Okay, so I’m an older sister, not an older brother, but that guy in the parable? I know exactly where he’s coming from. The Pharisee and the Publican? Here, admire the tzitzit on my prayer shawl! In another context, I’ve referred to channelling my inner Saruman, but the fact remains, I like law and order and organisation and clear definitions. I am that person over there in the corner, discussing, grading, diagnosing and criticising the motes in the eyes of others while ignoring the beam protruding from my own.
I get how Saruman didn’t start off bad but simply followed the path of least resistance when it came to “if they won’t be good of their own accord, we’ll make them be good! If they won’t do what’s good for them, we’ll do it for them!” I understand the Pharisee, who probably was praying in sincere gratitude when he said “I thank you, Lord, that I am not a sinner like that publican over there.” Whether or not he acknowledged his own sins, he probably was sincerely grateful that at least he didn’t have those particular sins of that particular person.
I really, truly can walk in the shoes of the Older Brother, because if being good and obedient and dutiful and doing the right thing and living up to expectations doesn’t matter, if there are no consequences for making a huge mess of things through one’s own fault, if you can eat your cake and have it too, then what is the point? Why not eat, drink and be merry and let some other poor schmuck clean up after our messes?
is Galli’s most recent book. It’s not a long book, but it was a slow read for me. Not because I am dense or slammed with work (though both are correct), but because I have had to stop every few pages, pray, then reread those same pages. I have let Galli’s words and illustrations reach deep into my spirit. They are fresh words on grace that have really challenged and thrilled me.
. Thanks to Steve’s co-worker, Erik Guzman, our conversation was recorded so that it would be available to you, our Internet Monk audience.
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