Assumption Greek Orthodox Church

February 21st, 2021: Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Triodion Begins)

SAINTS: Timothy the Righteous; John III, Patriarch of Constantinople; Efstathios, Bsp of Antioch; Zachariah, Patriarch of Jerusalem; George Bsp Amastridos; Andreas & Anatolios; Maximinian Abp of Ravenna MARTYRS: Veroulio, Secundino, Sirikio. Felix, Servoulo, Saturnino, Fortunato et. al

ANNOUNCEMENTS Prayer to Virgin Mary (Paraklesis): Wednesday, February 24th, 4:30 PM House Blessings: Please contact our office or Fr. Gregory to have your house or workplace blessed Food Fest: Saturday, February 27th, order at: www.foodfest.assumptionnh.org & pick up 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Gospel and Readings

Matins Reading – Fourth Gospel - Luke 24:1-12 On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. AMEN

Epistle Reading – St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15 TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. AMEN

Gospel Reading – Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (Triodion Begins Toda) - Luke 18:10-14 The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into 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 like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 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!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." AMEN.

Wisdom of the Fathers

It is possible for those who have come back in repentance to shine with more luster and vigor than those who have never fallen at all. This is how the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven before the righteous. St. John Chrysostom - AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century.

The Publican fasted not; and yet he was accepted in preference to him who had fasted; in order that you may learn that fasting is unprofitable, except all other duties follow with it. St. John Chrysostom, Homily III, 4th Century

The Triodion Opens … and soon the follows

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, during vespers before the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the priest hands the chanter a book called “TRIODION.” Triodion literally means “The Three Chants” and it is one of the holy books of chants and services of the Christian Orthodox Church. Liturgically, it begins with the vespers of the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and includes all the services of the Great Lent and . It finishes on evening, little before the Resurrection Service begins. Then, at the start of the Resurrection Service, we open a new book, the PENTICOSTARION, which contains all chants and services up until Pentecost.

In the old country as well as here, many connect the word “Triodion” with a (mardi gras), together with feasting, drinking and dancing the night away. There is nothing further from the truth as far as the true meaning of the Triodion period is concerned! Opening the Book of Triodion means we are starting a solemn journey, which from Sunday to Sunday will lead us to the night of the Resurrection. It is A JOURNEY OF PREPARATION for the most important event of our faith. It is the most important, because without the Resurrection, our faith becomes an empty shell, a hollow and meaningless doctrine and “a do-good-philosophy.” As St. Paul tells us, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain” (Cor. 15:13).

Alongside the hymns and services of Triodion, the preparation for the Great Lent includes four important Gospel readings. All four are dedicated to the fundamental principle of REPENTANCE and our RETURN to CHRIST. These two actions constitute the main message and purpose of the Great Lent. The first Sunday is dedicated to the Publican & the Pharisee and stresses out that HUMILITY is the central virtue to draw God’s Mercy on us. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ taught us humility with His example. From His Holy Birth in a manger, to His Holy Baptism by someone far lesser than Him; from washing the feet of His disciples, to entering Jerusalem on a young donkey; from turning the other cheek when He was buffeted, to the ultimate humility of being stretched on the Cross like someone cursed by God and then being laid to His rest in someone else’s tomb, His whole earthly life was an example of humility. “He came to His own, but His own received Him not” (John 1:11). It is this same humility He requires of us as well. Through humility, the sinner Publican becomes a saint. Through pride, the otherwise righteous Pharisee loses his reward in heaven.

On the second Sunday, a loving father sets his son free and gives him his share of the paternal fortune. And all the while the son squanders all the goods of the father and ends up naked and hungry, the father does not forget him. Every day, He is at the window looking at the horizon, waiting for the son’s return. And when the son returns, he takes him back and restores him to all the riches he had before, even though the son had squandered his share. In this metaphor of the human condition after losing Paradise, the face of the loving father represents God the Father, whereas in the face of the Prodigal Son we should recognize ourselves – us, who squander our Heavenly Father’s fortune on things of this world daily, and prefer to spend our time away from Him and His Heavenly Kingdom.

On the third Sunday, the Meatfare or Judgement Day Sunday, the Lord reminds us He is not only the beginning, but also the end! No one will be able to escape the Day of Judgement! It is a warning of the upcoming Court of God, which will reward some with eternal life next to God and condemn many others with eternal life away from Him. Finally, on the fourth Sunday, the Cheasefare, or Forgiveness Sunday, we hear our Lord setting the measure by which the Mercy of God will be distributed to us. We will receive so much mercy from Him, as the mercy we have shown to our fellow men! God will not judge us based on His own measure (else we would be all condemned), but on the measure we will set for ourselves. The more love and understanding we will show to one another, the more mercy will have on us for our shortcomings.

Overall, the period of Triodion is a SCHOOL OF REPENTANCE. We should all attend this school every year before . We should keep attending it until we change our lives and become truly Christians and truly Orthodox - Orthodox Christians not only in words but also in works. Triodion is a solemn and prayerful period, yet the light of Resurrection is about to flood out of the empty Tomb of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN