Hey Kevin, Great hearing back from you. I was happy to read that you do appreciate the Sacrament of Confession, which Jesus instituted. Kevin, I did explain to you what justification in this parable and others in the New Testament mean. To be justified means being made righteous, just, holy and acceptable before God. Justification describes a change from the "state of sin" to the "state of grace". The doctrine being taught by Jesus in telling this parable is that when we are in the state of sin and alienated from God, nothing we can do ourselves (good deeds/works, fasting, paying tithes, like the Pharisee did) can earn or merit justification. (Therefore, the Pharisee did not go home justified, as he was not repentant and relied on himself, did not show he needed God for his salvation, he felt his good works, etc. bought him salvation.) The tax collector asks for mercy, desires to improve his spiritual health, knows he needs God's Divine Mercy. (continued)