This Sunday we read from Luke again (his feast day was this week). In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus makes a Pharisee the bad guy and a tax-collector the good guy.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
These days we might substitute a virtue signaler, a politician, or a woke corporate CEO for the Pharisee, but we might keep the tax-collector in the parable.
Self-righteousness and pride go hand in hand, and neither are pleasing to God.
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