“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 . . . But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Luke 18:10-14

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, did all the right things. He tithed his wealth, fasted and  prayed regularly. Neither greedy, dishonest nor sexually immoral,  he lived the righteous ways his faith had taught him. Schooled in religious pursuits, he kept the 600 and some odd laws which kept him pure. Secure in his own righteousness,  he had no time for those they were less than himself.

The Pharisee would have been surprised to learn that the taxpayer’s prayer for mercy, was blessed in heaven, while his own prayer was not.

We can be so convinced of our own righteousness, we cannot conceive of the possibility, we may be missing the mark.

Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector cautions us, to see a wider world, to stretch our minds and our hearts.

Today, we have a stalemate in Washington. Both parties claim the moral high ground. One party has refused to talk to the other. Meanwhile, as the stalemate drags on, Federal employees are treated as bargaining chips, Snap benefits are held back, food shelves are overwhelmed and hunger grows. Airport controllers are exhausted taking extra jobs to survive, putting flights at risk. Unemployment help is in short supply. And county employees on the front lines, unable to process benefits, get death threats.

Humility is a necessary requirement of good governance.  There is a time, to acknowledge the other side, may be more in the right, than we are . . .  Even closer to God’s way, than the path we’ve chosen.

After King Solomon had finished building the first  temple in Jerusalem, God spoke these words to him, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

May those who lead our nation choose humility over arrogance, a listening spirit over closed minds,  and a willingness to cooperate over stubborn pride.