Word to the Wise
Saturday, March 5, 2016 - 3rd Week of Lent - Sat
[Hos 6:1-6 and Luke 18:9-14]SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016 SATURDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT [Hosea 6:1-6 and Luke 18:9-14] "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." [Luke] One of the things I find rather strange from time to time in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a recitation of the good things a person is doing rather than the bad. There is something of this in the Pharisee's story in today's gospel. His pride, however, gets in the way of those good things because he thinks that somehow he is better than the rest of humanity. The tax collector has a more realistic and humble approach that wins Jesus' approval in the parable. In his first published interview after his election, Pope Francis answered the question "Who are you?" He replied, "I am a sinner!"This startling response captured the attention of the world. Yet, it is the simple truth for all of us. We are all sinners, and the simple acknowledgment of that fact is the starting point of a healthy spirituality. This has nothing to do with the psychological bug-a-boo of low self-esteem. Adam and Eve learned that they could not be God and human beings have had to learn that same lesson over and over again. The prayer known as the "Jesus Prayer" has enshrined the tax collectors words: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner." This is the starting point of our knowledge of God's love. AMEN