Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee 2.0

With the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee we in the Orthodox Church know that Great Lent is one week closer.  This parable is found in St Luke 18: 9 -14.  Our Lord  directed this parable to those whom had a false self confidence that they were righteous and despised others (St Luke 18: 9).  The day’s Gospel reading continues, “two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector” (St Luke 18: 10).  The verses that follow demonstrate the differences in the two men.  We read this about the Pharisee:

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed these things:  “God, I thank you that I am not like other men — greedy, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give tithes from all that I get” (St Luke 18: 11 – 12).

The Pharisee, of course, had contempt for all who were not like himself — or rather — perceived himself to be.  It is Christ’s intention for the hearer o the parable to be shocked by the Pharisee’s stance.  First, he stood apart from all others in the Temple.  Second, he did not pray to God, he only praised himself.  His arrogance left no room for God’s presence.  Though Christ states that people should listen to the Pharisees, they were not to do as they did.

Though the Pharisee’s behavior and attitude are terrible and to be rejected, it is far too easy to not see the Pharisee that raises his ugly head in each of us from time to time.  It is easy for the healthy to look down on the ill, and the affluent to look down on the poor.  It is far too easy for the educated and the sophisticated to look down on the “unwashed masses” and those seen as simple; the urban to snub their noses at the rural.  Such examples can go on and on, and we can find examples that apply to our own false confidence and pride.  An excerpt from the Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian is to speak to all of us, and in all of the Church’s seasons:  “Yes, my God and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother…”

In stark contrast we have the tax collector:  

And the tax collector stood from afar and would not lift his eyes to heaven.  He beat his chest saying, “God be merciful (ilasthaeti) to me a sinner” (St Luke 18: 13).

Note the tax collector’s word.  It is not the more common eleao with its imperative form of eleaeson, or “have mercy”.  He uses the word ilaskomai in the imperative form ilasthaeti — he is asking not only or mercy, but also, “bring about my forgiveness,” or “take away my sin.”  This request was answered for all of humanity when Christ gave himself up on the Cross to take away our sins.  The words of John the Baptist ring true:  “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (St John 1: 29).

Christ our Righteous Judge gives his verdict regarding these two men:

I say to you that this man [tax collector] went down to his home having been justified rather than the other.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted (St Luke 18: 14).

The kontakion for the day is to give us further guidance:

Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee!  Let us learn humility from the Publican’s tears!  Let us cry to our Savior:  “Have mercy on us, O Only Merciful One!”

In Christ, 

Fr Irenaeus