JAN 17: CONFESSION – 8:30 – 8:55 AM, DIVINE LITURGY – 9:00 AM; EASTERN CHRISTIAN FORMATION – 10:15 AM; DIVINE LITURGY – 11:00 AM.
NOTE: Tomorrow our Parish will have Divine Liturgy, as scheduled. If weather or road conditions make travel unsafe, please remember that you are encouraged to sanctify the Lord’s Day through prayer at home, reading the Holy Scriptures, and participating in the live stream of the Divine Liturgy. You may go to the Eparchy of Passaic website, as noted below, and find either Facebook, UTube, or other video of a parish’s Divine Liturgy on Saturday or Sunday in our Eparchy for which you can participate. Also, you can participate in Liturgy with the Typika Service in the Home, which you can find here: Typika Service at home Sunday Jan 25-2026
The name for this Sunday is taken from the parable found in Luke 18:10-14, which is the Gospel Reading for today. Its a story about 2 men, one a Pharisee, a diligent observer of the Law, and the other a Publican, who collects taxes. Jesus affirms in the story the Publican returned home forgiven rather than the Pharisee, because “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The parable’s theme is repentance. It signifies “renewal or to be transformed inwardly in our relationship with God and with others; rather than self-pity or futile regret over things done in the past.” The Pharisee’s pride gets in the way of his desire to change his outlook; while the Publican, truly longs for a “change” and humbles himself as a sinner and knowing salvation is only found in the mercy of God. The Gospel reminds us of the dangers of hypocrisy and the need for true humility in order to come close to God which is essential to repentanance.
PROPERS:
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here:
Sunday of Publican and Pharisee reflection from Father Mark: EvaluationfromFatherMark
Reading from the “Journey Through the Great Fast” – Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee: SundayofPublicanandPharisee
Readings for Sunday of Publican and Pharisee: PRELentenReadingSundayof PublicanandPharisee
Countdown to Great Lent 2027 (ByziKids – for those with children):
GOD WITH US ONLINE CATECHECAL RESOURCES – SUNDAY OF THE PHARISEE & THE PUBLICAN (from January 29, 2023): https://godwithusonline.org/reflections/the-sunday-of-the-pharisee-and-the-publican-ruthenian/
“Preparation for the Great Fast
As noted last week, the season of the Great Fast is preceded by preparation. We are now four Sundays before its beginning, during which we prepare ourselves for abstinence, prayer, and repentance. We are reminded of our need for a “Lenten springime”, and of the spiritual pitfalls that can divert us from our goal of communion with God. This Sunday is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Sunday Gospel reminds us of the dangers of hypocrisy and the need for true humility in order to come close to God.” From the Metropolitan Cantor Institute, Byzantine Eparchy of Pittsburgh – https://mci.archpitt.org/liturgy/Great_Fast.html
