Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.

Luke 18:9

Luke 18:9-14

Reflection

Jesus addresses a parable to those who believe they are righteous and dislike everyone else. A Pharisee and tax collector go to pray at the temple; the Pharisees speaks a prayer to himself, stating how he is glad he is not like everyone else – not greedy or dishonest, etc. The tax collector stands at a distance and asks God to be merciful to him, a sinner.

More often than not, we might behave and think like the people Jesus is addressing in this parable – despising others and believing we are righteous. If we have this attitude, we become very self-centered and can only seem to do as the Pharisee does, literally pray to himself.

This image Jesus paints reveals a lack of empathy, love, and God in a person’s life. We must be like the tax collector, who acknowledges his sinfulness and speaks to God, asking for mercy. When we tell God that we are grateful to not be like others, we run the risk of making ourselves out to be greater than we are. Christ tells us to humble ourselves, not exalt ourselves. How can you do this better today?

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Saint of the Day

St. Maximilian of Tebessa: AD 274 – 295

“My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world. I tell you I am a Christian.” St. Maximilian of Tebessa