29.03.25 Luke 18:9-14

Prepare

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us! Heal our wounds, give us sight, and gift us with faith in you afresh.

Read

Luke 18:9-14

Reflect

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
For the priest his prayer was a platform.
A play to perform the passions of his piety.
That he might be noticed and rise up the hierarchy.
That priest, a picture of prayer. Pointed inward to himself.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
But the tax collector had a different posture.
His performance was received by an audience of singularity,
One a heart seeking prosperity and the other charity.

It is in this parable of prayer that Jesus reminds us:
To seek our Lord, is to humble our pride laden hearts.
It is to seek mercy in our quiet place,
There will receive his grace.

Be

Shall we take a moment of stillness to seek Jesus in our hearts? Let us whisper those words that Jesus commends: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Become

It is tempting to fall into the trap of seeing following Jesus as something to excel at. Where do you need to be reminded of God’s mercy? Where might you have become too self-reliant or self-seeking?

Do

Let’s pray that God would help make us humble. I believe this is one of the most dangerous prayers we can pray because often the journey God takes us on challenges us and confronts pride we hadn’t even noticed or seen before. Pray this with me if you’re willing!

Practice

How could you humble yourself? It’s a strange question in many ways, but are there things you could do today/this week to actively humble yourself in the way the tax collector does in the parable?