The publican and the Pharisee: The first hurt so many people by putting a heavy burden on them: falsifying taxes code and collections. The second man, the Pharisee, hurt so many too by putting on them the heavy burden of laws that he himself does not observe.

So why is the prayer of one bad man praised by Jesus and that of the second bad man rebuked?  Which one of these two bad men is really bad?  The Pharisee is seeking revenge in his prayer while the publican is begging for absolution and forgiveness. There is the huge difference. Our attitude matter when talking to God.

What happens when someone misbehaves and hurts you? What should you do, walk out on ‘em?

Jesus teaches us in today’s gospel how to help someone in the Christian community who has done (you) harm. This applies whatever the damage was: saying unfair things behind your back, embarrassing you in public, stealing, unfaithfulness, you name it. Pray, cry, repent of your own sins, leave your neighbor’s dirty laundry alone. Pray for him instead.  This is how it can work when Christians are “all too human” and hurt each other. It is not a matter of who broke the rules.