This is Life!: Revolutions Around the Cruciform Axis

Sunday of the Publican and the Phrasiee

Well, today was the first Sunday Sofie and daddy went to the Divine Liturgy solo. Momma wasn't feeling too well and needed some sleep, so off the two of us went.

Of course, being a dad I forgot to put the diaper bag in the car. But by God's grace (and the Theotokos' intercessions?) we did not have a poopy diaper emergency. Sofie was well behaved the whole time, and indeed fell asleep during Fr. Patrick's sermon.

Today being the first Sunday of the Lenton Triodion, we celebrated the Gospel of the Publican and the Pharisee.

Troparion of the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee Tone 8

The doors of repentance do Thou open to me, O Giver of life,
for my spirit waketh at dawn toward Thy holy temple,
bearing a temple of the body all defiled.
But in Thy compassion, cleanse it by the loving-kindness of Thy mercy.

Theotokion Tone 8

Guide me in the paths of salvation, O Theotokos,
for I have defiled my soul with shameful sins,
and have wasted all my life in slothfulness,
but by thine intercessions deliever me from all uncleanness.

Troparion Tone 6

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

And according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgressions.

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

When I think of the multitude of evil things I have done, I, a wretched one,
I tremble at the fearful day of judgment;
but trusting in the mercy of Thy loving-kindness, like David do I cry unto Thee:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

Kontakion of the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee Tone 4

Let us flee the bragging of the Phraisee,
and learn the humility of the Publican,
while crying out unto the Savior with groanings:
Be gracious unto us, O Thou Who alone dost already forgive.

Luke 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And so begins the beginning of the Lenten season. As Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann puts it:

[Great Lent] is indeed a school of repentance to which every Christian must go every year in order to deepen his faith, to re-evaluate, and, if possible, to change his life. It is a wonderful pilgrimage to the very sources of Orthodox faith--a rediscovery of the Orthodox way of life. (Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, p. 9)

Already, last week, the Sunday of Zachaeus, we have been pointed toward Great Lent, with Zachaeus' desire for Christ and repentance. Today's Gospel highlights the humility necessary for repentance. As Fr Schmemann writes:

The lenten season begins then by a quest, a prayer for humility which is the beginning of true repentance. For repentance, above everything else, is a return to the genuine order of things, the restoration of the right vision. (Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, p. 20)

It is not by coincidence that the Orthodox do not fast the week following the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee prided himself on his twice-weekly fasting. To guard against the danger of comparing ourselves to others (and favorably) the Church says "Don't fast." Instead on Wednesday and Friday recall this Gospel text and remember the humility of the Son of God who became man that we might become god.

I mentioned to Anna last night, as we came home from running errands, that it was my goal to be at every Sunday Liturgy through Lent, and as many of the weekday services as possible (keeping in mind our Sofie's bedtime is at the time services usually begin). This Lent the theme is on taking on more spiritual practices than of giving up certain foods and drinks (though there is a bit of that, too). I have a few more weeks yet before Great Lent begins, so more time to prepare and think about and seek counsel on my Lenten practices. I'm given to planning to do too much (and not accomplishing half of it). So I'll definitely need the godly wisdom of our priest.

Posted by Clifton at February 1, 2004 06:27 AM | TrackBack