His Beatitude Onuphrius Spoke About the Spiritual Benefits of Sorrows and Illnesses
The Primate of the UOC called on Christians not to despair during trials, but to preserve love for God and their neighbors, to give thanks to the Lord, and to live in peace.
On August 30, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onuphrius spoke about what spiritual fruits a Christian should bear during sorrows, illnesses, and other trials. The Primate of the UOC said this in his Sunday sermon.
Explaining the Gospel parable of the wicked vinedressers, His Beatitude reminded that the Lord expects spiritual fruits from the members of the Church. The Apostle Paul counts among them love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.
According to the Primate, it is especially important to preserve these qualities when difficult times come in life. «We must not despair in sorrows. We must rejoice and give thanks to God. We must love God and love our neighbor», – His Beatitude Onuphrius emphasized.
He noted that sorrows and illnesses help a person to be freed from sin and to return to the right path. «Sorrows must not destroy in us the love for God and for our neighbor», – the Primate said, adding that during trials one must strive to live in peace with God and those around them.
His Beatitude Onuphrius also reminded that the Church is a Theanthropic organism, whose Head is Christ. According to him, living according to God's commandments helps a person to avoid grave falls, to worthily complete the earthly journey, and to prepare for eternity.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that His Beatitude explained why the death of the Mother of God is called the Dormition.
