Daily Word Of God
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else, ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.”
The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself up will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of two contrasting prayer attitudes. The “holier-than-thou” attitude that judged others with contempt and the repentant sinners who begged God for forgiveness.
- God always hear our prayers and is ever merciful if we show remorse for our sins and seek His forgiveness with humility.
- Ponder on your prayer attitude. Do you show charity, mercy and forgiveness to others when you ask God for His love and forgiveness?