Wednesday, March 5: “Why Lent? Part IV”

Luke 18: 13: “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating His breast, saying, ‘Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner!’”

The Pharisee in this parable could not admit or even see his need for forgiveness. But the tax collector made no such pretensions. In asking for mercy, his actual words were, “Lord, be propitious to me,” which actually means, “Lord, be forgiving to me.” The Lord answered, because forgiving is what He does—when we acknowledge our need for it. This is why we need Lent—and today it begins!