Pew Sheet, Sunday 26th October, 2025. The Last Sunday of Trinity

In our Gospel reading today, we see how Jesus reacts to an unidentified group of people who were so confident in their own righteousness, that they looked down on and despised those whom they considered morally, socially, and spiritually inferior to themselves. In doing so, he tells a story which turned the religious conventions of his day upside down, to show how God does not look upon any outward show of religiosity or moral correctitude in judging the attitude of a person’s heart, but looks deep into our hearts to assess our humility towards God, the measure of repentance we show in respect of our sinfulness, and the sincerity in which we come to God asking for forgiveness.

In the parable, Jesus talks about two men worshipping the same God in the same place, and yet the motivations of their hearts could not be more different. Both men pray to God, and yet their prayers have two very different outcomes. One man walks away justified, having been made right with God because of the sincerity of his prayer, having understood that only God, and God alone could help him to live a better life, while the other leaves condemned because he is confident that he is already leading a blameless life and consequently does not seek God’s mercy – but considers himself better than others.

The parable shows that God is not moved by public displays of religious practice or belief – no matter how showy they may be, when we lack that most vital element necessary for a good relationship with God, namely a healthy sense of our own unrighteousness – a proper understanding of how unworthy we are when we stand before God which, if we have the right attitude, leads us to ask God for forgiveness, and help to overcome our pride, our self-reliance, and our sinfulness.

The people to whom Jesus told this story were totally confident in their own righteousness, and more than that, they looked down on those they considered to be less righteous than themselves. In doing so, they believed that their religiosity – the very act of performing certain acts and behaving in certain ways – was all that was necessary to be in good standing with God. They were proud of the fact that they tithed and abided by a moral code which others might struggle to adhere to. In doing so, they measured their righteousness in comparison with others and not by God’s yardstick. Furthermore, they were so confident of their religious and moral superiority that they did not feel the need for God’s mercy, and had no insight into how proud and boastful they had become.

The tax collector (hated by the public as agents of the Herodian kings and collaborators with their Roman overlords as much as for their frequent dishonesty) could not be more different than the Pharisee, for whilst the Pharisee’s prayer was all about himself and how Godly he was, the tax-collectors prayer was a genuine cry for forgiveness and mercy. His sense of sinfulness was such that he would not even look up towards God, and beat his breast because of his grief and shame. He makes no attempt to justify or defend himself; but simply asks God for mercy and forgiveness.

The Greek word for ‘mercy’ used here, hilaskomai, is only used twice in the entire New Testament, the other being in Hebrews 2:17, where Jesus is described as the High Priest who offers himself as a ‘propitiation’ for the sins of the people. That word propitiation (hilaskesthai) means ‘turning away’ or ‘deflecting’ the divine wrath from the one it should be directed against, so that they can be forgiven and made clean in God’s sight. More than that though, it is a source of reconciliation which puts us back into a right relationship with God, our former sinful selves having been completely renewed and restored so that we can be in a right relationship with God again. The main emphasis of the parable is that righteousness is about being in a right relationship with God, rather than the performance of religious or other acts, because it is the attitude of our hearts, and not our religious observance which truly matters.

The broken cry of the sinner who asks God to, ‘have mercy on me’ is more efficacious than the many words or actions of the self-righteous person, no matter how religious they are, for those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. We should always be on our guard against self-righteousness which leads us to consider ourselves better than others, and come to prayer with a truly humble sense of who we are before God, for it is God alone who will judge, and will grant us the mercy we need to be in a right relationship with him each and every time we pray.

Collect

Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty, that trusting in your word and obeying your will we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Psalm 84:1-7

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing…

At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the gentiles might hear it. So, I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Post Communion Prayer

God of all grace, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

This week’s events

Monday

Bell ringing at 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.

Tuesday (Simon and Jude, Apostles)

Zoom Morning Prayer at 9am. Meeting ID: 539 3978774 Password: TuaR0T (The 0 in R0T is a zero not an ‘O’) or email: [email protected]

Evening Home Groups, contact Jo on 07803 942 687.

Wednesday (James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr in Uganda, 1885)

Morning Coffee from 10.00 am in the St Laurence Rooms/Great Horwood Village Hall followed by Midweek Holy Communion at 12.00 noon in St Laurence’s.

Thursday

Daytime Home Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687.

Friday (Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546)

Junior Choir, 6.30pm in St Laurence, followed by full Choir Practice at 7.30pm.

Saturday (All Saints Day)

Pastoral Care: Please speak to Daphne, Alan or one of the Church wardens if you are in need of support while Steve is absent for his mother’s funeral.