Pope Shenouda III: The Life of Repentance and Purity

Repentance is easy for the meek, but is difficult for those who are righteous in their own eyes.
It is easy for the humble tax collector who feels his sins, but is difficult for the Pharisee who boasts in his prayer saying: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers….” Repentance is easy for the sinful woman who wet the feet of Jesus with her tears, but is difficult for Simon the Pharisee who thought that he was not a sinner like her. Therefore it is good that the Lord revealed to him that both of them were in debt. He does not have the same love as her, as he sees his debt to be much less (Luke 7). Repentance is easy for those who know and confess that they are sinners. As for those who are righteous in their own eyes, what will they repent from, as long as they do not confess that they have sinned in anything ? Truly, those who are (well) have no need for a physician, that is those who think to themselves that they are well. These people, even if someone accused them of a sin would either deny it, or would explain it in a distorted manner, or give it’s responsibility to someone else, or argue and justify themselves. They will not confess their sin, and therefore they will not repent.