Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 18, 9-14
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.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Convinced of their own righteousness
1) They went up. It’s never beneficial to be arrogant or pretend to be someone you’re not. There are people who constantly seek to show off and even try to make others feel inferior. Fortunately, there are many examples of genuine humility, such as the one I see in Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentina national soccer team (sorry, but I really like soccer). The main lesson is the importance of treating everyone with equal dignity and respect. A simple way to practice this is by ensuring that when you talk to someone, you make them feel comfortable and listen more than you speak.
2. He prayed. Too often, we treat God as the co-pilot of our lives instead of the main pilot. We tend to make all our own decisions first, and then simply ask God in prayer to “help me out”. The key is to cultivate a deep conversation with God and learn to discern His will. True faith means understanding that you should be building your life with God, not acting independently of Him.
3. Tax Collector. The example of the Tax Collector shows us the importance of humility and simplicity. It’s essential to surrender to God and avoid letting your own achievements lead to arrogance. Instead, approach everything you do knowing that only God truly understands the big picture and entrust yourself to Him so your actions align with His will. Surrendering to God is an act of humility, and praying about your plans shows trust.
Never forget that something good is on the way! God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
