Virtue signalling is an attempt to show others that you are an upright person by expressing opinions that are acceptable to them. The Pharisee did just that. His prayer, seemingly one of thanksgiving to God, was actually a litany of self-praise about his strict observances of moral and liturgical laws. He thought he had earned God's favour. His prayer utterances, which excluded adoration, confession and supplication, are marks of pride and self-sufficiency. He was, in fact, just praying to himself about himself. The tax collector, on the other hand, feeling extreme anguish that he was a sinner looked down and beat his breast to show his contrition, begging mercy from God. Both men went up to the temple to pray, but they did so in different ways, obtaining different results. One was justified before God; the other was not. Why?

Jesus, using this parable wants to show us the right disposition and attitude for prayer: authenticity and humility. Humility consists of understanding the relationship between Creator and creature and in doing so accept our own limitations, placing total dependence on God. Authenticity is when we endeavour to live our lives in Christ without pretence or hypocrisy, albeit imperfectly. For it is only when we empty our hearts can God fill us with His power and grace (2 Cor 12:9). The tax collector gives us a model for what it means to pray with a humble and repentant spirit.