
Sts Columba and Kentigern Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
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THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE.
“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”
(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
SUNDAY 9th FEBRUARY. SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE. Leave taking of the Meeting. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Bishop of Sicily, Philagrius, Bishop of Cyprus, and Pancratius, Bishop of Taomina (1st). Martyr Nicephoros of Antioch in Syria (c 257). St. Teilo, Bishop (Llandaff & Liandeilo ) (6th). St. Peter of Damascus (12th). New Martyrs Fr. Dimitri Klepinin (France 1944), Elias Fondaminsky (1942) & George Skobtsov (1944).
ST. NICHOLAS OF JAPAN, Feastday 3rd February
St. Nicholas was born on 31st August 1836 in the Smolensk Province of Russia, his father being a deacon. Being one of the best students he studied at a couple of theological seminaries before being recommended for the prestigious St. Petersburg Theological Academy. In 1860 he was given the post of rector of the church at the Russian consulate in the city of Hakodate in Japan, the same year being tonsured as a monk, taking the name of Nicholas after St. Nicholas of Myra, shortly afterwards being ordained a Hieromonk. He taught himself Japanese language, culture and way of life. Although forbidden by law the first Japanese person to be converted to Orthodoxy was Takuma Sawabe, a former samurai. St. Nicholas’s half a century of work and elevation to be a bishop and founding of communities, libraries etc., led to many Japanese converts. By the end of 1890 the Orthodox Church in Japan numbered 216 communities with 18,625 Christians in them. On 8th March 1891, the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tokyo was consecrated, being affectionately known by the Japanese as Nikorai-do (Nicholas’s house). In 1906 he became the Archbishop of Tokyo and All Japan. He reposed in the Lord on 3rd February 1912 being allowed to be buried in the city of Tokyo in the cemetery of Yanaka by the personal permission of the Emperor. He was canonised on 10th April 1970. Towards the end of his life he wrote:
"God alone accomplished everything, while I..... such a nonentity, zero, literally zero! And if a righteous man shall scarcely be saved, then where shall I, a sinner, find myself? I’m worthy of the very depths of hell.”
What wonderful humility!
TODAY’S GOSPEL. Luke 18:9-14. “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and who despised others. “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.”
Are we the Publican (Tax Collector) or the Pharisee? Let us not forget that these two men went up to the Temple to pray, they came to church, they came to speak to God, they were both believers. One was so proud of his own piety and his outward show of religious observance that he became blind to God, looking only into himself and his own existence. The Tax Collector merely begs forgiveness of God for his sins not even daring to lift his head, he was humble.
It is very tempting for us to put ourselves into the shoes of the Tax Collector and feel justified. This is foolish because all that we are doing is unwittingly becoming a Pharisee ourselves, not looking to God but to our own ego. When we come to Church we should come with humility and the thought that ‘I am no better than anyone else and may even be worse.’ We should be quiet and gentle in our movements. The little children may run around and sometimes may be noisy, they have the gift of innocence and may be playing with angels and have no pride. As our beloved Metropolitan has said don’t take the children out of the Divine Liturgy but keep them there.
So are we the Publican or the Pharisee? Perhaps the truth is that at times we are the one and at other times the other, but before all, we must stand before God as we are, not as we want others to see us but as children of God. The secrets of all hearts are known to Him, the struggles, the illnesses that afflict us, the misadventures that befall us, the wanting to belong, the wanting to be appreciated - all distractions before the Heavenly Throne.
Today we start looking towards Great Lent when for most days we abstain from meat, fish, dairy products and wine. The Church in its mercy gives this week as being fast free so that we do not fast from these products as we usually do on Wednesdays and Fridays. As Great Lent approaches fasting from food can become an obsession and we see nothing beyond this. When Holy Pascha comes near and confessions are made we hear over and over again how people have been neglectful of fasting from food. We must try our best for our own signpost to Easter, but above all we should fast from anger, judging of others, not being contentious and avoiding the devil’s playground that we see on some of the internet sites and all the worldly glamour and confusion that it brings into our lives.
Deep silence and contemplation will be more filling than any amount of food that enters our mouths. Let us often say the prayer of the Tax Collector “God be merciful to me a sinner!” or, as we say today, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner!” leaving the rest to God. We stand before Him stripped of all the wrappings and walls we surround ourselves with for our perceived protection, the only real protection comes only from God Himself.
Much Love,
Fr. George.
This coming week is fast free. Please continue to pray for the sick and distressed and for peace in this turbulent world.
Please pray for the sick and those in need:
Fr Michael Alexander, Margaret Lilley, Trudy (Elizabeth), Elena, Vasilica, Anne Marie and her baby daughter, Stephanie; Margaret; (Fr.) Bill; Magdalena; Mother Esodia; Doris; Mary, Maria; Emma; Megan; Olga; James; Jessie; Nick, Maddy and family; Catrina and Michael; Cornelia; Theo Valentino, George; Ondar; Christine, Christos and family. Also Archbishops Paul and John and all held in captivity.
and for the departed whose memory occurs this month:
Mihajo Milinkovic (2nd); Anjrej ((1Fr Michael Alexander, Margaret Lilley, Trudy (Elizabeth), Elena, Vasilica, Anne Marie and her baby daughter, Stephanie; Margaret; (Fr.) Bill; Magdalena; Mother Esodia; Doris; Mary, Maria; Emma; Megan; Olga; James; Jessie; Nick, Maddy and family; Catrina and Michael; Cornelia; Theo Valentino, George; Ondar; Christine, Christos and family. Also Archbishops Paul and John and all held in captivity.2th); Nedilco Milic (24th);
Name days this month:
Nicholas Ward (St Nicholas - 14th)
(Please note: any additions, alterations or requests for names to be included in the this prayer list should be addressed to me, James, either by SMS: 07412884765 or email: