The Gospel Proclamation 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 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.
Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Three principal parables are transmitted to us by St. Luke. The first is ‘the importunate friend’ invites us to urgent prayer (Luke 11:5-11). The second, ‘the importunate widow’ highlights the need to pray without ceasing and with the patience of faith (Luke 18:1-8). The third is ‘the Pharisee and the tax collector’. This concerns the humility of the heart that prays “God be merciful to me a sinner!” The Church continues to make this prayer its own ‘Kyrie Eleison’. (C.C.C. 2613) Where did the Pharisee go wrong according to Jesus? The greatest mistake he made was that he regarded others with contempt. This comparison is wrong. What does Jesus expect of us - not to compare our lives with others but with that of Jesus. He is the one and only model we have to follow - the divine One.
Gaze at my sonship “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”. But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or “out of the depths” of a humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that “we do not know how to pray as we ought” are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. “Man is a beggar before God.” (C.C.C. 2559). Today there are people who have a superiority complex. They put on airs, despise others and look down on low caste, black skin and people from developing countries. The list goes on and on. And aren’t these modern Pharisees? Am I in that boat?
Prayer Starter “My sacrifice, a contrite heart. A humble contrite heart You will not spurn.” (Ps. 50: 19).
