Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

​"'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'”

(Luke 18:13)

It's upon us again dear brothers and sisters, the opening of the Lenten Triodion and the beginning of the long trek to the Holy Sepulchre and the celebration of Pascha.  As we do every year, we begin this trek with the gospel reading from the story of the Publican and the Pharisee. As many know this passage contrasts the two hearts of the men detailed in the parable. The Lord wants to show us the proper way of repentance. It isn't the titles or the amount of prestige we have in the church or in the world that matters. Rather what matters is in our hearts. Are we willing to submit ourselves to God entirely? Are we willing to admit that we have not lived to standards that God has ordained for us? Within the passage that we read on this Sunday, only one of the men leaves justified. The Publican leaves the temple with his sins forgiven. The Pharisee does not. In fact he condemns the Publican because he says he is thankful he is not like him. That is not the Christian way, and never will be. Pray for those around us, because we seek all to be saved all to enter into the kingdom of God. Let us not act like the Pharisee but rather the Publican and enter Lent this year with a clean heart and mind. 

Amen