October 21: Two Men Praying in the Temple
Which kind of prayer did you pray last night, if you prayed at all?
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Jesus told a short story about two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a respected religious man. He stood up and thanked God that he wasn’t like other people. Not a cheat, not unfaithful, not like that tax collector over there. He listed his good habits. He fasted. He gave. His prayer was really an inventory of other people.
The other man was a tax collector, which in that day meant someone most people saw as a traitor and a thief. He stood far off. He wouldn’t even look up. He beat his chest and said one sentence. God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Jesus said the second man went home right with God.
It’s worth reading that story slowly, because both men live inside most of us. The first one is very comfortable in recovery. He shows up to meetings and quietly sizes up everyone else. He’s glad he’s not as bad as that guy who keeps relapsing. He does his nightly review and finds mostly other people’s faults. He’s sober, and he’s proud of it, and somehow he’s getting harder instead of softer.
The second man is the one Step Ten is trying to grow. He looks at himself, not his neighbor. He doesn’t make excuses. He doesn’t spiral into despair either. He simply tells the truth and asks for mercy. And he receives it.
Notice how short his prayer is. You don’t need fancy words to take an honest inventory. Some nights, the most honest review you can do is one sentence. “Lord, I got it wrong today. Have mercy on me.” That counts.
Notice too that he went home. He didn’t stay in the temple beating his chest forever. He received mercy and went on with his life. That’s the rhythm of Step Ten. See it, say it, receive grace, move on.
One thing today
Tonight, before anything else, pray the tax collector’s prayer in your own words. Then do your review, looking only at your own side.
A prayer
God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Keep me from comparing myself to others to feel better. Make me honest, humble and grateful for Your mercy. Amen.
Humility runs all through Step Ten.
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