Two contrasting characters, both sinners, appear in today's Gospel, the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee (Lk 18:9-14), a good story for reflection during Lent. The Pharisee lists his reasons for gratitude, based on his "privileged rank" above the greedy, dishonest, adulterous, and the publican who prayed from the back of the Temple area. No, he was not like these others, but he failed to see that indeed, he and all of us carry the shadows of sinfulness within, despite how we appear on the outside.The tax collector,on the other hand, makes no pretense of his righteousness and admits flatly that he is a sinner in need of pardon. He is honest, truthful, direct and humbly admits his sinfulness and need for forgiveness, warranting the praise of Jesus: "...for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 18:14). May his prayer, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner,: be ours, for it is so easy to slip into the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisee.
Bro. Rene
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