A Pharisee and a Tax Collector at Prayer

We hear another great parable this weekend. Jesus tells the story of two people who go to the temple to pray. (Lk 18:9-14)

A Pharisee prays to himself with an unbowed head: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity-greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like that tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” (Lk 18:11b)

Then we hear the prayer of the tax collector who stands off at a distance and prays with a bowed head: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner. “ (Luke 18:13b)

Read their prayers again.  And then reflect on the following questions.

To whom is the Pharisee praying? Did you notice how often he uses the pronoun ‘I’ in his prayer?

What is the significance of the Pharisee who prays with an unbowed head and the tax collector who bows his head to pray?

    

Why does Jesus tell this parable?  What does He want you to get from it? When you come to Church this weekend what will be the first prayer you’ll say?