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

In
\nboth cases, the repetition made meditative space within me for some
\ninsights that otherwise wouldn’t have had a way to be heard. \u00a0Which
\nis one of the great gifts of contemplative prayer, and why I love it
\nso much.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nNow, I can’t hear the Gospel
\nlesson and the tax collector’s prayer, \u201cGod, be merciful to me, a
\nsinner!\u201d without thinking of how it got adapted by tradition into
\nthe Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on
\nme, a sinner,” and how (eventually) freeing it was to have a
\nsense of mercy and forgiveness for things I was usually trying to
\nforget I felt guilty about. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Gospel lesson is inverting
\nexpectations. \u00a0Normally, the Pharisee would be seen as the one doing
\nthings correctly, Pharisees were famous for their meticulous
\ncommitment to following God’s commandments, and the Pharisee’s prayer
\nindicates he goes above and beyond even the requirements. \u00a0Meanwhile,
\nmany people thought very poorly of tax collectors, and they were
\nrarely the heroes in any stories.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Gospel praises the tax
\ncollector, for the humility of his prayer while throwing shade at the
\nPharisee for his \u2013 which is rough since the prayer the Pharisee
\nprayed was a pretty well known prayer at the time and he wasn’t the
\nonly one doing it.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nNow, the Pharisee’s prayer does
\nstrike my ears as arrogant, but I wonder if nuance could help it.
\nWhat if instead of \u201cGod, I thank you that I am not like other
\npeople: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
\n I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.\u201d he said,
\n\u201cGod, I thank you for what I am able to do, and for your help in
\nmaking it possible. \u00a0I thank you for the temptations I don’t have. \u00a0I
\nthank you for the ways I’ve learned that spiritual practice helps me,
\nand the capacity to do it. \u00a0I thank you for growing in me a
\nwillingness and capacity to give back.\u201d \u00a0And, I mean, I’d like to
\nadd, \u201cI open myself to what you want to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd then I want to ask Jesus if
\nthat prayer is OK. \u00a0Because I’m not really sure. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

I
\nhave been driving by another faith community that has on their sign a
\ncondemnation of self-sufficiency which reads, \u201cYou sufficiency is
\nGod’s.\u201d \u00a0Now, I think self-sufficiency is a horrid myth that does
\ngreat damage and I very much hope that they’re trying to encourage
\npeople towards connections with the Divine. \u00a0But I fear that they may
\nbe making the same error that I hear in the Pharisee.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nBecause I think there is a
\ntemptation in the phrase, \u201cGod is your sufficiency\u201d to believe
\nthat what you have in life is a gift from God. \u00a0But, the logical
\ncorollary of that position is to believe that what others do NOT have
\nis a lack of a gift from God. \u00a0Thus God chooses who has enough to eat
\nand who does not, who has safe housing and who does not, who
\nstruggles throughout life from childhood trauma and who does not.
\nAnd, it entrenches capitalism as God’s will \u2013 that if one is doing
\nOK that is because of God, if one is not doing OK that is because of
\nGod, and thus no one is responsible for creating a system where
\neveryone is doing OK as a form of justice and righteousness.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\n(end rant)<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nI think though, that there has
\nto space in prayer for utter truth between us and God. \u00a0And
\nsometimes, I think we can look at another beloved of God who is
\nstruggling and wish for their struggles to be lessened, and be
\nthankful that we don’t share that struggle. \u00a0That might sound like,
\n\u201cGod, I see how horrid it is to live with and fight with addiction,
\nand I am grateful not to have that challenge.\u201d \u00a0Or maybe, \u201cHoly
\nOne, my dear friends are divorcing and their hearts ache, and I’m
\nfeeling a little bit guilty even for the love I have in my life, but
\nI’m thankful for it anyway.\u201d \u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

