THE WRONG KIND OF THANKSGIVING

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar happened upon other pilgrims on their travels to Bethlehem.  These pilgrims were practicing a thanksgiving of sorts.  Now, giving thanks is a joyful practice, but these folks were thanking God that they were not like other people.  Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar -foolish as usual -promptly thanked God that they were not like these legalistic pharisees.

WESLEY’S QUESTION:  Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

SCRIPTURE:  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14)

FOOLISH WISDOM:  Melchior and Balthazar were certain they had learned the lesson of the thankful pilgrims and got down on their knees.  Keening his chest, Caspar prayed, “God have mercy on me, I am a nobody!”  Pouring ashes on his head, Melchior wailed, “Christ have mercy on me, a nobody!”  Balthazar saw this, knelt down too, crying to heaven, “Lord save me, I am a nobody!”  Caspar elbowed Melchior in the ribs and said, “Look who else thinks he’s a nobody.” (adapted from Anthony DeMello)

MUSIC SELECTION:

Carol (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear) by Craig Phillips

© 2014 Oxford University Press

Laura Hesse, organ