I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Lk 18:14)

The Gospel reading for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Lk 18:9-14) contains a parable of great wisdom. St. Luke tells us that “Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else” (Lk 18:9). Today, his audience might very well be those who use social media to assert their infallible opinions and denounce anyone who disagrees with them:

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” (Lk 18:10-13).

Jesus tells the story of these two different people—a proud religious leader and a despised social outcast who both go into the temple to pray. One is full of himself. The other acknowledges his unworthiness and seeks God’s forgiveness. Which one found favor with God? Which one left the temple “raised up” by the hand of God? Which one left puffed up with his own self-importance but no better off in the eyes of God?

We have heard this parable so many times that we know the answer. Of course, it was the tax collector who earned the praise of Jesus by his candor, his humility, and his desire for God’s mercy. And it was the Pharisee whose self-righteousness prevented him from humbly accepting God’s grace.

But let’s not be too quick to judge. After all, there is something of the tax collector and the Pharisee in us. We are all sinners who are blinded by our own egos. We all tend to compare ourselves favorably to people who appear to be worse sinners than we are. And yet, we all know, deep down inside, that we should fall on our knees and humbly pray: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

In the first reading from Sirach, we read:

The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no ­favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay. (Sir 35:12-14, 16-18)

God knows who we are. He does not play favorites; he loves each and every one of us as we are. But it’s also true that our Lord challenges every one of us to be better than we are—by emptying ourselves of false pride and pretense and by letting the grace of God fill us with holiness and love.

In Sunday’s second reading (2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18), St. Paul gives personal testimony to God’s power to change us from ego-driven sinners to missionary disciples who empty ourselves and put on Jesus Christ, who came to serve, not to be served.

Beloved: I am already being poured out like a ­libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. (2 Tm 4:6-8)

St. Paul is not boasting of his own accomplishments. He is praising God for what the Lord has been able to do through him. In reading his words, we must remember that this is the same man who once persecuted the followers of Jesus, and who was compelled by the grace of Christ to fall to his knees and beg for God’s mercy.

Each of is called to cast off our self-righteousness and assume the kind of humility that allows us to change and grow as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. Let’s ask God to help us ask for his mercy today and always. †