Luke 18: 9-14
In today’s parable the Pharisee who went up to the temple reminds me of a prairie grouse blowing himself up and dancing around to impress a potential mate. He is all puffed up and saying to God, “Look at me! I’m 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.” In other words, “God, look how righteous and wonderful I am. I deserve all your blessings.” Everything is about himself and nothing about God.
The publican, on the other hand, stood way off and did not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
During the penitential rite we are supposed to beat our breast when we pray, ….’through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.’ Maybe we should kneel before God more often and beat our breast and think about how merciful God is and how much we have offended him by our sins, and trust in his mercy and ask God for true contrition for our sins.
For the publican it’s as it says in Sirach today (Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18), “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw until the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.”
Mrs. Peggy Brechtel, OP
Blessed Mary Mother of Dominic 
This is a thoughtful reflection.
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