Luke 18:10
Prayer is to be praised not merely for quantity but also for quality.
This is shown by the "two men (who) went up into the temple to pray" (Luke
18:10), and also by the words, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions"
and so on (Matthew 6:7).
"153 Texts on Prayer", St Nilus of Mt Sinai, "Early Fathers
From the Philokalia," translated from the Russian text, "Dobrotolubiye,"
by E. Kadloubovsky and G.E.H. Palmer, eighth edition, (London: Faber and
Faber, Ltd., 1981), pp. 127 - 135.
Parable of the Publican and
the Pharisee
"Boastful I am, and hard-hearted, all in vain and for nothing. Condemn
me not with the Pharisee, but rather grant me the humility of the Publican,
O only merciful and just Judge, and number me with him."
From the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
And as with regard to raiment and gold, when we expose them in a market-place,
we attract many ill-meaning persons; but if we put them by at home and
hide them, we shall deposit them all in security: even so with respect
to our good deeds; if we are continually keeping them in memory, we provoke
the Lord, we arm the enemy, we invite him to steal them away; but if no
one know of them, besides Him who alone ought to know, they will lie in
safety.
Be not therefore for ever parading them, lest some one should take them
away. As was the case with the Pharisee, for bearing them about upon his
lips; whence also the devil caught them away. And yet it was with thanksgiving
he made mention of them, and referred the whole to God. But not even did
this suffice Him. For it is not thanksgiving to revile others, to be vainglorious
before many, to exalt one's self against them that have offended. Rather,
if thou art giving thanks to God, be content with Him only, and publish
it not unto men, neither condemn thy neighbor; for this is not thanksgiving.
St John Chrysostom, HOMILY III., MATT. I. 1.
And just as a ship, after having run through innumerable surges, and
having escaped many storms, then in the very mouth of the harbor having
been dashed against some rock, loses the whole treasure which is stowed
away in her — so truly did this Pharisee, after having undergone the labors
of the fasting, and of all the rest of his virtue, since he did not master
his tongue, in the very harbor underwent shipwreck of his cargo. For the
going home from prayer, whence he ought to have derived gain, having rather
been so greatly damaged, is nothing else than undergoing shipwreck in harbor.
Chrysostom, Homily concerning lowliness of mind, commentary
on Philippians (a reference to the Publican & Pharisee)
Make account that thou hast done nothing, and then thou hast done all.
For if, being sinners, when we account ourselves to be what we are, we
become righteous, as indeed the Publican did; how much more, when being
righteous we account ourselves to be sinners.
St John Chrysostom, HOMILY III., MATT. I. 1.
Our virtue, therefore, must not be contaminated with fault, but must
be single minded and blameless, and free from all that can bring reproach.
For what profit is there in fasting twice in the week, if thy so doing
serve only as a pretext for ignorance and vanity, and make thee supercilious
and haughty, and selfish?
St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of
St. Luke (Reading for Sunday of Publican and Pharisee).
“Even if you are not what you should be, you should not despair. It is bad enough that you have sinned; why in addition do you wrong God by regarding him in your ignorance as powerless? Is he, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul? And if you say that this fact, as well as his incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent; and he will receive your repentance, as he accepted that of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20) and the prostitute (Luke 7:37–50). But if repentance is too much for you, and you sin out of habit even when you do not want to, show humility like the publican (Luke 18:13): this is enough to ensure your salvation. For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must of necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and will not dare to judge or censure anyone. Rather, he will marvel at God’s compassion.
St. Peter of Damaskos
Used with the permission of Fr Seraphim Holland from
his website.
