Sunday of The Publican and Pharisee

Date: 23 January 2010 11:13:35

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! Today is the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee on the Orthodox Calendar, and therefore the beginning of the weeks of preparation for Great Lent, which in turn prepares us for Holy Week and the Great Feast of Pascha [Easter]. More information on this Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee can be found on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's exceptionally helpful Great Lent, Holy Week and Pascha website. Great Vespers tonight was one of a small attendance, but nevertheless a beautiful service as the theme of the repentance from the Gospel story are brought out in the hymnography; for example:

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.

Challenging words: and the icon for the Feast [above], also shows in stark relief the humbling of those who exalt themself [the Pharisee on the left being brought low on the right] and the exalting of those who humble themself [the Publican low on the left but above on the right]. I have not been to Great Vespers for a while, and as we prepare for Great Lent, and then Holy Week and Pascha, I will, by the Grace of God, attend as many Great Vespers [followed by Bible Studies] services during this Lenten period as I am able. We had a interesting post-Vespers discussion with Father on both Abraham and the spiritual meaning of the Bible which was edifying and informative. While, of course, the Divine Liturgy is indeed the most joyous of services, and one where we partake of the Body and Blood for our salvation and sanctification, Vespers and Matins, with their hymnography and "mood" [for want of a better word], are services I find encourage and edify me, and leave me feeling a sense of peace and joy. I do try and attend Matins as often as I can, as I find it a great help in setting my body and soul in focus on our Lord as it leads straight into the Divine Liturgy. If I arrive just in time for the Liturgy, often having been frustrated in traffic [God forgive me!] and my mind on 1001 other things, I find it takes me a while to settle in to the "spirit" of worship. Our Choir Director does a kindness to me by asking me on occasion to read some of the hymns [I dare not attempt to sing] at Matins, and I did so at Vespers tonight. A humbling request, and a privilege. A blessed Feast Day of the Publican and Pharisee, and a blessed beginning of the journey to Great Lent, and thereafter the Feasts of Feasts, Pascha, to all.