路加福音:Chapter 18
| 9耶穌也向幾個自充為義人，而輕視他人的人，設了這個比喻： 10「有兩個人上聖殿去祈禱：一個是法利塞人，另一個是稅吏。 11那個法利塞人立著，心裡這樣祈禱：天主，我感謝你，因為我不像其他的人，勒索、不義、姦淫， 也不像這個稅吏。 12我每週兩次禁食，凡我所得的，都捐獻十分之一。 13那個稅吏卻遠遠地站著，連舉目望天都不敢，祇是捶著自己的胸膛說：天主，可憐我這個罪人罷！ 14我告訴你們：這人下去，到他家裡，成了正義的，而那個人卻不然。因為凡高舉自己的，必被貶抑； 凡貶抑自己的，必被高舉。」 |
Image from a wood engraving by John Everett Millais in "The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," 1864.
Poem for the 11th Sunday after Trinity:
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
The Pharisee who came to pray asked nothing of the Lord;
He boasted of his deeds as if they merited reward:
“I fast twice weekly; I give tithes of everything I get.
I am not like those other men who owe You such a debt.”
The tax collector felt his sin and knew his debt was great:
He could not hope by word or deed to ever compensate.
With downcast eyes and contrite heart he made one simple plea:
He beat his breast and begged the Lord, “Be merciful to me!”
The sinner went home justified, for God will not despise
A broken heart that turns to Him with penitential cries;
But every scornful, proud man who will not admit his sin
Rejects the mercy God desires to shower down on him.
So let us pray for mercy for ourselves and other men,
That God the Holy Spirit would convict us of our sin
And lift our eyes in faith and hope to Christ the Crucified,
Whose blood alone will wash away our lovelessness and pride.
Reprinted from "To You It Has Been Given: The Parables of Jesus in Picture and Verse" © 2011 Kathryn Ann Hill, available from lulu.com
Image from a wood engraving by John Everett Millais in "The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," 1864.
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