Lord in you I trust...

Homily on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

2 Timothy 3: 10-15; Luke 18: 10-14.

We live in a time where there are many doom-sayers who point to this or that which shows that bad things are going to happen. Whilst there can be times where less-than-perfect things do happen, we have the rock of Christ onto which to anchor our faith and hope (cf. Matthew 7:24–25). Christ does not say that we will never have adversity, but rather He says that to trust in Him will help the person overcome any adversity through the graces that He gives through the Holy Mysteries of His Holy Church (cf. John 16:33).

We are called to be a prayerful people who put our trust in the All-Holy Trinity, for He is the One who is the source of all our life and hope (cf. Acts 17:28). How many saints have triumphed over the seemingly impossible through their prayerful trust in the ways of our Lord? These saints realised that this life, although important, is the childhood of our immortality. What this means is that what we do in this life will affect the outcomes in our next life (cf. Galatians 6:7–8).

Moreover, we have been fed a message through society that happiness comes from our possessions and does not come from within. It seems that we are one of the most depressed generations.

Saint Nektarios of Aegina expresses it in this way when he says:

“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: ‘I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.’ (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!”

What this means is that, unlike the Pharisee in today’s Gospel, we are to trust God and know that whilst the rewards of hard work are good—as they are a gift from God—that is not the total story. One can have all the wealth in the world, wear the best brands, and still be the loneliest person in the world. Man is made to have a deep relationship with God, for without this relationship man is like a deer that longs for running streams (cf. Psalm 42:1).

Saint Isaac the Syrian puts this beautifully in his Homily 56 when he says:

“The soul that loves God has its rest in God and in God alone. In all the paths that men walk in the world, they do not attain peace until they draw nigh to hope in God.”

This is why the tax collector in today’s Gospel went home justified and at peace in God, because he trusted in God and His mercy (cf. Luke 18:9–14). This is the kind of comportment we are to have before the All-Holy Trinity—yes, we fall short through sin, but through repentance—like the prodigal son—God offers us forgiveness and spiritual wholeness, which comes through deep communion with Him: theosis (cf. Luke 15:11–32; 2 Peter 1:4).

Don’t let others ever tell you that you are not worthy or not worth being loved, because we have a God who loves us—even if we fall short of this love at times (cf. Romans 5:8). Christ did not come to say, “Blessed are you religious people who are always seen praying and bowing at the right place in the services”—they have had their reward by the admiration of the people (cf. Matthew 6:1–5). Rather, Christ gave us the Beatitudes, which are a blueprint for what the All-Holy Trinity considers to be signs of a heart in line with His loving will:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account.Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:3–12)."

Nowhere here are we commanded to run around and show the world how righteous we are by letting everyone know that we are praying or giving donations to the Church. Rather, the heart that draws close to God is a heart that is prayerful and humble. This does not mean that the person cannot be ambitious in some way or seek to have goals, but that all that they achieve is done humbly—even if they turn out to be the greatest scientist or artist the world has ever had (cf. Colossians 3:17).

Moreover, St John of Kronstadt in My Life in Christ describes how a soul who knows God is changed when he says:

“A man becomes spiritual insofar as he lives a spiritual life. He begins to see God in all things, to see His power and might in every manifestation. Always and everywhere he sees himself abiding in God and dependent on God for all things. But insofar as a man lives a bodily life, so much he does bodily things; he doesn't see God in anything, even in the most wondrous manifestations of His Divine power. In all things he sees body, material, everywhere and always—‘God is not before his eyes.’ (Ps. 35:2).”

This shows how a soul that lives in God is gradually changed by the love of God, for the love of God is a purifying fire which burns away all malice and selfishness (cf. Hebrews 12:29). This unity in love then bleeds into our life and compels us to love our neighbour as Christ has commanded us to do (cf. John 13:34–35).

Saint Silouan the Athonite put it simply when he states in his Writings IX, 15–16:

“When the soul knows the love of God by the Holy Spirit, then he clearly feels that the Lord is our own Father, the closest, dearest Father, the best. And there is not greater happiness than to love God with all the mind and heart, and our neighbour as ourself. And when this love is in the soul, then all things bring joy to the soul. Don't be troubled if you don't feel the love of God in yourself, but think about the Lord, that He is merciful, and guard yourself from sins, and the grace of God will teach you.”

Therefore, don’t focus too much on your imperfections and how unworthy you feel, but focus on the love of God. If you stand humbly before God, like the tax collector, He will hear your prayer and give you all the graces to become more like Him (cf. James 4:6–10). God is a merciful Father who loves mankind—this is why in the Orthodox Church the phrase philanthropos is mentioned many times throughout the Divine Liturgy because it literally means lover of mankind.

As St Paul notes, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but through His grace we can be shaped into exactly what He has called us to be (cf. Ephesians 2:10).

Therefore, this week show all around you the love of Christ in whatever way you can. It does not matter if this is as simple as a smile or a “how can I help you?” A heart that is overflowing with the love and grace of God cannot help but show this love for others, no matter their culture or religion as in the parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:33–37).

I will end with this again from Saint Silouan the Athonite in his Writings VI, 23:

“The Lord wants us to love one another. Here is freedom: in love for God and neighbour. In this freedom, there is equality. In earthly orders, there may not be equality, but this is not important for the soul. Not everyone can be a king, not everyone a patriarch or a boss. But in any position it is possible to love God and to please Him, and only this is important. And whoever loves God more on earth will be in greater glory in His Kingdom.”