Today’s gospel might bring to mind the thought, “Didn’t we just read this Gospel?” And indeed you did on the 20th Sunday of Year C, about 2 months ago. You can read a study of the passage here and if interested, here was a recent homily on the reading.
This coming Sunday is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In yesterday’ post we considered the Pharisee in the context of 1st century religious practice. Today we turn our attention to the tax collector – viewed as a sinner against God and traitor to his people. But the we need to be attentive to Luke’s portrayal of sinners at several key junctions:
“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5:32) “…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
friarmusings 