The Week of the Publican and the Pharisee

Lent is coming. I know this not only from the calendar, and the brightening of the days and the peeping through the ground of my bulbs, but because the Eastern Rite Orthodox just began using the Lenten Triodion. This is the service book that will take us from this past Sunday – the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (the first of the four Pre-Lenten Sundays) – to the beginning of Holy Week.



One of our Deacons gave the homily on Sunday, and he told a beautiful story of a Monk of Blessed Memory who was staying with his parish who told them “we should be a nation of –ation” When asked to explain, he said that the four "–ations" were preparation, examination, anticipation and celebration.

He went on to explain that Lent embodies that so well – we have the preparation for Lent of the four Pre-Lenten Sundays. Then, our examination begins in earnest during Lent itself – how do we live our Christian life? How is the tool of fasting being used in our life? Then, anticipation – Holy Week where each day we walk with Christ through his last week to the celebration of Pascha.

I could see how these "–ations" are in our lives all year – through not only Lent but in our Post-Paschal days, in our Apostles Fasting Season, of the Dormition Fast, and of the Nativity Fast. This is something that I am attracted to – the daily, the weekly, the yearly cycles. Learning to feast and fast with the church year and with my Orthodox brothers and sisters throughout the world.

On another note, the Western Calendar celebrates St. Valentine’s Day today (the Eastern Church commemorates this martyr in July ) – and I am so thankful for my amazing husband who puts up with my quirks, loves me unconditionally and rights me when I’m wrong. I love you!

I copped the St. Valentine's Link from Huw Raphael - thanks!