My own ponderings

Pondering our situation in the church at the moment. The churches in our Synod are going through a process where many churches are being sold to raise money to cover a debt, This sale is being done, at times against the will of the congregations concerned. Of course the Synod has attempted to do it in a pastoral manner and to follow through where there is anger and grief (and there is a bit of that), but we are left with a great deal of hurt and blame perhaps, a little self-righteousness.
Into this situation comes Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector and i cannot help but feel that it speaks to our human situation. When we are hurt and angry, we can tend to lash out and try and blame others, making ourselves out to be more righteous in our pain. When we are in places of power and influence, we are vulnerable to that sense of blame and therefore to being defensive of our position and our own 'righteousness'. In both cases we put up walls between each and and between ourselves and our God.
Jesus' answer?
Recognise our own weaknesses, our own vulnerability and open our hearts to God and to the other. Break down the walls that our self-righteousness puts between us.
Easily said, i know. But in the power of the Christ? Who knows?
Gordon Bannon

http://jtbarts.com/2011/09/the-parable-of-the-pharisee-and-the-tax-collector/