Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
A Pharisee and a tax collector are the central figures in the parable of Jesus for today. Standing before God, the Pharisee in the Gospel saw himself as better and holier than the sinful tax collector. Jesus was not impressed.
What the Pharisee forgot to ask in his prayer was any help from God. He thought he was too good to ask for it. He was shown no mercy.
The tax collector, on the other hand, knew that he depended on God for mercy. He asked for it: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” He received it.
When we are tempted to think we are better than others – even those who are great public sinners – we should remember that without asking for God’s help and God’s mercy we will not receive it. Only the person who humbles himself before God and says, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner,” will receive it. I’m sometimes of the mind that people in our prisons are receiving God’s mercy sooner than some of the people in our pews. Wherever the confession lines are the longest are the places where God’s grace is being poured out.
Advice: Ask for God’s compassion, and God will give it generously to you.