Homily – 30th Sunday – Year C – Fr Jeremiah Browne (National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies #southafrica #Swaziland #eswatini #Botswana)
When we were young children, my grandfather would often ask us, “What is the greatest mistake a man ever made?” Of course, we would come up with all kinds of wild and wonderful suggestions, none of which satisfied Grandad. Eventually, he would give us the answer that he wanted: “The greatest mistake a man ever made is to think that he never made one.”
I have often thought about that statement down through the years as I have witnessed in my own life, and in the life of others, how easily it is to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We measure ourselves by our accomplishments, our virtues, or even by the generosity we show others.
When we do that, it is so easy to slip into a way of thinking that we are better than others. Have you ever thought that you are better than someone else?
The Gospel today (Luke 18:9-14) challenges us to take a closer look at ourselves and reminds us that true righteousness does not come from comparing ourselves to others or counting our own accomplishments, rather it comes from the honest recognition of who we are – our strengths, yes, but also our weaknesses, our failings, and our need for God’s mercy.
This is something that the Pharisee in the Gospel doesn’t seem understand. He is proud of his accomplishments. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being proud. It is good to be honest; to fast twice a week; and to be generous in our care for the less fortunate. These are all virtuous acts and signs of a committed life.
The Pharisee’s failure comes in thinking that his achievements somehow make him better than everyone else, while failing to recognise that he too has faults and weaknesses. His prayer reveals not a heart seeking God, but someone who wants God to admire him as much as he admires himself; someone, in fact who has no need for God.
The tax collector, on the other hand, comes with a very different attitude. He knows who he is. He stands at a distance, eyes down, heart open, whispering only, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He knows that he is weak and fragile, but he also knows and trusts in God’s mercy. He approaches God with humility, acknowledging his failings. His prayer is one of reliance and humility, not comparison. Because of this openness and trust, he goes home justified, right with God.
This is the Good News. God reaches out to people like us – ordinary, fragile, often lost people – and invites us into the life He wants for us.
With patience and care, God works quietly within us, helping us grow and change so that our lives can shine with the goodness and purpose for which we were made. It is almost beyond comprehension that God can use us, not in spite of our flaws, but through them, to bring love and hope to others.
Think about it! In your moment of need, who are you most likely to turn to for help and guidance – someone who appears to have it all together, or someone who has experienced their own brokenness, learned what it is to be truly human, and found healing through that process? We instinctively trust those who have walked the hard road themselves and discovered that God’s grace is real.
Faith is not about perfection. It is about trust – trust that God loves us as we are. It is about letting God meet us in our weakness, heal what is wounded, and transform what is broken.
The saints are not saints because they were flawless, but because they were courageous enough to stand in their imperfection before God’s mercy. Every time we come before the Lord with honesty and a humble heart; every time we admit that we cannot save ourselves, we make room for God to do something new within us.
So perhaps the Gospel today invites us to take a moment of honest reflection. I want to end with a more personal version of my grandfather’s question – not “What is the greatest mistake a man ever made?” but “What is the greatest mistake you have ever made?”
Could it be that you have underestimated the mercy of God? The times you convinced yourself that your sin – your failure – was beyond forgiveness? The times you believed that you knew better than God who you are and what you are worth? The moment you decided that God’s mercy could never fully be for you?
So today, as we gather here, let us pray for the grace of humility – the grace to stand before God as we truly are, trusting that His love is greater than our weakness. May we, like the tax collector, go home today justified – not because we are perfect, but because God is merciful.
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Please consider praying a decade of the rosary on a daily basis for the evangelising Mission of the Church and the Pope’s intentions.
The Pope’s prayer intention for October:
For collaboration between different religious traditions
Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice, and human fraternity.
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Blessed Pauline Jaricot, Pray for us. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
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Batswana Catholics Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Diocese of Francistown Diocese of Francistown Youth & Young Adults Diocese of Mthatha Catholic Diocese Of Kroonstad Missionary Childhood MTHATHA CATHOLIC DIOCESAN YOUTH: ULUTSHA OLUNENJONGO CATHOLIC YOUTH OF THE DIOCESE OF KLERKSDORP Catholic Diocese of Klerksdorp Catholic Diocese Of Kroonstad group Catholic Youth- Diocese of Manzini,Swaziland DIOCESE OF CAPE TOWN Catholic Women’s League Archdiocese of Cape Town Catholic Institute of Education Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth #catholic #faith #hope #love #homily