What we did in preparation for Great Lent this week (Part I)

Kontakion:

Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee!
Let us learn humility from the Publican’s tears.
Let us cry to our Savior:
“Have mercy on us,
O only merciful one.

Written music in standard Russian Court Chant (Obikhod), Russianized “Greek” Chant, or Special Melody (Podoben).

Epistle (2 Timothy 3.10-15)

My son Timothy, Now 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 Iconium, 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.

Gospel (Luke 18.10-14)

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 thee 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 every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Our priest told us in his sermon that our job was to be merciful, to endure sufferings in patience, and that our responsibility was to pray, to fast and to give alms, that is, to assist in the process of the peace of others, by acquiring a spirit of peace, and by acting in the spiritual and physical worlds.

Editor’s Note: I will endeavor to be more proactive, and to provide the Orthodox texts for the preparatory weeks of Lent a few days beforehand, as I believe that it is far better to light one small stick of dynamite than to curse the silence (or something like that).