Are You Living the Faith—or Just Watching? | The Pharisee & the Publican

Published 21 hours ago

Are you living the Catholic Faith—or merely watching Christianity from the sidelines?

In this powerful Catholic sermon on the Pharisee and the Publican, we are challenged to consider the difference between experiencing Christianity in the “third person” and actually living the spiritual life in the “first person.”

Watching golf is very different from playing golf. In the same way, knowing about Christianity, commenting on the Faith, or observing the struggles of others is very different from personally following Jesus Christ, fighting against sin, falling, repenting, receiving grace, and getting back up again.

The Christian who truly enters the spiritual battle quickly discovers something the Pharisee had forgotten: we desperately need God.

The Publican enters the temple with nothing to boast about. His wounds are exposed. His hands are empty. His prayer is simply a cry for mercy. Yet it is precisely this man whom Our Lord tells us returns home justified.

The Pharisee, meanwhile, enters the presence of God but asks Him for nothing.

No forgiveness.
No healing.
No mercy.

Instead, he recounts his own accomplishments while comparing himself favorably with others.

Drawing upon the wisdom of St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales, and Blessed Columba Marmion, this sermon examines the danger of spiritual pride and the tremendous power of genuine Christian humility.

True humility is not pretending to be worthless.

It comes from encountering the reality of our weakness while simultaneously discovering the astonishing mercy and grace of God.

The Christian who has struggled, fallen, repented, suffered, and repeatedly received the hand of the Divine Physician eventually understands that perseverance itself is a grace.

We do not remain in the fight because we are exceptional.

We remain because God is merciful.

As Blessed Columba Marmion reminds us, it is not our supposed perfection that attracts God, but our poverty, misery, and acknowledged need for His mercy.

The Christian life is not a spectator sport.

Take up the Cross. Enter the battle. Seek forgiveness. Receive grace. Follow Jesus Christ in the first person.

And come before God with empty hands.

00:00 In the Name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost
00:35 Watching Golf vs. Playing Golf
01:07 Third-Person vs. First-Person Experience
01:29 The Spectator’s Experience of the Game
01:50 What It Means to Actually Play
02:13 The Spiritual Parallel in Christianity
02:39 Practicing the Faith Requires Sacrifice
03:05 Having “Skin in the Game” Spiritually
03:34 Failure, Humiliation & the Divine Physician
03:50 Why the Christian Cannot Boast
04:11 The Pharisee and the Publican
04:27 The Publican and the Messiness of Real Life
04:57 Christianity in Theory vs. Christianity Lived
05:25 St. Augustine on the Pharisee
05:40 The Pharisee Asked God for Nothing
05:53 The Sick Man Who Thinks He Is Healthy
06:10 The Publican Comes Empty-Handed
06:32 “God Gives Where He Finds Empty Hands”
06:40 St. Francis de Sales on True Humility
07:03 False Humility & Showy Piety
07:22 The First-Person Christian
07:52 The Danger of Becoming Like the Pharisee
08:14 Blessed Columba Marmion on God’s Mercy
08:34 Final Blessing
08:51 The Martyr’s Walk
09:07 Sensus Fidelium App

For more from this parish please visit https://www.institute-christ-king.org/wausau-sermons & please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest

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Are You Living the Faith—or Just Watching? | The Pharisee & the Publican

Published 21 hours ago

Are you living the Catholic Faith—or merely watching Christianity from the sidelines?

The Christian who truly enters the spiritual battle quickly discovers something the Pharisee had forgotten: we desperately need God.

The Pharisee, meanwhile, enters the presence of God but asks Him for nothing.

No forgiveness.
No healing.
No mercy.

Instead, he recounts his own accomplishments while comparing himself favorably with others.

Drawing upon the wisdom of St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales, and Blessed Columba Marmion, this sermon examines the danger of spiritual pride and the tremendous power of genuine Christian humility.

True humility is not pretending to be worthless.

It comes from encountering the reality of our weakness while simultaneously discovering the astonishing mercy and grace of God.

The Christian who has struggled, fallen, repented, suffered, and repeatedly received the hand of the Divine Physician eventually understands that perseverance itself is a grace.

We do not remain in the fight because we are exceptional.

We remain because God is merciful.

As Blessed Columba Marmion reminds us, it is not our supposed perfection that attracts God, but our poverty, misery, and acknowledged need for His mercy.

The Christian life is not a spectator sport.

Take up the Cross. Enter the battle. Seek forgiveness. Receive grace. Follow Jesus Christ in the first person.

And come before God with empty hands.