The Pharisee and the Publican

Two go up to pray; one with himself recounts his virtues and despises the other; one beats his breast and says God be merciful to me a sinner; the second goes home justified. Failure mode: Prayer that is a soliloquy of comparison. Restoration path: Stand afar off; beat the breast; ask mercy. Markers: thanks God I am not like others; catalogs his own righteousness; prays at himself; other prays for mercy; justification comes to the humbled