"Well, I certainly hope [name withheld to protect the innocent] is reading the Bible Lesson As found in the Christian Science Quarterly today," I said to my husband one Monday morning. Christ Jesus' parable about the Pharisee and the publican (see Luke 18:9-14) seemed just the right rebuke to a church member who considered herself an authority on everything that concerned our branch church. How timely for this citation to be prominent in our lesson, I thought. Maybe she'll recognize herself.
Putting aside the morning paper, my husband asked, "What's in the lesson this week?"
"The Pharisee and the publican," I began eagerly. "You know, where the two men went up into the temple to pray, and the Pharisee thanked God that he was not as other . . . men . . . are." I put my hands to hot cheeks. Was I the Pharisee?
