The Repentant Tax Collector and the Presumptuous Pharisee.

BY  PRAYER, FASTING AND ALMSGIVING, BREAK WITH YOUR ADDICTIONS AND SINFUL HABITS IN THIS HOLY SEASON OF LENT. GOD IS WAITING.

"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......
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.....
"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.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).

Saturday 26th March 2022 of the 3rd week of Lent. Our Gospel today is the narrative of the Pharisee and the Public Sinner.

What are the lessons for us on this mid point of Lent.
#1 The Pharisee trained in theology and spirituality does not know the God he claims to serve. Jesus came to call the sinner and not the righteous. Heaven rejoices exceedingly over one sinner who repents. "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice." (Hosea 6: 6).
#2 The Publican no doubt is guilty as accused.  Like the Good Thief beside Jesus on the Cross at Calvary, the Tax Collector heard about the extraordinary mercy of God. He believes what he heard and came to the Temple to seek out the God of all mercies and the Father of every consolation. He seeks and found what he sought and went home transformed and justified.

Let us observe a couple of things about the tax collector:
He does not raise his eyes to heaven. He beat his chest, a sign of repentance and sorrow. The Church makes us repeat this gesture when we say the Confiteor (I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters... " Humility is a condition for receiving mercy.
We cannot think of mercy without remembering the teachings of Jesus on mercy. Mercy is given to whoever asks for mercy no matter the sin. But he who receives mercy must extend mercy.

"O God, be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18: 13).

Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com