This week on the Orthodox calendar is ‘Pharisee and the Publican’ week. That
means no fasting. We are preparing for Lent which means lots of fasting - basically vegan for seven weeks, eating two meals per day (or fewer). But
this week the Church reminds us that it was the tax collector, not the pharisee who went away justified. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are crucial to growth in the life of God. But it is the prayer of the sinner, ‘Lord have mercy,’ which God hears. We cannot stand before God and demand salvation because of ‘faith’ or because of ‘works’, but only fall on our knees and beg mercy of Him. Our priest was telling us a story which reminded me of a modern day example of this simple faith. A world renowned holy man, Fr. Paissios, a monk on Mount Athos in Greece - 1,000 years of prayer there was asked, ‘Who are the holiest men here? The questioner clearly expected to hear stories of learned men, able to understand and quote and exhort. But Fr. Paissios relayed his own story of the holiest man he knew on the mountain of 1000 men dedicated to growing in holiness.
One of our monks was taking care of another ill monk. It was the feast of the Ascension (of our Lord, 40 days after the Resurrection). The caregiver monk wasn’t clear about these things. He thought it was a saint’s name day. At any rate, he needed to catch a fish for his ill brother. So he went down to the sea with his basket and prayed, ‘Oh, Saint Ascension, give me a fish for my brother!’ And in plopped a fish from the sea.
Faith can move mountains - and make a fish jump.
How easy it is to be scandalized that someone not understand a basic tenent of Christianity. How can one be a monk and not know that Christ’s ascension is the reason for the feast day? But the Church recognizes that just knowing facts - or fasting or almsgiving - do not save us. One can intimately know God and perceive his love and forgiveness without being able to recite the creed.
Having a daughter with Down Syndrome, one looks at many things in a new light. In the Orthodox Church, we kiss icons and crosses. On the way to the basement after church one always passes a box on a stand for the offering. At three feet off the floor, it has a simply carved cross. Our four year old kisses this cross every Sunday. Nobody else even notices that the cross is there.
So I am thankful for the prayers of the Publican, of monk-Ascension, and of our daughter.
Beth
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