neuroBIBLISTICS

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! 

Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters, today we enter the period of preparation for the Great and Holy Lent. The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee urges us to shape our actions according to the wisdom of the Holy Scriptures that we learn in the Church. 

At the very entrance of the Great Lent, we hear the words from the Epistle: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12) Holy apostle Paul reminds us of the crucial truth of bearing the Cross. Bearing the Cross is acting out the Gospel. Apostle urges us to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:14). Continuation of learned is the life according to the Gospel. Everything we learn from the Holy Scriptures helps us to shape our actions. Being familiar with the Scriptures makes us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Continuing to bear the Cross in faith is the guarding wisdom for our actions that leads us into Salvation. 

Today’s Gospel parable speaks about two men praying in the Temple. The Pharisee prayed: 

“God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:11) The prayer and actions void of love, overflowing with the self-love. Actions and prayer void of wisdom. Actions and prayer void of heart. 

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:11) The Holy apostle and Evangelist Luke conveys Christ’s words: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). The prayer that is void of self, is the most powerful act. The prayer that is void of self, 

overflows the heart with purpose. The prayer that gives purpose is the wisdom of Orthodox Christian living. When the prayer is selfless, it overflows with Christ. Prayer full of Christ transforms our actions for it formats Christ-like hearts. 

How applicable the Scriptures are! The word of God teaches to apply and to embody the Word of God, Christ Our God. Orthodox Christianity is to continue to bear the Cross, and to let the Holy Scriptures shape our actions. Today’s Gospel reading teaches us to give self to Christ and realize how important He is. Our Patron Saint at the St. Sava monastery in Libertyville, was a prince of the Serbian Royal Family. However, he rejected the unimportant and confessed “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”. This is how the Scriptures are re-enacted. The re-enactment continues, St. Mardarije was not only familiar with Scripture but realized the urgency for living the Scriptures. Today we stand in the St. Sava church, in front of the St. Mardarije’s relics and pray. As we pray, we re-enact the humble tax-collector and give our hearts to Christ, or we pray and re-enact the Pharisee full of self. 

Let us continue to bear the Cross in wisdom! 

Let us humble ourselves and pray like the tax-collector. 

Let us be grateful for the guarding wisdom of Scriptures, re-enact it, and give thanks to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!