There is a saying that there are only two kinds of people in this world: the sinners and the self-righteous. We must be grateful whenever we realize that we are sinners. There is more hope for sinners than for self-righteous people. The self-righteous are too proud of themselves that they fail to see the need to repent.

Thus, there is less hope for them to change. Lent is a special season when we are challenged to grow in humility and be free from the shackles of worthless pride. Pride blinds us that we are unable to see our need of conversion as characterized by the Pharisee in our Gospel passage. The Gospel challenges us to grow in humility and, like the repentant tax collector, be able to acknowledge our sinfulness before the Lord who is all merciful. Do we allow pride to reign in our hearts that we end up being self-righteous? Do we, in humility, acknowledge our sinfulness before the Lord and ask for forgiveness? Do we recognize our need of God’s mercy and our need to change?

First Reading • Hos 6:1-6

“Come, let us return to the Lord, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.”
What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Gospel • Luke 18:9-14

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.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).