A Prayer for Mercy

FAITH IN ACTION:
LIVING AS FAITHFUL PEOPLE
God's Redemption
Justified by Faith in Christ

Luke 18:9-14

The Message

The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee

 ^9-12He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.' ¹³"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"
 ¹⁴Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

For Reflection
There is no justification for the attitude that as a Christian you are somehow more entitled than others (even other Christians).  The fact of the matter is that you are just like other people, a sinner.  As such, you are incapable of living a righteous life out side of God's transformational redemption. 

Judging others immorality is just another way of thinking that you are incapable of similar behavior and some how better in the eyes of God for it.  In fact, you exhibit immorality when you are judgmental.

The world is God's to judge.  Our role is to be faithful to the transformation symbolized in baptism.  We are not called to be separate from this world but to help realize God's kingdom by becoming a witness to God's promise and call to all people to reside in the Kingdom of God.

Pray
that you will be a blessing to all whom you encounter.  Pray that your life will be sacrificed to God's will.