Even in the midst of our worst trials and tribulations, there are joyful glimpses of the coming Kingdom all around us. But in order to notice them, we have to broaden our imagination and be open to and ready for surprises. This is the message of the Gospels and it is anything but stale. It’s compelling, and it holds more promise than any modern headline we could read.

Maybe we’ve been reading this story wrong. It is possible, perhaps even preferable, to hear that both men went home justified, alongside one another. Suddenly, the parable is no longer about humility or self-righteousness, about a winner and a loser. It’s about the mercy of God on both.