As we know, Jesus uses parables to teach his disciples or the crowds a lesson. Sometimes they sound a bit vague or the meaning isn’t obvious to our modern ears. Not so today.

Even at the start, Luke says this parable was aimed at those convinced of their own righteousness. Jesus is about to tell them a story that would knock them down a few pegs to live a more authentic spiritual life. The figure of the Pharisee is almost akin to a caricature – he is praying in an extremely haughty way that might make all of us uneasy. Indeed, his prayer is not even to God: he spoke this prayer to himself. Meanwhile, the tax collector is almost nervous about his prayer to God. He does not lift his eyes to heaven when he prays; he asks for God’s mercy because he is a sinner. Jesus concludes the story with his primary point. Those who sit on high will be humbled, and those who are humble will be lifted up before God.

In the first reading from Sirach, God’s concern for the humble is also emphasized. The prayer of those who are most vulnerable – the lowly – is described as being prioritized. It does not stop until it reaches the Most High. They might be overlooked and downtrodden now, but God is listening to them. In the same way, the tax collector might have been overlooked by the world and afraid to even ask God for mercy, but God was waiting for him.

As we reflect on these readings, we might wonder who we are more like, the Pharisee or the tax collector. A Pharisee of today might be someone who has become rigid in their faith to the point where they have lost the meaning of it. They might be going through the motions, presuming there is nothing left to uncover or change in their heart. The tax collector of today might be someone who feels abandoned or unworthy to petition God. It might be someone who presumes they have already been judged and there is no room for mercy. Perhaps sometimes we feel more like one than the other. Jesus wants us to know that he is listening and has a deep concern for us.

As we continue our prayer, let us root ourselves in the Eucharist. This sacrament is a perfect model for us of self-emptying love and humility. Let us keep striving and working to follow this model, confident in God’s unending mercy and love.

(Fr. Michał Pająk, OMI, Oct. 26, 2025)