I have often said that I believe the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector should be read in every church at least once a month. As Christians have a nasty reputation for being self righteous and prideful, and indeed many deserve this reputation, I feel like Jesus' opinion on the subject of self righteousness needs to be made clear. Those who are like the Pharisee in the parable need to hear it.
But the thought also occurs to me that there are two kinds of people who need to hear this parable. Those who look down on others, and the others upon whom they look down. How many people feel like they aren't good enough for God? How many people feel like He could not save them? And all because they have been told God could never accept them.
In His life, Jesus made bitter enemies among the religious elite. They hated Him with a passion, even to the point where they put Him on a cross, not for any sin, but for daring to expose their hypocrisy and their religious failures. But who were His companions? Sinners. Jesus was not loved by people who believed they were good, but by utter wretches, who knew they were utter wretches, and sought only that He would love them anyway. And my brethren, He did. Rather than punish them, or disown them, He humbled Himself, He served them, He healed them, He even washed their feet. And now even the worst of them are rejoicing with Him in Paradise. The tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 represents every one of them, and if he represents you too, then pay no mind to the Pharisees. Only seek to show them that they, too, are wretches in need of grace, and pray that they, too, will be granted repentance. If they refuse? Then continue all the more to echo the words, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner".