Proper 25 2025 I Have NOT Arrived

Proper 25 26 October 2025

St George’s Episcopal, Fredericksburg, VA

“I Have NOT Arrived”

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus 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 look up 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."

I remember hearing a story from a friend about going into a church, and seeing in the entryway a huge banner: “You have arrived!” Now, I hope and trust that what they meant to say was “You made it. We are glad you are here!” But when I hear the phrase, “You have arrived!” it sounds like you have made it to your destination, that you have nowhere else to go, that you have nothing else to do, nothing more to learn, no more growth is needed. Rest.

Had I seen that banner hanging in a church I was visiting, I would have turned around and walked out the door immediately. What I look for in a Church is not a bunch of “arrived” people, but a bunch of people en route. In the early Church, people who followed Christ did not call themselves Christians. In fact, the name Christian was an insulting, derisive name that got slapped on Christ’s followers in Antioch, the city in Syria. It literally means “little Christs.” Little Messiahs. People were making fun of these people running around trying to help people and save them from their troubles. The term that people used in the Church to describe themselves was followers of The Way. The Way. You see, our faith is to be on the move, on the go. We follow Jesus, and he shows us The Way. When we think that we have it made, that we have arrived, we have left The Way. And there is nothing I think that would make Jesus sadder.

In the story he told tonight Jesus sets up a dichotomy, two people praying in the Temple. One who thanks they have arrived, that they have their act together and THANKS BE TO GOD THEY WERE BORN THAT WAY and followed all the rules to stay that way! 

And we have another, who knew for a fact that they were on the wrong path, that they had strayed and that they needed help. He prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 

God heard both prayers and God affirmed one of them, according to Jesus. The obvious and notorious sinner went home justified. And the one who was sure he was ready and redeemed was anything but.

Friends, you know you. At least, I hope you do. I know I have not arrived, and I still have a ways to go. I could worry and fret about that, or, like the Tax Collector, I could see it as my starting place on the road to Grace.

Maybe one way to look at it is to not be like the Pharisee, and do not judge anybody, unless you are looking in a mirror.

And if you have breath in your lungs, God is not done with you yet! Thanks be to God! You still have room and time to grow and to go home justified like the Tax Collector. 

God has given you today to humbly start again. All Roads May Lead To Rome, but all roads on Jesus’ Way lead to him. No matter where you are starting from, Jesus can and wants to show you the way home. Thanks be to God! Amen