Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 29, 2025
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.”
The parable in today’s gospel ends with one of Jesus’ more well-known inversions: “He who exalts himself will be humbled.” In addressing the self-righteous, Jesus utilizes a common contemporary scapegoat of the culture: the tax collector.
This passage made me think of how I have exalted—rather than humbled—myself and who might be the respondents of my sin of pride: a coworker with whom I commonly have professional disagreements and disparage within my team, acquaintances whose actions I may personally disagree with and criticize, an idle stranger unaware that they are blocking my path. In my daily focus on what is important to me at the moment as opposed to what God commands of me, I sinfully place myself ahead of others and, in doing so, presume myself to be better than them.
Today’s parable takes place in the setting of prayer to emphasize that the acts of despising others and exalting ourselves do not need to be outwardly demonstrated to be sinful. Our own personal scapegoats need not be aware of our thoughts or intentions in order for us to have sinned. The tax collector is unaware of what the Pharisee says or thinks about him, but the Pharisee nonetheless is blinded by his self-exaltation and hatred of others and thus, his prayer does not draw him closer to God but exactly the opposite.
I pray that today’s gospel remains impressed upon my heart so that I may better seek to humble myself as God intends.
Prayer
God of mercy and compassion, you justify the humble and humble the self-exalted. Look upon us poor sinners with the gaze of your love. Grant us the wisdom to recognize our sins. Convict our hearts so that we make seek true contrition. Fill us with a burning zeal for conversion, and bestow on us the grace to seek your forgiveness. O God, be merciful to me a sinner!
Saint of the Day
As bishop, St. Ludolph conformed his life to what he believed to be true, and suffered greatly for those convictions. Though he was not killed for his faith, he is honored as a martyr for the persecution he bore on account of his beliefs.
He was elected bishop of Ratzeburg, Germany, in 1236, but continued to live like a monk. He expanded the Church in his diocese, founding convents and deepening the practice of the faith. This work and his efforts defending the Church caused conflict with the duke, who had Ludolph imprisoned, beaten, and finally banished.
He died in exile around 1250 from the effects of the harsh treatment he received.
St. Ludolph, who suffered for defending the Church and spreading the faith—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Ludolph is in the public domain. Last accessed February 13, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
