Stories that get to us

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Modahl's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

In my homiletical reading (subscription required) of this week's gospel lesson, I attempted to do two things suggested by former teachers.

First, Charles Rice advised us to put as much energy and imagination into our telling of the biblical account as we put into a narrative of our own creation. So in retelling the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, I tried to include some context. Jesus' hearers knew the details of temple worship; we do not. We assume the tax collector's prayer position was the norm because this is how our parents, Sunday school teachers and pastors taught us to pray. We view the Pharisee's outstretched arms, upturned face and audible prayer to be marks of arrogance. However, his actions reflect the norm in temple worship in Jesus' day.