October 20, 2022

Friends,

In the Gospel reading at Mass this upcoming Sunday, we’ll hear Jesus tell a very powerful parable about humility. The two characters in the parable are a Pharisee and a tax collector. Jesus says that the Pharisee - a faithful religious leader - chose one route for his prayer. He chose to use that time of prayer to boast to God about all of his virtues and righteous behavior. 

And then there’s the tax collector - a traitor to his own people, working to deceive others as he collected the taxes for Rome. He chose a different route for his prayer. He stood off in the corner of the Temple… in the back, by the door… and he wouldn’t even lift up his eyes toward heaven. And his prayer was simple, humble, and honest: “O God, be merciful to me. I am a sinner.”  …