The Lord hears the cry of the poor. (Psalm 33)
This familiar parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is unique to the Gospel of Luke – one of his many special gems. Other parables which only he includes are the Prodigal Son, Dives and Lazarus, and the Good Samaritan. They all illustrate some aspect of God’s loving mercy and compassion towards the poor while, at the same time, teaching us what kind of behaviour deflects God’s mercy from us.
The proud Pharisee listed all his good works and religious observances. He did not speak out loud but said this prayer to himself. (Did Luke mean he was talking, not to God, but to himself?)
The model given to us to follow is the humble Publican. This demands from us the (sometimes) reluctant admission that we are at fault, and that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.
All praise to God for his loving mercy and forgiveness, won for us through our brother and Lord, Jesus Christ.
