“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

Through parables, Jesus emphasized the importance of humility when praying. Firstly, He pointed out to us that in spite of our diligent prayers and adherence to the Church’s teachings, our efforts are in vain if we despise or criticize others because we are forgetting that love is the foundation of our spiritual life.

In the parable the “Prodigal Son”, Jesus demonstrated through the younger son’s words, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” that our relationship with each other and our relationship with God are equally important. When the younger son had sinned against his father, he had also sinned against God.

Meanwhile, Jesus also reminded us through the phrase, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner” that we all need God’s commiseration even in times of repentance. His asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?” on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection clearly showed His high regard for Peter’s resolution to repent in the face of God.