The answer is: Twice a week

Luke 18:9-14

This intriguing little story you’ll find in Luke 18:9-14 peeks into the very heart of human nature and our attempt to impress God through our good behavior—or our view of it, at least. The Pharisee, who we might think would be the poster child for holiness, boasts about fasting twice a week. Now, that's quite the commitment in the eyes of the culture at the time! The Jewish people typically fasted primarily on designated days, such as Yom Kippur, but this fella is stepping it up!

Interestingly, tradition holds that the Thursdays and Mondays were popular days for fasting in that era, maybe to flaunt spiritual seriousness to the weekend crowd on faces—sort of like the weekly ritual of posting wellness shots these days. The tax collector, in stark contrast, was probably a person outcast and loathed by society, yet he simply beats his chest and asks for mercy. This echoes the biblical theme that humbling oneself can bring the closest relationship to the Divine.

An important takeaway? It’s not about our works or how frequently we flaunt our *holiness*, but the heart behind our actions. This picturesque dichotomy teaches that those who think they’re up there won’t always have the clearest view of grace—as stark as our own idea of a ladder to heaven might be. And let’s reflect on reformed views in early history: in contrast to this outlining attitude of hierarchy, reforms in religious structured thinking applauded guidance through humility and love—essential reflections on our journey!