SERMON/HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT 9TH MARCH 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT 9TH MARCH 2024

Hosea 5:15-6:6; Ps.51; Luke 18:9-14

How merciful have I become?

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus told a parable to discourage the attitude of despising others on account of one’s righteousness. While it is true that we are all struggling to attain perfection, we can pinpoint one or more areas of our lives where we are doing appreciably well. The point Jesus is making is that, when we recognize where we are doing well, we should not rub it on others who may not be doing as well as we do. That is, your strength should not make you mock the weakness of others. This is because you are not entirely strong.

In this parable Jesus told, notice that there is no argument as to whether the Pharisee or the tax collector were lying. Both of them told God the truth about themselves but in different lights. The tax collector who talked to God about his weakness, also had his areas of strength but he was much more concerned about how his sins had ruptured his relationship with God and neighbour. He was truly aiming at perfection and that was why he presented to God what was not yet perfect in him.

For the Pharisee, he too was not lying about his achievements, but he presented them to God as though he had no weaknesses at all. He was like the average politician who, trying to deceive the people to vote him/her into political offices, will only present the little good they have done, while hiding the many failures they have recorded. Beloved, we cannot deceive God. Again, God is not to be cajoled. His graces remain gratuitous not earned.

Furthermore, the Pharisee rubbed his achievements on the tax collector. Because he lacked love, he could not understand that his strength should be used to help others and not to mock them. Because he lacked love, he did not understand that what pleases God is collaboration not competition. Because he lacked love, he thought that God will praise him on account of how better he was than others; not knowing that God is interested in how much we help others. Because he lacked love, he did not know that God desires mercy, and not sacrifice. Because he lacked love, he was proud.

Beloved, like the Pharisee, we may have been counting our achievements on the basis of the sacrifices we make. It is now time to write a success story on the basis of mercy because Jesus will ask us how merciful we have been. If our acts of sacrifices do not make us more merciful, they become worthless.