For every day during Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Jesus told the parable of two people, a Pharisee and a tax collector, who come to the Temple. The tax collector prayed to God. But notice that the Pharisee did not. He prayed to himself!
The tax collector bowed his head and would not raise his eyes to Heaven. He knew he was a sinner. And he began his prayer this way, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
But the Pharisee never bowed down. He didn’t admit his dependence on God for mercy. Rather, “He spoke this prayer to himself” and made a list of all his goodness: “I fast … I pay tithes.”
It is not our goodness that will save us. We pray to God because God will save us.
Remember to come before God in prayer with humility. Remember to speak more to God than to yourself. Jesus said it this way, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”