Pray like a toll booth

Learn to be humiliated before God
Imagine a situation: Two people entered a temple to pray. One was a successful young, ambitious man who was successful at work and had no need for anything; the second was the mother of three small children, who took care of herself with her small earnings household. The young man prayed in this way: “God, I have everything, I don’t miss anything. I have accomplished a lot in my life. Hey, even with your help, but I always give in a bell more than the others. You can’t blame me. ” My mother knelt in the back and prayed saith, “Lord, I know that I do not deserve your generosity, but please give me the strength to today she was able to take care of her children, and although it is difficult for me to never lose trust in you.
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (cf. Lk 18.14b). This is the rule of life that Christ is encouraging us with today preserve. The introductory story’s mother humbled herself and acknowledged God as her Lord, while the young man perceived God behind him, behind his being. We already know whom prayer was more effective.
The parable comes from Luke’s own source. The author states at the beginning addressees of the parable. The addressees are disciples who pray with their own feelings of justice just as the Pharisees do and just as they despise their neighbors. The parable depicts the Pharisee as a representative of the Jewish religion and a toll collector as a public sinner to be avoided. The Pharisee prays in silence; does not speak that he would perform in prayer. He calculates sins that do not concern him and his own pious deeds, but he does not ask for anything. On the other hand, the toll booth has nothing to do with it to be described before God and before men, remains humbly to stand behind, regrets, and begs for forgiveness. And just the toll booth left apologetic. God has love in repentance to the sinner and endows him with his goodness and grace of forgiveness.1 Which attitude is closer to us? The attitude of the Pharisee or Toll Charger? A young man’s attitude who did he perceive God through his success and comfort or his mother begging for strength in trouble and trust in God? Only when we humble ourselves before God will we really promotion. Except there is another challenge from Jesus: Whatever you did to one of my youngest brothers, you have done this to me. (cf. Mt 25.40).

So it’s not here only that we in the church before God will humbly kneel and ask for forgiveness and outside, in everyday life, will not be greater than us; there we will be someone, and no one will leave he doesn’t even dare ask us for anything. This is not the right attitude at all. Our sincere relationship with God must necessarily be reflected in relationships with our neighbors. I know we are not perfect and often failing, but we have a temple for that, “God, forgive me to the sinner.” Let us become more and more humble, and I assure you that we will not be left without rewards. Let’s try very hard. Everywhere we do, let us see God and his requirements, then we will really live properly. Maybe it sounds too sweet and unrealistic, but living like this is not easy at all. But there is nothing more effective than deserving of heaven. Let’s think about it. Few people have heard of the woman named Lilia’s Trotter. She was a young art student in England in the 19th century. She was a very talented painter. When noticed by a famous artist and Professor John Ruskin, he took her under his supervision and was soon able to watch her improve in painting. He said, “She was my best student.” A glorious future awaited her. It didn’t happen.
In 1898, when she heard a missionary from Algeria preach, she responded to God’s call to carry the gospel to Africa. She worked for 40 years in Algeria, where God gave her many opportunities to use his own talent. She captured the landscape’s beauty with beautiful watercolors, and her illustrations adorned her books and leaves. She could be famous; she could pray, “God, thank you, I’m not like, but she wanted to be like the others because God was in the service of the others. She chose God, he took care of her, and she did not regret it. Let us also now choose God, let us not be afraid to humble ourselves, for God has promised him to promote us; let us not refrain from serving our neighbors, for our service will be rewarded and
let us never stop praying the way the publican prayed: God, be merciful to us sinful