RBWords

     The "Lord's Prayer" is not the only way that Jesus taught us to pray.  The parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector is a dramatic example of prayer.  It is one thing to thank God for blessings received.  It is entirely another thing to thank God for making one superior to all others in the way the Pharisee does in the parable today.  In short, the Pharisee is claiming to be perfect and thanks God for making him perfect!  The Pharisee makes an example of the Tax Collector in uttering his thanks for "perfection."  By contrast, the Tax Collector makes a prayer of truth.  He utters a simple truth that speaks of his need for God's mercy.  The Pharisee thanks God that he has no need for mercy!

     Do we tell the truth about ourselves when we pray, or do we try to hide behind our prayers because there is some official spiritual benefit automatically attached to them.  The Jesus and the Old Testament prophets continually denounced piety that excluded compassion for others.  To start to pray, we must have a truthful stance in which we acknowledge our own need for God's mercy and the strength to share that mercy with others..  Anything less is a lie.  AMEN