“O God, have mercy on this sinner.” Lk. 18:9-14.

Jesus proposes this parable for those who believe themselves to be righteous and despise others. Two men go up to the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector. Both pray, but only one truly encounters God. The Pharisee talks a lot about himself; of what he fulfills, of what he does well, of how different he is from others. His prayer is not dialogue, it is self-praise. The publican, on the other hand, does not justify or compare himself; he recognizes his frailty and trusts in mercy: “O God, have mercy on this sinner.” Jesus concludes with a decisive teaching: he who humbles himself will be exalted. God does not reject the repentant sinner, but He does reject the pride of those who believe themselves to be self-sufficient. Do we stand before God with a humble heart or with attitudes of superiority?