Sunday 30 Ordinary Time
26th October 2025
Although we probably know the story well, today’s Gospel raises a few questions.
When we think of the Pharisee, at first, we wonder: Can’t we be grateful that we manage to do reasonably well? Should we not give thanks to God that we are not a naughty person? And also: If our good works do not suffice to please God, what is He really expecting from us?
When we turn to the Publican, or tax-collector, a new series of questions arises: Isn’t it a little too easy to first act badly and then come to God asking for forgiveness? Is it enough only to confess our sins? And if so, why then bother ourselves with becoming a just and practicing good works when calling to God’s mercy seems sufficient – and works at all times?
But we soon realize that all these questions do not quite get the the point which Jesus is making. Be just, He tells us, but do not consider yourself superior to others or better than they are. If you are a sinner, be honest with it; don’t pretend you are a saint; don’t be despondent either, don’t despair; turn to the Lord and you will find mercy; you will be able to make a new start.
You and me probably are a bit of a saint and a bit of a sinner, like all the ordinary Christian men and women around you. You won’t become more of a saint by trying to tick a maximum of boxes of the Christian life: praying to God, reading the Word, serving your Brethren, being good and patient and loving to all, and so on and so forth. You are warmly encouraged to do all this as well as you can, with what St Benedict calls “the good zeal of love”, but don’t rely on your achievements; don’t despair of your shortcomings either.
What then? Do all this but begin with the beginning. Build the house on a good foundation. Dig deep: into your generosity? No, into your misery. You have a good heart indeed, a generous heart, but the task is beyond the best heart among us. Moreover, we are always in danger of attributing to ourselves whatever good we may do. We did it, yes, but not alone. God’s grace was at work in us. God’s power of salvation was freeing our freedom so that we could do good.
There are, once could say, two sides to humility.
On one side – let me call it: the Publican’s side – a humble person sees clearly her need for salvation, mercy and grace. Basically, we all need forgiveness. The Saints’ holiness is totally grounded on God’s mercy.
On the other side – shall I call it the “converted Pharisee”’s side? – a humble person perceives that all the good she does is the work of God in her and with her. ‘I thank you that I did well, because I know that of myself, I am not a better person than anyone else. Like this Publican, I need your Mercy.’
Such humility is essential to Christian life – a life which imitates and partakes of the life of Christ. Jesus was humble but not because He was a sinner in need of God’s mercy. He was humble the way only God is: by loving and choosing to go down. Jesus is the Son of God who came down to His frail creatures from the heights of His divinity. He became man among men, servant of us all, obedient unto death and death on the Cross. There, at the lowest point, He revealed the full glory of God’s mercy who raised Him up through the resurrection.
In Jesus, we see the way to glory. It does not climb upwards to take hold of God’s glory. It goes downwards to the point where we can be mercifully seized by God’s grace. The Publican is our model because this poor man, our brother, knew how to hold together the truth of his sinfulness and the grace of God’s mercy coming to him. He shows us the right direction: not the exaltation of pride, but the descent in humility after Jesus and with Jesus.
This why we turn to Holy Mary, the humble servant of God, and ask her: Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.