The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Categories: hymns, feast-days
Date: 08 February 2009 01:33:56
Kontakion:
Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee!
And learn humility from the Publican's tears!
Let us cry to our Saviour,
Have mercy on us,
Only merciful One!
I do love the icon of today's Feast; the proud Pharisee [on the left] goes away unforgiven and low [on the right], while the humble Publican [left] goes away forgiven and exalted [right].
Sadly I was in Morpheus' arms most of this morning [laziness? heat? comfortable pillow? perhaps a combination of all three], so I sadly missed Matins and the Divine Liturgy. God willing, this will not typical of my Lenten journey. Although, thanks to the Internet, I could read some of the hymns from today's services; and below are a selection. A blessed Feast to all!
Vespers:
Let us not pray, brethren, Pharisee-like; for he who exalts himself shall be abased. Wherefore, let us humble ourselves before God, crying by means of fasting, with the voice of the publican, saying, God forgive us sinners.
When the Pharisee went down with empty glory, and the publican bowed himself in repentance, they came to You alone, O Master. But the one through boasting lost his reward, and the other by his silence deserving gifts. Wherefore, by those sighs confirm me, O Christ God, since You are the Lover of mankind.
Almighty Lord, I have known how effective are tears; for they snatched Hezekiah from the doors of death, and saved the sinning woman from her chronic iniquities. And as for the Publican they justified him more than the Pharisee. Wherefore, I implore You to number me among them, and have mercy upon me.
[one of the joys of the hymns I find is helping to correct my gross ignorance of Biblical events, the Old Testament in particular. After hearing this I Googled "Hezekiah tears" to find this passage.]
Matins:
Let us run away from the evil vaunting of the Pharisee, and learn the true humility of the publican, that we may ascend crying to God with him, Forgive us Your servants, O Christ Saviour, who was born of the Virgin and willingly bore the Cross for our sakes, and with Him raised the world by His divine might.
O Lord, You did reproach the Pharisee when he justified himself, boasting of his deeds; and justified the publican when he approached humbly, seeking forgiveness with sighs: for You do not draw near to arrogant thoughts, nor turn away contrite hearts. Wherefore, we also kneel before You meekly, O You who did suffer for our sakes. Grant us forgiveness and the Great Mercy.