Hosea 5: 15-6:6; Psalm 51; Luke 18: 9-14
Repetition is good, and so we pray Psalm 51 often during Lent, Another prayer highly recommended by Jesus is not the recounting of our good deeds to God like the Pharisee in today’s gospel but this, from the one standing at the back of the temple: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
How does that prayer feel on your tongue? You may protest, I do not DO sins. Ah, but if you are not a sinner, what need have you for Jesus who saves you, sets you free? We are loved sinners, and we rejoice in our sinfulness. Do you? Ask for that gift of knowing that totally undeserved love and joy.
God, be merciful to us all who acknowledge our sinfulness and need for healing. Savior of the world, save us! Save our planet, its peoples, our enemies, ourselves.