Contempt - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Sermons from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. I'd always thought of this story as how we approach. Do we stand before God proud of ourselves? Or do we stand before God humbly asking for mercy? And that is part of the story, but I'm reminded today when I hear it that Jesus felt the need to tell this story because he saw so many of his siblings, so many people for whom he cared so deeply, holding others in contempt. And I realize how capable I am of somehow thinking that my relationship with God is one thing and my relationship with everybody else is another thing entirely. That I can have a fantastic relationship with God regardless of what my relationship with you is like. What Jesus reminds us of over and over again, but especially today is that the way we love one another is the way we love God. The way we treat one another is the way we treat God. It's become another cliche in our time to talk about what a divisive time we live in. And like many cliches, it's true. I have noticed in myself, in my own deep conviction of what I believe to be true and right in this world, that as I am feeling this strong sense of conviction about what justice looks like, about what is right, about how to treat one another, what rises up alongside that clear understanding of what is right, is a bunch of contempt. A bunch of hatred, not just anger, anger is something else, but contempt. How could other people be like this? Don't they know better? Jesus is speaking directly to me today and reminding me that the way that I love others is how I love God.