30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: CONVICED OF THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS: WHEN PRAYER READS LIKE A RESUME

Self-Worth, Not Self-Worship: Understanding Narcissism

The word “narcissism” has become popular in modern society—typically in a negative sense. It originates from the Greek myth when Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Narcissism is an exaggerated obsession with self, often at the expense of others.

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to expose this kind of spiritual narcissism. The Pharisee exalts himself while condemning others. He doesn't really pray to God, but rather talks about himself. He comes to God to present his scorecard. His language is loaded with comparisons: “I am not like the rest of humanity... or even like this tax collector.” When an unnecessary sense of competition fills the mind, it devolves into an ego-centered personality.

The Posture of Prayer: Pride vs. Contrition

In contrast, the tax collector comes to the temple with honesty, humility, and contrition. He doesn’t pretend to be better than others. He knows he has sinned. His prayer is simple: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Notice the posture of the tax collector—he stands at a distance, won’t lift his eyes, and beats his breast. Tax collectors had a bad reputation in the Bible for corruption and greed. Yet it is this man—not the Pharisee—who goes home justified. Why? Because of his humility and readiness to change. Somehow, the image of tax collectors stands out as the metaphor for change and repentance in the gospels – Matthew, Zacchaeus, and now this man. A posture of prayer is fruitful if inspired by humility.

The Danger of Religious Performance

The prayer of the Pharisee reads like a resume whereby one sings one’s praises to secure an offer for employment. He checks all the boxes: “I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income,” with a bloated mindset for keeping the law. The spirituality of the Pharisee is transactional, not relational. That isn’t how God operates. Saint Thomas Aquinas considered pride the most serious of sins because it is a disordered desire for human excellence that leads one to turn away from God. Aquinas labeled pride as the "queen and mother of all vices." This is evident in the Pharisee. He thanks God—not for mercy—but for not being like others. That’s not gratitude; that’s pride disguised as prayer.

 Jesus warns us: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Humility opens the door to grace for the tax collector. Pride slams it shut at the Pharisee, “I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former” (Lk. 18:14).

Humility Makes Room for God

Sirach (35:18) reminds us, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds, judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.” God favors the lowly because they recognize their dependence on Him.

Paul also reminds Timothy of the fruit of a humble, surrendered life. He speaks not with self-righteousness but with hope, saying, “I have fought the good fight… I have kept the faith.”

Faith and humility work very closely because God loves a heart that is humble and contrite. God raises the lowly and fills them with his love. Our identity before God is not necessarily defined by what our resume shows. It is by the meekness of our hearts. Humility isn't thinking less of ourselves. It is thinking rightly about ourselves before God. The tax collector understands this. The Pharisee does not. What camp do you belong to?

Readings: 1st: Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18; 2nd: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18; Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

Reflection Questions

1. Do I sometimes act like the Pharisee—focusing more on my religious performance than on genuine repentance?

2. In what ways do I judge others or feel superior to them? How does that affect my prayer life and relationships?

3. What would it look like to approach God like the tax collector this week—with honesty, humility, and trust in His mercy?