In the Liturgy of the Word of the day, Christ presents us with two men who, to a casual observer, might appear almost identical sincevthey are in the same place doing the same thing, as both “went up to the Temple to pray” (Lk 18:10). But beyond appearances, at the deepest level of their personal consciences, both men differ radically: one, the Pharisee, has an easy conscience while the other, the tax collector, is racked by feelings of guilt. Jesus doesn’t lead us to believe that the Pharisee is not telling the truth when he says that he is not “greedy, dishonest, adulterous” (Lk 18:11) and that he fasts and gives money to the Temple, nor that thetax-collector is delusional in thinking himself a sinner. This is not the question. According to late Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI “the Pharisee no longer knows thathe too has guilt. He has a completely clear conscience. But this silence of conscience makes him impenetrable to God and men, while the cry of consciencewhich plagues the tax collector makes him capable of truth and love. Jesus can move sinners”.