Like the Pharisee and the tax collector we too have come to God's house to offer worship and prayers. Like them we too hope to go home reconciled and at peace with God. Then let us learn from the tax collector the secret of worshipping in a manner that is acceptable to God. First, we should not listen to other people or even to our own consciences when they tell us that God is so angry with us that He cannot possible forgive us. Secondly, we must acknowledge our sinfulness and entrust ourselves to the generous mercy of God which is bigger than any sins we might have committed. Finally, we promise God to never to look down on our fellow sinners but to help them in their search for God, just as the tax collector is helping us today in our search for God. Remember, God always opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.