There's an old "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip in which Calvin is talking to his stuffed tiger Hobbes (whom he imagines to be real and his best friend). He says: "People are so self-centered."

Then he adds philosophically, "The world would be a better place if people would stop thinking about themselves and focus on others for a change."

Hobbes sort of rolls his eyes and thinks aloud, "Gee, I wonder who that might apply to."

Calvin answers, "Me!. Everyone should focus on me!" (1)

Bill Watterson's cartoon character Calvin could have been the poster child for the Pharisee in today's passage from Luke. Let's look at that passage and you'll see what I mean.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)
[9] He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with…