God Be Merciful for Us Sinners

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Luke 18:9-14. The Message

The Story of the Tax Man and the Pharisee

9-12 He 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.’”
14 Jesus 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

If one focuses on good works he or she become vulnerable to a seductive impulse toward complacency, self-gratification, delusions of superiority, and self-righteousness.  These provocations fueled by self-determination displaces God-centeredness in one's soul.  Such self-centeredness leads to the root of all sin, idolatry. While these self-aggrandizing people may believe that they are religiously faithful to God, Christ observes that they are not.  They are using their appearance of religiosity to bolster themselves at the expense of others.

Does this type of faith meet the test of loving one's neighbor?

Pray

Pray that you will walk humbly beside God.  Pray that you will act from your God-centered soul.  Pray that you will respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that you will remember that no matter how many good works you do, you are still a sinner, dependent upon Christ for your salvation.