A person who humbles themselves and thanks God for what he or she already has, receives even more blessings said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine in his sermon during the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral of the Svyatogorsk Lavra on October 10, 2021, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, reports the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Speaking about the spiritual lessons of the Gospel parable about the miraculous fishing (Luke 5: 1-11), the metropolitan noted that the first thing this story teaches us is the power of faith.
“One’s faith makes a person capable of containing the uncontainable. The Gospel says that the righteous by faith “quenched the violence of the fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight” (Heb. 11:34). Faith makes a person a victor over the devil and over every evil in the world. Faith makes a person capable of containing eternal life and eternal salvation,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
He reminded those present that there is faith of the mind and faith of the heart.
“Faith of the mind is when we recognize God, but we do not live by the rules of faith, and live by our own rules. This faith is insufficient for salvation. Faith of the heart is born from the fulfillment of the Divine commandments,” the metropolitan explained.
The second lesson we learn in this parable is to strive for humility.
“We all live by God’s mercy, God’s power, and God’s grace. If a person correctly organizes their spiritual life, then their spiritual feats increase their humility. We must consciously say: “Lord, I am not worthy of what I have!” When a person considers themselves unworthy of Divine gifts, their spiritual condition is correct, ”said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
If we live according to the Law of God and the faith of our hearts, look at ourselves critically, then humility will be born in us, the metropolitan continued. Then we will understand that we are surrounded by the gifts of God, and we will be grateful to Him.
“The one who humbles oneself and thanks God for what one has receives more of the blessings of God. And the one who is not grateful, but complains, loses what one already has. Therefore, we need to thank God for everything, to live according to the commandments of God, and God will always be with us,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry concluded.
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