On the Lord’s Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee
Humility and Conceit
St Gregory Palamas
Why does humility lead up to the heights of righteousness, whereas self-conceit leads down to the depths of sin? Because anybody who thinks he is something great, even before God, is rightly abandoned by God, as one who thinks that he does not need His help. Anybody who despises himself, on the other hand, and relies on mercy from above, wins God’s sympathy, help and grace. As it says, “The Lord resisteth the proud: but He giveth grace to unto the lowly” (Proverbs 3:34, LXX)
(St Gregory Palamas, Homily TWO, On the Lord’s Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee)
The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee is a case study in how to and how not to think of oneself. St Gregory’s homily talks about this often.
In our day (and perhaps in any day, although the difference in our day is that technology and media bolster bad attitudes and try to squelch good ones) conceit clouds the minds of most people. It is a rare person who can honestly see themselves for what they are. This is only possible for the humble.
Another side of conceit is self-loathing. Our world is also inundated by this passion. To “despise oneself”, as St Gregory describes, is not the same as having “poor self-esteem”. The true Christian knows that he is a sinner, above all other men, and yet has confidence in God’s mercy, because God sees his humility and comforts him.
It takes a lifetime to learn this lesson.
Priest Seraphim Holland 2011 St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas
This article is at:
http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2011-02-08-st-gregory-palamas-humility-and-conceit.html
http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2011-02-08-st-gregory-palamas-humility-and-conceit.doc
New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime
Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal
Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.
Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime
Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)
I thank God that I am not like this Pharisee. I don't look down on my fellow sinners because I recognize that I am the chief of sinners, I confess my sinfulness, I know that I am utterly wretched and not worthy to look upon….uh, wait a minute..…Never mind……:-)
The holy fathers have said that pride is the last sin we conquer. Even when all other sins are gone, pride will still be there, lurking in the shadows, applauding the accomplishment of virtue….
Until my vision is totally filled with the beauty of God and of His Truth (which includes the ugly truth about myself), until I know with every fiber of my being that I have nothing to offer God but emptiness and my need for His mercy, until Self is forever dissolved in His Love, the spectator, Ego, will be watching me and applauding, watching others, jealously sizing up the competition….
Well said, Deborah. You explained it very well for all of us. May God bless you always!
We are all on a continuum of self-knowledge. As long as we know we do not know things, God will help us.