The Gospel Lesson for this day is the familiar story about the tax collector and the Pharisee. As usual Jesus uses a colorful juxtaposition to gain our attention. A tax collector, hated by many, reviled by most, and the so-called religious Pharisee. It is easy to visualize the scene. The Pharisee looks very religious. He wears religious garments. He sounds religious. He does religious things. He feels entitled to special treatment because of his religious position in his society. He may even believe that God smiles upon him for being such a religious person. Sounds like a few pastors I know!

The other guy, the tax collector, could be wearing the very latest fashion and it would not make one bit of difference in the way people looked at him. No matter how hard he tries, he is not going to …