But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Perhaps if more people acted more like the tax collector than like the Pharisee, we wouldn't need to travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte.
Well put!
The relief the publican sought was "God, be propitious(=placated) toward me."