Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican

Date: 12 February 2006 06:48:25

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10-14, NKJV

With the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican, we've entered the Lenten Triodion which leads us to Great Lent, the period of preparation before the Feast of Feasts, Pascha (Easter). [Orthodox Easter falls on week later than Western Easter this year.] Each Sunday in the lead-up to Great Lent and each Sunday of Great Lent has a special emphasis: either on an event from Christ's life, a parable or a particular saint.

The Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican naturally recalls Christ's parable, and the need for us to see ourselves as we truly are: in need of God's mercy, and to cry out, as the publican did, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" And also to recall that the Pharisee's actions of praying, fasting and giving money are not wrong in themselves, but if doing these things leads us to consider ourselves righteous and justified, and to look down on others, we have missed the point entirely and are in danger of condemnation. Our sub-deacon brought this point out during his sermon, as well as the need for love in all things: observances and following the Church's teachings are important: but we must have practical love one for another: and we must come before God in the words of the publican.

Through the services of Vespers and Matins, many beautiful hymns contrasting the pharisee and the publican are chanted. A selection are below. May God help me to emulate the publican.

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 found deserving gifts. Wherefore, by those sighs confirm me, O Christ God, since You are the Lover of mankind.

My eyes being weighed down because of my iniquities, I am unable to gaze at the horizon of heaven. But You, O Saviour, accept me penitent as the publican.

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.

Having known, O my soul, the difference between the Pharisee and the publican, loathe the tone of that braggart, and emulate this one's prayer of true reverence, crying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner, and forgive me.”

Let us eschew, O believers, the boastful tone of the Pharisee, and emulate the prayer of the publican in true reverence. Let us not be exalted in our own thoughts, but humble ourselves and cry contritely, “God forgive us our sins.”