Black brush lettering on ivory handmade paper: “We come to God with open hands and a need for mercy.”

The Prayer of the Tax Collector

There are days when a short, honest prayer says exactly what needs to be said. We can come to God with the truth about ourselves and ask for His mercy.

God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

(Luke 18:13, NIV, excerpt)

Jesus told a parable to people who trusted their own righteousness and looked down on others. Two men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee listed his religious practices and compared himself favorably with other people. The tax collector stood at a distance and asked God for mercy. Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified before God.

Pray without the comparison

The tax collector’s prayer gives us words for humble repentance. It turns our attention toward God’s mercy and allows us to name our need plainly.

You could begin today by setting aside the explanations you normally reach for. Tell the Lord where you have sinned. Ask for forgiveness through Jesus and for help to turn toward what is good. Take time to remember the grace offered in the Gospel.

This humility can change how we treat other people. When we remember our own need for mercy, it becomes harder to use someone else’s failings as a way to feel superior.

If comparison returns during the day, let it become a prompt to pray again. The shortest prayer can carry a sincere turning of the heart toward God.