Sermon for Sunday October 26th, 2025
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Lay Leader: Robert Sims
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Wikipedia on Reformation Day – Our roots are deep in the Anglican tradition: Both John and Charles Wesley were priests in the Church of England. There are a number of reasons we should observe the day. The themes of the Reformation remain the great themes and principles of our own faith today. The great schism that occurred in the church remains with us. Our fractured denominations have entered into dialogue and cooperative activities that have brought us closer together. Today we may observe Reformation Day with a sense of moving toward unity and community. It is an opportunity to repent of the sins and excesses of the past and to celebrate our common faith, even if we still cannot celebrate a common ritual and sacrament. Reformation today can represent healing of old wounds as, together, we all work to build and strengthen Christ’s church and love one another as Christ has loved us.[57]
Why do I tell stories? There’s a lot of layers to that. One could start as being the “quiet one” with a brother and sister that demanded a lot from my parents.
Coupled with that, I’ve found that I have a desire for knowledge and learned a lot of various things and have a good memory.
Coupled with that is an ex-wife that accused me of holding in feelings and information. Maybe I’ve over-corrected…
I’ve mentioned some of them before, but I’ve had a lot of bad life experiences. Death of father and brother before turning 8. Being hit by a car at 11. Scratched corneas, car accidents, broken arm, broken ankle, separated shoulder, divorce, estranged child, looking down the wrong end of gun, excessive weight, unexpected job changes, and a benign brain tumor in college. I was thinking last night and I’m up to 6 near death experiences.
My story telling improved when I went through the Toastmaster’s speaking program. It helped me organize ideas in my head. Ironically, it also improved my writing. I had two people in my life that also helped. My step-father was an excellent storyteller; people stopped to listen when he talked. My father’s sister, Aunt Bettye, had been a high school math teacher and knew all the tricks to keep someone’s attention. I learned content and delivery were important.
Then as I got older, the storytelling became a key part of my life. When I listen to people and their troubles, (which oddly they freely share with me) I will invariably make a connection to something that has happened to me. Then the memory came into play, and I realized that not only could I remember a connected event, but I could remember the way I felt, like the feelings from the event. Sorrow, regret, anxiety – all of them.
I realized that with those feelings came as comfort to affected. I generally don’t offer a solution, but usually just a comforting feeling of not being alone.
So I’ve morphed, my stories aren’t for me anymore. They are for others.
I included this “development of me”, for this reason – I treat this now as a gift. An odd gift, but a gift.
Back to the parable…
In the parable, the pharisee assumed his actions would get him “in”. He mentions donations and fasting. Ya know – Following the rules. Now not all of the rules of the day are mentioned, suffice to say he is likely following them. Then he makes his bad decision, he brags about it and makes himself seem a better person than the others. If you recall my last message, I talked about bringing other people down not being good.
He may have done all the right things, but bragging about them and being condescending erased the good in Jesus’ eyes.
Whereas the tax collector was a humbled person pleaded for mercy and made no claims to any worthiness. We are left to assume his follies – Although he the scripture never mentions his discretions; it seems implied that he had them due to his plea for forgiveness.
Forgiveness
So we are back to forgiveness. Other cultures handle forgiveness differently.
The Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest and receive absolution. They may have a chore to do to engage forgiveness, Hail Mary’s? I don’t know.
Jews have one day a year – it’s referred to as the Day of Atonement. Also known as Yom Kipper. They have ceremonies they perform on a day of silent and solitary prayer. I believe they fast as well.
Christians are different. We believe that faith in Jesus gives us an immediate reception of forgiveness.
The one thing they have in common is an earnest, honest ask. It’s very important that the need comes from your heart and soul… Why, because that’s where the pain is… and that’s where the healing is.
We must be diligent in our good and penitent when we are wrong. We must not judge others. The exalted will be humbled and the humble will be exalted.
Amen.