#luke 18:9-14 | #reflection | The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector

#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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

#Reflection on Luke 18:9-14

This parable is one of the most powerful teachings of Jesus about humility, self-awareness, and the true nature of prayer. It contrasts two very different attitudes toward God:
1. The Pharisee — He boasts of his religious deeds and looks down on others. His prayer is self-centered. He does not actually ask God for anything because he thinks he already has everything.
2. The Tax Collector — He recognizes his unworthiness and sinfulness. His prayer is humble, sincere, and from the heart. He asks simply for mercy.

The key lesson is that God listens to the humble. God is not impressed by outward displays of righteousness but looks at the heart.

This Gospel calls us to:
• Examine our own hearts. Are we sometimes like the Pharisee, comparing ourselves to others?
• Approach God with humility, recognizing our need for His mercy.
• Remember that being justified comes not from our own works, but from God’s gracious forgiveness.

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Image Prompt for the Gospel Scene

A peaceful ancient temple scene. Inside the temple, two men are praying: one, a proud Pharisee, dressed in elegant religious robes, stands confidently at the front, looking upward and gesturing to himself. The other, a humble tax collector, dressed in simple, worn clothes, stands at the back, with his head bowed and hand on his chest, expressing sorrow. The background shows soft rays of light illuminating the tax collector gently, symbolizing divine mercy, while the Pharisee remains in shadow.