The Gospel of 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.”
Let us Pray: God of mercy, Strip away our pride and pretenses. Teach us to pray not with self-assurance, But with open hearts and trembling hope. May we never despise the broken, For we too are in need of grace. Justify us not by our deeds, But by your love poured out in Christ. Amen.
This Gospel makes one know that the writers of the Gospel lessons had Divine influence and gave them to us today to read and think seriously about. Jesus contrasts two men who go to the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee stands proudly, thanking God for his perceived righteousness and looking down on others, while the tax collector humbly acknowledges his sinfulness and pleads for mercy. This story serves as a powerful reminder of the attitudes we bring to our relationship with God and others. Wow! In today’s world we see the attitude of the pharisee every day, We see it in politics, we see it in business, and we see it in individuals. Luckily there is the attitude of the tax collector among us who still bring humility to the world. This parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a profound teaching on humility, repentance, and the nature of righteousness before God. The tax collector found a quiet place to pray. The tax collector was not demeaning himself but spoke the truth: “I am a sinful man.” Jesus then said to his disciples: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” In many arenas of today’s world, humility is a quality that often is not practiced or appreciated. Every day we hear many people who think they have the best vision for our country. Some people are humble, yet others believe they have all the answers for our country. Humility is a quality that all leaders need to possess, at least to some degree. No one person has all of the answers or all of the wisdom. This is true also in families, churches, organizations, teams, corporations, and in any group of people who come together for a purpose. True humility means that we recognize and acknowledge our limitations as well as our gifts and our talents. No one person has all the answers. Humble people will freely ask for advice or wisdom and will acknowledge when they need help. Jesus does not want us to demean ourselves, nor does he want us to exalt ourselves. Jesus has gifted each and every person with many gifts and talents; however, Jesus also realizes that we also have limitations and faults. Today let us be mindful of when it is time to share our gifts and talents and when we could use some words of wisdom or insight from another person. Give thanks for the many gifts you have to share and give thanks to the many people who share their insights and talents with you. This parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a timeless lesson on the importance of humility and the dangers of self-righteousness. It calls us to examine our hearts, recognize our need for God’s mercy, and approach Him with sincerity and humility. Together, we can enrich our world and make it a loving and peaceful place!
Let us Pray: Merciful God, help us when praying to be like tax-collector, who was honest and contrite in his prayers. He, unlike the Pharisee, knew that he was a sinner, and stood before God in spiritual nakedness and in terrible need of forgiveness. We too pray for God’s forgiveness. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 