Orthodox homilies and catechism classes with Fr. Jeremiah Vollman, priest at St. Paul Orthodox Church, Brier, WA.
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Homily, 02.01.2026 - Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican, Forefeast of the Presentation (Meeting) of Christ
THE EPISTLE
(For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican)
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (3:10-15)
My son Timothy, you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Indeed all who would live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But people who are wicked and deceivers will proceed from worse to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and how from infancy you have known the sacred temple writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
THE GOSPEL
(For Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican)
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (18:10-14)
The Lord spoke this parable: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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