UOC Primate: Misconception about God hampers man to perceive Him right

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and All Ukraine

Distorted visions of God deprive people of the opportunity to experience God, Who is always there. This was said on December 9 by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine at the sermon during the Liturgy on the day of the 28th anniversary of his episcopal ordination, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

Explaining the Gospel fragment (Luke 13: 10-21) about the healing by Christ of a woman who had been bent over for 18 years, His Beatitude Onufriy drew attention to the behavior of the synagogue chief. The chief saw the miracle of healing of the incurably sick woman, but instead of rejoicing, thanking the Savior, he became indignant and began to insult both the Savior and the people.

“Why did he behave this way?” asked Primate. “Because he did not have the correct concept of God. The Jews preserved the doctrine of the Messiah, but the doctrine was distorted by human desires, human speculation: the Jews waited for the Messiah, who would come in glory, would conquer all nations for the Jews, and make the Jews reign the world.”

According to His Beatitude, for this reason, when the Savior said that His Kingdom was not from this world, the Jews hated Him and crucified.

“The head of the synagogue had such a wrong faith and therefore, he did not recognize God, he did not understand, Who was standing in front of him, and from this ignorance he began to behave incorrectly before God and even insult Him. A correct vision of the divine will helps us know the Lord, Who is always with us, Who often bestows us special grace, bounty, and mercy,” concluded Vladyka Onufriy.

At the end of the divine service, on the occasion of the anniversary of the episcopal ordination, the Primate was wished in singing many years of life. His Beatitude Metropolitan thanked the flock for the prayers and blessed everyone.

Earlier, the Primate of the UOC said that a man who thanks God is free from the shackles of flattery.

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