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Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their
own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up
to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a
tax collector…” Luke 18:9–10
Humility is a beautiful virtue. Even the most public sinner, like a
tax collector, shines brightly with God’s grace when his heart is
purified by humility. On the other hand, pride is an ugly vice.
When pride is present in someone’s life, the soul is incapable of
reflecting God’s pure and beautiful light.
Today’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, who both go
to the temple to pray, teaches us that true holiness comes from
within. The interior virtues of the soul allow God’s radiance to
shine outwardly. When humility and repentance fill a person’s
heart, the soul reflects God’s grace.
We may all encounter people who seem to radiate God’s grace, peace,
and joy. Conversely, we may meet others who radiate judgment,
self-righteousness, and condemnation. While we must avoid judging
others, we cannot help but be inspired by the genuine humility of
those whose lives are marked by grace. For example, even if we
forget the exact words of Saint Mother Teresa’s many speeches, her
radiant charity, fueled by humility, is unforgettable.
The Pharisees were known for their meticulous observance of the
external requirements of the Law of Moses. However, their
scrupulous adherence to these laws often blinded them to the deeper
virtues that God desires. They became focused on appearances,
missing the heart of the matter: humility and love of God.
Praying in the temple is a good and pious act. Both the Pharisee
and the tax collector did this. However, prayer that is distorted
by self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance cannot rise to God as
true prayer. Only when prayer is guided by humility and an
awareness of our need for God’s mercy does it become a channel of
grace.
The tax collector was humble because he recognized his sinfulness
and his need for God’s mercy. He prayed, “O God, be merciful to me,
a sinner.” The Pharisee, blinded by pride, could not see his own
need for God’s forgiveness and instead praised himself for his
external observances. The tax collector’s humility opened him to
divine wisdom, while the Pharisee’s pride left him in spiritual
blindness. Humility is wise; pride is foolish.
Reflect today on how you approach prayer. Are you wise in your
prayer? Do you, like the tax collector, acknowledge your need for
God’s mercy? Pray the tax collector’s prayer with sincerity and
depth: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” If you find yourself
thinking, “I’m not that bad of a sinner,” then your prayer is more
like that of the Pharisee. Don’t shy away from the truth. Humbly
confess your weaknesses and sins before God. He is merciful.
Acknowledge your complete dependence on His grace. Only then, like
the tax collector, will you go home justified before God.
Most merciful God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I need You. I
need Your forgiveness. By Your grace, help me to see my sins
clearly, confess them, and experience the joy of redemption. Fill
me with humility, dear Lord, so that I may know the truth of myself
and, through Your wisdom, be set free. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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