What
\nI hear in the Pharisee’s prayer is a dismissal of other people, their
\nlives, their temptations, their struggles, the external factors
\nfacing them. \u00a0Scholars tell me that while all tax collectors get
\ndissed in the Bible and other ancient literature, many of them took
\nthe positions because no other options were open to them, many of
\nthem were honest, and most of them who were dishonest didn’t even
\nreap the gain from it \u2013 their bosses did. \u00a0The Pharisee’s prayer
\ndismissed everything about the tax collector except his job, and
\ndidn’t make space for his humanity, needs, or decision making
\nprocess.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nI don’t know what Jesus (or
\nmaybe Luke, I think signs point to this one being by Luke) was
\noffended by in the Pharisee’s prayer, but that’s the struggle I hear.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAnd, it leads me wondering about
\nwhat we can be proud of. \u00a0Years ago now I did a Celebration of Life
\nservice for a church member who had lived through plenty of struggles
\nin his life. \u00a0Yet, I was told, he held each of his accomplishments
\ndear \u2013 each certificate of completion, each acknowledgement of
\nmerit, each authorization to try something new. \u00a0He had a folder in
\nhis backpack that he always carried with him, and in it he kept the
\nrecords of his accomplishments. \u00a0I was delighted by this detail of
\nhis life. \u00a0I was thrilled that he took what he was able to do
\nseriously, and made it so that no one could take away from him what
\nhe worked hard to accomplish.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nMeanwhile my diplomas and
\nordination certificate, et al, sit in a pile in our attic because it
\nfeels pretentious to display them. \u00a0This isn’t the only story in the
\nBible that urges humility, and celebrates the one who comes to God
\nand the faith community without pride. \u00a0It is a pretty constant
\ntheme. \u00a0The urging not to be like this Pharisee is deep seated in our
\nfaith tradition, enough so it can be hard to figure out how to claim
\nwith joy what God is doing in our lives without appearing to brag.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat can we be proud of? \u00a0What
\nare we allowed to celebrate? \u00a0Are we stuck only coming to God with
\nthat Jesus prayer? \u00a0(“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
\non me, a sinner.”)\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nHeavens I hope not! \u00a0It is a
\nviable PIECE of a full prayer life, but it isn’t complete. \u00a0I think
\nwhen we silence what is good in our lives, we also end up silencing
\nGod. \u00a0In fact, I fear it is easier to focus on sin (individual or
\ncommunal) than it is to focus on goodness. \u00a0And sometimes the urgings
\naway from pride and towards humility can encourage this.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

So,
\ncase in point. \u00a0In the next few weeks, there are going to be
\nelections of Bishops in the United States portion of the United
\nMethodist Church. \u00a0Some people, God love them, are gifted for
\nadministration and willing to take on the pressure and challenge of
\nattempting to steer a sinking ship. \u00a0But conventional wisdom says
\nthat no one who wants to be a Bishop should become one, and those who
\nwouldn’t ever want the job are the ones who would be best at it. The
\nASSUMPTION is that if one admits one’s gifts for administration and
\none’s willingness to do truly horrid work, one disqualifies oneself
\nby lack of humility. \u00a0(I would note that women and people of color
\npay a higher price for not being \u201chumble\u201d than white men do.)<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nThis seems to fit how many of us
\nthink about politicians as well: that those seeking power shouldn’t
\nbe trusted with it (in case the elections of UMC Bishops seemed too
\nboring for you, which is fair.)<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nIf we are pushing ourselves into
\nhumility at all costs, we are missing the chance to pay attention to
\nthe gifts we have and how we might use them. \u00a0If, say, a person with
\na truly brilliant financial brain thinks of themselves as \u201cbelow
\naverage with numbers\u201d they might not pay attention when there is a
\nneed for… say…. a church treasurer. \u00a0(HINT HINT THIS IS NOT
\nSUBTLE).<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nPerhaps it will seem ironic to
\nsome of you, I think it does to me, but one of the great gifts of
\ncontemplative prayer for me is the chance to see myself more clearly.
\n I bring to prayer all the angst, guilt, worry, horror, and fears I
\nhave of how I have erred, failed, and disappointed myself and the
\nDivine, and then God helps me sort through them. \u00a0And, while I am
\nalways afraid of God’s judgement, it has turned out pretty much every
\ntime that my judgement is harsher than God’s who tends to reply, \u201coh
\nhoney, maybe try out a little compassion on yourself too.\u201d \u00a0The
\nprayer time helps me see myself and others with compassion, which I
\nthink is related to seeing myself and others more clearly. \u00a0And
\nhaving a clear sense of self involves knowing both strengths and
\nweaknesses, and admitting them despite the Pharisee.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nOr, to share this in a far more
\nmemorable way, this is the poem \u201cGod Says Yes To Me\u201d by Kaylin
\nHaught:<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic\nand she said yes\nI asked her if it was okay to be short\nand she said it sure is\nI asked her if I could wear nail polish\nor not wear nail polish\nand she said honey\nshe calls me that sometimes\nshe said you can do just exactly\nwhat you want to\nThanks God I said\nAnd is it even okay if I don't paragraph\nmy letters\nSweetcakes God said\nwho knows where she picked that up\nwhat I'm telling you is\nYes Yes Yes<\/pre>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\nDear ones, Yes, Yes, Yes! \u00a0Amen <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
October 23, 2022<\/p>\n
Rev. Sara E. Baron 
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady 
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305 
Pronouns: she\/her\/hers 
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/<\/a> 
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My favorite seminary class was \u201cPrayer in the Christian Tradition\u201d and it was kind like a lab class for prayer. … Continue reading \u201cPride vs. Humility?\u201d based on\tPsalm 84:1-7 and Luke 18:9-14<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[34,38,28,39,33,1265,1550,56,57,1551],"class_list":["post-4504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fumc-schenectady","tag-progressive-christianity","tag-rev-sara-e-baron","tag-thinking-church","tag-umc","tag-first-umc-schenectady","tag-late-pandemic-preaching","tag-schenectady","tag-sorry-about-the-umc","tag-treasurer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}