On that Sunday morning, the church was fairly quiet … -- Image by Image by Pixabay
A Modern Retelling of "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector"
There was a chill in the air. The beautiful fall leaves were falling off the trees. Winter was not too far off for Cedar Falls, IA.
On that Sunday morning, the church was fairly quiet. Two very different prayers went up — though one looked more like a performance.
First was Connor. He sat in the front pew, hair perfectly styled, wearing a crisp shirt that still had the fold lines from yesterday's ironing. He opened his Bible app, angled the screen just right, and snapped a selfie with the caption:
"So blessed to be at church today #SundayBest #HolierThanYou."
He closed his eyes dramatically and prayed loud enough for three rows back to hear:
"God, I thank you that I'm not like these other people — lazy, irresponsible, TikTok-addicted. I tithe, I volunteer, and I haven't missed a Sunday since Easter 2019… You're welcome!"
Meanwhile, in the very back, sat Marcus — a night-shift security guard with raccoon eyes and a hoodie that smelled faintly of stale coffee. He wasn't taking selfies. He wasn't even sure why he came. Head down, voice cracking, he whispered just one line:
"God, have mercy on me. I can't get it right without You."
That morning, after the service, two people left the church. A smug Connor left with 33 likes on his post and was talking to anyone about how good a Christian he is. Marcus, slowly, quietly, head down, walked to the door to leave. The sermon landed, and he was leaving with graceful peace.
Sometimes the loudest prayer gets the fewest echoes — and the quiet one moves heaven itself.
A lady stopped Marcus and said, "I don't know why, but I feel you are hurting. Would you like to come over and join our family for dinner tonight?
Marcus found himself thinking about how his kids have grown up and moved on, his wife passed away last year, and he stays home alone most of the time.
He looked at the lady with his raccoon eyes and said, "Yes, it has been a tough year, and it would be nice to do something else than stay home. I would love to!"
They had a feast of a dinner, iced tea, and apple pie. They laughed, told stories, and sang hymns. Marcus was overwhelmed and asked everyone if we could have a quiet moment and hold hands. The lady, her husband, their three kids, and Marcus joined hands, and he prayed, "For the grace and mercy you have bestowed on me today, I thank you, lord, and bless the wonderful family, amen."
Meanwhile, Conner, strolling through Instagram, saw a group photo of Marcus and the family, enjoying pie and laughing. His selfie image still had 33 likes. He had a "Whisky Tango Foxtrot" moment…
Based on Luke 18:9-14
Synopsis:
In this parable, Jesus contrasts a Pharisee who brags about his own righteousness with a tax collector who simply asks for mercy. The lesson is that God values humility over self-promotion. The one who admits his need goes home justified, not the one who shows off.
Tap to read the actual bible passage:
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
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