(Luke 18:10-14) (February 1, 2004)
Why do we live the Orthodox life?
Why do we pray? Why do we fast? Why do we give alms? Why are we supposed to struggle against our passions? What is the point of living the Orthodox way of life?
The goal, of course, is to save our souls. That’s why we do what we do; that’s why we live the way we live. God, through His Body, the Church, has revealed the way in which we can pursue righteousness. And there’s nothing wrong with paying attention to what we’re doing, and how well we’re doing it. We should be constantly examining our lives, to see how, and when, and where, and why we fall short of living the life of our Lord Jesus Christ: the life we were given in baptism; the life we are meant to show froth in the world. But there are dangers that we should be aware of as we make the effort to live a righteous way of life.
We see this in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Let me say again that, in one way, on one level, the Pharisee got it right. He knew there was a particular way in which to live a righteous life; and he was seriously pursuing that way of life. But his pride got the better of him. Listen to what he says: “I fast… I give… I am not like other men…” And then he gives a list of those he considers to be less worthy than himself.
The fathers tell us that the Pharisee is wrong in two significant ways. First, he takes the credit for the good things that he has done, and is doing, instead of giving thanks to God for helping him in the way of righteousness. And even when he gives thanks, it’s nothing more than a way of boasting about his accomplishments. He also considers himself to be more worthy - but as he, by himself, can do nothing that is pleasing to God, how can such a thought be justified? It can’t be justified - except in our pride.
What does this have to do with the Orthodox way of life? As was the case for the Pharisees, we have the way to live a righteous life given to us by the Church. We, too, are at risk of thinking too much of ourselves; forgetting to give the glory for any good thing we have done to God, taking no credit for ourselves. We, too, are at risk of thinking too much of ourselves, of considering ourselves more worthy than others around us. I know, for example, that if I took more seriously the teaching of the fathers, to consider all others as being better, more deserving, than myself, it would, if nothing else, change the way that I drive. If we don’t think that we have rights (like the right to the lane we want to enter, or the lane we’re in), we are much less likely to get upset when someone else doesn’t “respect” that right, and yield to us. If we don’t think that we are entitled to something, we’re less likely to get angry, or depressed, or “get even” if the good thing goes to someone else. If I truly act as if every other person is better, more worthy, more deserving, I will be much less angry, much less impatient, much less frustrated. By God’s grace, I might even become more like the Publican: who did not lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his breast, as if to rebuke his heart for its wickedness, and to awaken it from the slumber of death and sin to an awareness of the need to do what is good and pleasing to God.
Brothers and sisters: Let us not think well of ourselves, nor take credit for any good thing. When something good has been done, let us give the glory to God, and our thanks That He has allowed us to be His servants. And let us not think well of ourselves, but strive to consider all others as more worthy than ourselves. Then, by God’s grace, we may achieve the true humility of the Publican; and return to our home - our true dwelling place in the kingdom of heaven - justified, able to enter into the presence of God by having faithfully lived the way of righteousness, the way of life of the Orthodox faith.
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