Archim. Dionysios Karagiannis
Two prayers, one was rejected and one was heard. Pride abolishes prayer, modesty brings it to God.
Its content must not be above us or against others, it must be addressed to God. Any perception we have of ourselves is unnecessary in the sight of God.
The Pharisee said he was not like the others, not even like the Publican. Christ does not tell us that the Publican is a good man, he is a sinner. But deeply inside him he recognizes his own misery, he sees his weaknesses and feels the need for forgiveness.
His justification by Christ is not only found in the forgiveness of his sins; he also receives eternally the mercy and grace of God. But the Publican did not fall into despair.
After the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee the catanyctic period of the Triodion and our preparation for the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, begin.
In a hymn of this Sunday we hear the following key element of our participation and our life: “Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life, for early in the morning my spirit hastens to Your holy temple, bringing the temple of my body all defiled. But as one compassionate, cleanse me, I pray, by Your loving-kindness and mercy.”
Many people come to the church to pray, seek and praise the Holy God.
Our prayer with God, our orison and our petition to God are necessities. Prayer is our voice to the Lord, as well as the manifestation of the depths of ourselves.
But many people, feeling their sin, fall into despair, either because they feel that way, or because others criticize and condemn the lives of others again.
The Pharisee, while ascending to the sanctuary, prays, as a personal reward. He is not asking for mercy, nor for help or forgiveness. On the contrary, there is a long list of his personal achievements.
He prayed for himself and not for God. At the same time, he wanted those next to the sanctuary, to listen to him. His words were camouflaged, hypocritical, so that others would believe that he is a good person.
His pride and vanity created his perceptions and ideas; he believes he does more things and beneficences than God requires.
His narcissism distinguished him from other people. His look is hypocritical, while he is looking at the sins of the Publican and the others, demonstrating the holiness of his own works, in deceptive and phony consciousness.
On the contrary, the Publican admitted his sins and did not have the courage to lift his eyes towards God.
He didn’t even approach the sanctuary, he stood at distance. He felt shame and pounded his chest as an indication of his sorrow for his sins. He was asking only for the mercy, forgiveness and the grace of God.
The way we see other people towards ourselves needs special attention. The Pharisee’s position affects many things.
Success in career, recognition of cosmic honour, demanding a homage or a separate reference to our name.
Even inside the Church, our participation in the mass or our ascetic acts involve conceit. Vanity and pride are hidden within us.
These, sooner or later, lead either to falls or to postponements that separate man from God.
The Church has saints who were sinners, publicans and prostitutes who realized their exact condition and were humiliated and saved.
Our pride separates us from God and holiness. Prayer does not bear fruit. Pharisee’s biggest mistake is the condemnation of the Publican.
He condemns a particular person. Unconsciously, he himself shut the gates of repentance.
The Publican opened the gates of repentance, for his heart was crashed. We should also open up these gates of repentance inside our heart, but not just in words.
For it is true that in the Kingdom of God proud do not fit.
Amen.
