Hey, fam! Let’s dive into a wild story straight from the Bible that’s got drama, plot twists, and a mic-drop moment that’ll leave you shook. It’s from Luke 18:9-14, and Jesus is spilling some serious tea about pride, humility, and what really gets God’s attention. Spoiler alert: it’s not what you’d expect! So grab your coffee (or your holy water), and let’s break it down.
There are two dudes roll up to the Temple to pray. First up, we’ve got the Pharisee—think of him as the OG "holier-than-thou" influencer. He’s got the perfect aesthetic: fasting twice a week, tithing like a boss, and probably posting about it with #Blessed. He struts up, strikes a pose, and launches into his prayer—except it’s more like a flex. “Yo, God, I’m so good. I’m not like those messy sinners out there—greedy, shady, or, ugh, that tax collector over there. I’m basically crushing it.” He’s practically begging for a divine like and subscribe.
Then, there’s the tax collector. This guy? Total opposite vibes. He’s not even front-row material—he’s chilling in the back, head down, eyes glued to the floor. Tax collectors back then were the ultimate outcasts, like the shady crypto bros of the ancient world, scamming people for Rome’s cash. But this dude’s not here to flex. He’s beating his chest, whispering, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” No filter, no fluff—just raw, messy honesty.
Here’s where it gets juicy. Jesus drops the bombshell:
the tax collector—the guy everyone loves to hate—walks away justified. Yep, he’s right with God. The Pharisee? Not so much. Plot twist of the century! Why? Because God doesn’t vibe with the “look at me” energy. He’s all about the heart. The Pharisee’s prayer was a selfie; the tax collector’s was a confession.
So, what’s the deal for us young Catholics? This parable is straight fire because it calls us out. We’ve all got a little Pharisee in us—those moments when we’re like, “I’m killing it at Mass every Sunday, not like those people who skip.” Or maybe we’re judging the kid with the ripped jeans in the pew next to us. But Jesus is like, “Nah, fam. Check your heart.” Humility’s the real glow-up here.
The Catholic sauce? This screams the Sacrament of Confession. The tax collector’s “Lord, have mercy” is basically the Act of Contrition vibes. He’s not pretending he’s perfect—he’s owning his mess and trusting God’s mercy. That’s what gets you “justified,” aka back in the squad with God. Meanwhile, the Pharisee’s too busy curating his holy highlight reel to see he needs mercy too.
Here’s the takeaway, squad:
God’s not impressed by your spiritual clout. He’s not counting your rosaries or your novenas if your heart’s screaming “I’m better than them.” He wants the real you—the messy, broken, “I screwed up again” you. Like St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” The tax collector got that. The Pharisee? He missed the memo.
So next time you’re at Mass or hitting up Adoration, ditch the Pharisee filter. Be the tax collector—humble, real, and ready for mercy. Because in God’s eyes, the one who kneels low gets lifted high. Mic drop.
Want to chat more about living that humble Catholic life? Hit me up in the comments!
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