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hat a contrast! The Pharisee thought himself to be good, just because he was observing some external stipulations of God’s law. The publican, on the other hand, was “on the side of the oppressors,” but was deeply aware of his personal shortcomings and miseries.
Jesus Christ made the moral lesson of this parable explicit: the publican “went down to this house justified rather than the other” (Luke 18:14).
We can imagine this publican with a serene look on his face, at peace with God and himself in the innermost crannies of his soul, aware of his personal limitations, yet, supremely confident of the goodness and mercy of God.
The Pharisee, on the other hand, must have remained with his stern and self-righteous expression, with the continuing disdain for his fellowmen, yet deep in his heart, suspecting that something must be awfully wrong inside.
The parable of the Pharisee and the publican cannot be an excuse for us to hurl accusations of “pharisaism” to everybody who tries to give due importance to external performances.
Jesus Christ in no way condemned the fact that the Pharisee indeed avoided the most evident sins (robbery, dishonesty, adultery) and performed some requirements of religion (fasting paying, tithes).
But surely that Pharisee forgot weightier matters—the disposition of his heart, charity for all, humility. He felt self-righteous just because he fulfilled the external, but he didn’t examine his intentions.
The great merit of the publican was that he recognized his sinfulness and the need for God’s mercy.
The truth of the matter is that, all of us are in need of God’s mercy. Considering our human condition, we all have to admit that we have motives for sorrow and condition.
Have we not all, somehow, offended God? Have we been really up to par with what is objectively expected of us? Can we really be completely satisfied with ourselves and our accomplishments?
The saints of the Church (and all of us are called to be saints) were aware of their poor human condition, and they all relied on the mercy of God. Perhaps externally, their contemporaries considered them to be virtuous and outstanding. Yet, in their heart of hearts, they knew what they really were, and they applied for God’s mercy.
Should we be surprised then that a person who is really striving to love God with all his heart, should see the need to repeat to God very often, “Lord, I am sorry; forgive me; have mercy on me.”
Should we be surprised that the saints have always appreciated the great value of the sacrament of penance, and that they had frequent recourse to it?
The Church has always extolled the value of frequent confession. It is an effective recourse against a pharisaical spirit.