“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”

Jesus tells of a Pharisee and a tax collector in the temple to pray.  Actually, the Pharisee went to the temple to brag: “O God, I thank you I am not like the rest of humanity . . .” The Pharisee is probably a good man.  But he seems to be thanking God that he has no need of God; that he is self-made and self sufficient.  The tax collector does not even raise his eyes to heaven.  He is aware that he is a sinner and prays for mercy.  He acknowledges his dependence on God for all that he has, all that he is and all the he ever will be.  He stands present to God with all of his flaws and ask God’s forgiveness for the ways he failed to be all that God created him to be.  Both are stewards of all that God gave them.  But it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who understands that.  It is the tax collector who ask for forgiveness.  Good stewards know and admit when they have failed to be a good steward, and ask God for forgiveness.  When we stand before God, are we like the Pharisee or are we like the tax collector