A Reflection on Luke 18:9-14
You know what's wild about this
parable? Jesus basically shows us two guys praying, and the one who looks
like he's crushing it spiritually is actually missing the whole point! The
Pharisee stands up front, probably where everyone can see him, and starts
listing his spiritual résumé: "God, thank you that I'm not like those
sinners over there. I fast twice a week, I give ten percent of everything I
own..." He's not really talking to God; he's talking at God,
like he's presenting a business report. Meanwhile, the tax collector (who
everyone considered a total sellout and traitor) can barely lift his eyes. He
just beats his chest and whispers, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Guess which one went home right with God? Plot twist: the tax collector! Jesus
is teaching us that prayer isn't about showing off our spiritual trophy case;
it's about opening our hearts with total honesty and humility.
Here's where it gets really good: this
parable is basically a masterclass on how to pray, which connects
beautifully to the Rosary! When we pray the Rosary, we're not doing it to
impress God with how many Hail Marys we can rack up or to prove we're holier
than our neighbor. We're doing something the tax collector did; we're coming before
God with humble, persistent prayer, asking Mary to "pray for us
sinners." Every single decade starts with acknowledging our need for
grace. The Rosary teaches us to be like that tax collector: steady, humble, and
honest about who we are. We're not earning God's love through our prayers;
we're simply showing up, day after day, like Jesus tells us to at the start of
this passage, we should "always pray and not give up."
The Catholic Church has always
understood that real prayer transforms us from the inside out. When we pray the
Rosary, we're meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life while our lips
repeat those familiar words; it's like we're keeping our hearts soft and open,
just like the tax collector kept his heart open to God's mercy. Saint Padre Pio
called the Rosary "the weapon" for our times, not because it makes us
powerful like the Pharisee thought he was powerful, but because it keeps
us humble and connected to God's grace. It's the difference between performing
spirituality and actually living it. The Pharisee was performing; the tax
collector was praying.
So, here's the challenge Jesus leaves
us with: Which person are we when we pray? Are we coming to God with a list of
reasons He should be impressed with us, or are we coming like little children
(or like that tax collector), saying, "I need You, I'm sorry, please help
me"? The beautiful thing about the Rosary is that it trains us in that
second kind of prayer, the real kind. When we hold those beads and walk through
the mysteries with Mary, we're learning to pray like the tax collector: persistently,
humbly, and with our hearts wide open. And that's exactly the kind of prayer
that reaches Heaven, because God doesn't need our perfection; He wants our
hearts. Take up your Rosary today and see the amazing connection to the gospels
that you will discover each day.
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
