In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus contrasts two very different prayers: one full of self-righteousness and the other full of humble repentance. The Pharisee proudly rattles off his religious “resume” with how he fasts, gives and obeys. Meanwhile, the tax collector doesn’t list anything. He simply bows his head and pleads for mercy.
It’s a powerful contrast: one stands proudly in his goodness, the other acknowledging his brokenness and his need for Divine grace.
A priest once shared with me that in the confessional, he sometimes has to gently remind people, “Please confess your sins — not your spouse’s, not your kids’, not your boss’s.” That’s hard to do! But it reveals a truth: real repentance doesn’t shift blame, and it doesn’t come with justifications. It comes with honesty, humility, and trust in God’s mercy.
At a recent Communion Service, Deacon Mark shared a profound yet simple thought in his Homily. Prayerful repentance begins with asking God to “create a clean heart in me” rather than concerning ourselves with others.
So how can you bring more genuine repentance to your personal prayer? Maybe it’s starting with this simple prayer:
Lord, show me my heart. Help me to see myself as You see me — and to trust in Your mercy.
Repentance doesn’t mean groveling or shame — it means opening the door to real transformation. It means leaving the “resume” behind and stepping into the truth, where God is ready to meet us with healing and hope.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” — Luke 18:13
