collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’ In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his
eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, when this man went back to
his house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be raised up.”
Reflection:
In front of God, we need not compete in such a way that we depreciate
the worth of other people so as to amplify our value. The Pharisee gloats at his
superiority over the tax collector. He feels good at the expense of the
latter. The funny thing is, God does not look at our achievements. He goes
straight to the heart, our heart, where our true worth lies. The heart of the
Pharisee is puffed up and full of holy conceit. While the heart of the sinful tax
collector is humble and contrite. Between them, the Pharisee lives a life that
seems to follow the straight path. The tax collector’s life is chaotic. But the
Pharisee’s heart is full of his own righteousness. There is no room for God’s grace.
Whereas the tax collector who has nothing to boast have his heart empty.
That’s why the grace of God could enter.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021