Some thoughts on Luke 18:9-14...

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector have something in common. Both men stand in isolation from God and from other people. One to preserve his purity...the other because he perceives himself to be unworthy and beyond the reach of God's mercy. Both positions are false. The Pharisee is most certainly not pure. The Tax Collector is most certainly within reach of God's mercy. The difference between the two men is that only one has any chance of leaving his isolation and coming into a relationship with God and other people.

This parable so mirrors the way we act and think as human beings. We like taking the high moral ground and passing judgment on those not quite as good as we are. At the same time that high moral ground almost forces us to become more and more self-righteous in order to justify our position. We have no need of God or other people as we are good enough within ourselves. Ironically we are also quite capable of seeing ourselves to be completely unworthy. Abject failures. Unlovable. Irredeemable. We reinforce this image through actions which demean and belittle us.
Either perspective is a trap, but only one provides us with a way out.

It is in our unworthiness that we have any chance of recognizing that God comes to us..finds us...and loves us. Like the tax collector, in our unworthiness we can cry out for mercy...for grace.

Luke would ask of us, as readers and hearers of this story;

"Who are you in this story?"