My dear parishioners,
Peace! In other bulletins (4 December, 2016-11 June, 2017) we have considered the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on “conscience.” We then turned to Saint John Paul II’s encyclical letter Veritatis splendor (6 August, 1993) which addresses fundamental moral issues, including “conscience” more than one hundred times. These reflections were begun earlier (6 April, 2018-30 May, 2018). Here we now consider a passage from Veritatis splendor, 104.2
Saint John Paul II (+2005) when considering the “Grace and obedience to God’s law” in chapter III reminds us while commenting on the Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) that “the tax collector represents a ‘repentant’ conscience, fully aware of the frailty of its own nature and seeing in its own failings, whatever their subjective justifications, a confirmation of its need for redemption.”
Why was the tax collector repentant? There are reasons for having a “repentant conscience.” The Greek term telones, sometimes translated “publican,” occurs six times in the New Testament of Sacred Scripture (Matthew 10:3; 18:17; Luke 5:27; 18:10-13). Other translations could be “tax farmer” or “collector of public revenue. Some reasons given for the tax collector’s sorrow is the “collaboration” with the occupying Roman forces or “extortion” collecting more than the State required keeping the difference for himself. Besides these “professional” reasons for sorrow, valid enough, there may have been other causes for repentance which are not clear above and beyond fallen human nature.
When our conscience accuses us of our faults, it is in no small part due to the frailty of nature. Only God is perfect (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 19:7; 2 Samuel 22:31; Matthew 5:48; Romans 3:23)! But, there is a certain perfection in the recognition of our own shortcomings. In noting our shortcomings we are able to address them, and with the help of God’s grace (and mercy) overcome. Some people (lax / permissive?) may mock “Catholic guilt” but without it we may very well die in our sins, with very sad, bad consequences (cf. Matthew 25:41; John 8:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Ephesians 2:1). In his letter Spe Salvi (30 November, 2007) 14, 33, 41, Pope Benedict picked up on some of these issues.
By acknowledging our sins, our conscience reminds us of the need we have for redemption. God has sent into the world our redeemer, born of the Virgin Mary (cf. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 21:28; Acts 7:35; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7). Jesus Christ has come to save us from our sins (cf. Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11). The good news for the repentant tax collector, he went home justified. Home here is not just where you hang your hat or sleep at night, ultimately it is a reference to Heaven. To be justified is to be right with God. Ultimately this is the work of God, but He wants our participation, to meet Him at least half-way (cf. 1 Kings 17:8-16; Matthew 15:34; John 1:50; 21:10; Romans 5:6-9).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr