Homily

There are only two choices—A or B, this or that, black or white—only two choices for us in today's Gospel. Certainly, we don't identify with the Pharisee, who stands there boasting about his pious deeds and moral superiority, while he points his finger at a real sinner. While it may be true that there might be times when we are perhaps a little bit Pharisee-ish, still, we in general, reject that type of attitude, and we understand and agree that it is wrong. We do not identify with the Pharisee. We are basically opposed to his attitude of pride and self-congratulation.

But do we then identify with the tax collector? He's the only choice left! I don't know that there are a whole lot of people who are willing to say, "Yes, he's just like me,” or "Yes, he's the one I wish to imitate.” As a tax-collector, the Publican was considered to be in a sinful job because he was working for the Romans. Every Pharisee would certainly consider that sinful work. But was the Publican a great sinner? We don't know. We're not told how much of a sinner he is. We're not even told that he is any worse than the average man in Israel. And yet, there are not a whole lot of people who identify with him or wish to be like him, and perhaps that is because we might think that we have to be a pretty big sinner to have such a sense for, such a need for, mercy as we see in the Publican. We're not THAT bad!

So it seems, then, the obvious question is: How bad is "THAT” bad? How sinful do you have to be before you need to bow your head, strike your breast and say, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner?” Where is the line that marks the boundary between "not really a sinner” and "needs God's forgiveness?" If we have no real need for divine forgiveness, then we must know where that line is, if we believe we're on the side where we don't have to ask for it.

And if we're on this side of the line where we, though we may have committed a few sins don't really need to ask for forgiveness, where is the point where we cross over that line? Ten more lies? Serious cheating on income tax filing? What will it take to push us over into the spot where we now will have to ask for mercy from God?

I've heard quite a few people over the years say that they haven't been to confession for many years because they really don't have any serious sins to confess. Well, it's true that if you don't have any serious sins, you are not obligated to go to confession. But I worry that too many people today think of themselves not as sinners, but decent people who may sin once in a while, but really, that doesn't even count hardly because it doesn't really amount to much [Example of raising children — just teach them the "Big Wrongs?,” little lies versus big lies?, fight as long as you don't hurt the other too much?, etc....]. It's a problem if we think that way because then, when St. Paul writes that "Christ died to save sinners, of whom I am the first,” we cannot truly claim the same as he did, if we do not see ourselves as genuine sinners. Or else, we hold that Christ died to save those other people, but not me.

It is indeed important for us whether or not we see ourselves as sinners. Only sinners can beg for mercy. Only sinners can surrender themselves and bow their heads in repentance. Only sinners can be touched by the sacrificial love of Jesus. Only sinners who approach God in humility can be lifted up and exalted. Only sinners can say with honesty, "O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.... O God, be merciful to me a sinner. O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me. O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.”