By: The Rev. Joanne Mumley
There is an air of arrogance and self-pride that runs through the Pharisee guests. They chose to sit in the place of honor with blinders on, not seeing or knowing the true significance of what they have done by exalting themselves at the table.
This is similar to today’s culture. We are focused on “self,” exalting ourselves. This sign of arrogance in the hearts of our society is a means to elevate the self above all others. It is the nature of sin. It is sin that blinds us from seeing the results of our own actions. We elevate our own wishes and yearnings while stepping on others.
Theologian Eugene Peterson, author of Eat this Book, titles this the Replacement Trinity: my holy feelings, my holy wants and my holy needs.1 This narrow view stops us from seeing the needs of everybody else in our spheres. This is obvious throughout the venues that Anglicans for Life serves. We are placing ourselves over our child, our parent, over others.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that this sin been present in our own lives at one time or another; has it not?
The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8b) The enemy will go after those that are blind with sin and devour them just as quickly as he will go after the young and frail.
Our charge is to minister with the love of Christ to those in our lives who exalt themselves with the blinders of pride and arrogance on their eyes. They do not see what they are doing to themselves and others.
Only through the power of the Holy Trinity will their blinders of pride and selfishness will be removed. Then they will have the opportunity to love and serve Christ and we all will be seated at the banquet table.