Today we read the Gospel of the Publican and the Pharisee, and of course, if we must choose one, we should strive to follow the way of the Publican. But the hymns of the Lenten Triodion tell us that, in fact, we should imitate both: the Publican in his humility and repentance, the Pharisee in his piety and good works. This recalls the words of Our Lord to the Pharisees who came to him: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Mt. 23:23). We should cultivate a sincere sense of unworthiness but couple it with a real effort to be as virtuous and reverent as possible, observing all of the Church’s external rules with the best of our strength.
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