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. (Lk 18:9-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032925.cfm
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector calls into question the hypocrisy of us church folks. Perhaps that is why the ancient fathers and mothers of the church always recommended the “Jesus Prayer”: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saturday III, Lent
