Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 29, 2025

Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Scripture Text: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In the gospel reading for today, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee pridefully presents himself to the LORD believing that his prestige and external public piety make him holy whereas the tax collector humbly comes before the LORD acknowledging his sins and seeking mercy.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I prideful? Do I acknowledge my sins and humbly seek mercy?

Praying:

LORD, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen. Open me to your transformative love so that I might become through your mercy and grace the one you created me to be. Amen.