“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s Gospel from Luke 18:9–14 invites us into the quiet space of the heart—where true prayer begins. Jesus tells the parable of two men who go up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee, confident in his righteousness, and the other a tax collector, aware of his need for mercy.
The Pharisee speaks about himself—what he does, what he avoids, and how he is better than others. The tax collector, by contrast, doesn’t even lift his eyes to heaven. He simply prays, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And Jesus tells us plainly: “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other.”
This Gospel reminds us that God is not drawn to our accomplishments or comparisons—but to our honesty and humility. As it says in James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” And again in Psalm 51:17, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
We live in a world that encourages us to present our best selves, to prove our worth, and sometimes even to hide our weaknesses. But before God, there is no need to pretend. He already knows us fully and loves us deeply. Jesus invites us today to drop the mask, step away from comparison, and come before Him with a humble heart.
Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking truthfully and acknowledging that all we are and all we have is grace. As Jesus says at the close of this parable: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This week, let’s open our hearts in that same prayer of the tax collector, trusting that God’s mercy is abundant and near to those who seek Him.
Reflective Questions:
Am I honest with God in prayer, or do I find myself justifying or comparing?
Where is God inviting me to grow in humility and dependence on His grace?
In Christ’s love,
Fr. Sunil Kumar Pallela