Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters, today we have grievous event. Our country has a mourning today, because 49 heroes died in the silent war, which is made by Russia. We understand that these victims are needed for salvation of our Ukraine. We pray that God’s truth and power gain a victory. Because it is written in the Bible that the time will come, the end of the world full of evil, corruption and injustice will come. Today people rule according to their mind and desires, but not according to God’s will. That is why the time of changes has come. And we live in this time. It is difficult in one hand, but in the other – it is interesting and remarkable for every soul. All world looks at our country and can see the strong fight, which is happening between good and evil. And we must understand that this fight happens every day, every second. That is why we come to this temple, we pray that the Lord give us strength and help us.
And in the Gospel today (Mt Х:32–33, 37–38, ХІІ:27–30) we have heard how the Lord appealed to us very straight, without any parables: “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” It means that we accept God’s Truth, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, His Gospel and we act according to this Gospel, how Jesus Christ taught us, we comply with His Will. And nothing should stop us: any human powers, any thoughts. And we have to act according to God’s will, despite everything. Your husband or wife can say: “Do like I say, you are not in Church.” And you answer: “The Lord told to act in such way and I will follow Him”. And you do in slowly with prayer.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” So we have to understand that we love our relatives, our close people very much, but they are not the Truth, they are not the Lord, who created us with His power. So, if we give everything in God’s hands, we put Him on the first place and we love Him more than our father, mother, son and daughter. Because He loves them all more than we are able to do it.
We give everything in God’s hands and the Lord said: “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” What does that mean to take the cross and follow the Lord? It mean you have to confess in all sins, to disclaim everything sinful in your soul and to follow the Lord to the salvation with the help of Holy Gospel and God’s Laws.
And the Lord also said: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” So the Lord shows with these words that He is a Light from Light. And nobody knows Son better than Father. And nobody knows Father better than Son. And only that one who will pray sincerely to Jesus Christ and Lord will get the knowledge and power from God.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It mean that Jesus Christ has so much power from God that He can solve every problem, every question; He can understand every offence, He can give us a rest. He can give a decision in every difficult situation of our life, when we become confused.He can forgive everything. And He said: “Lear from me.” So, we have to learn how to live according to His words, to learn the Gospel.
Every Gospel, which we read; every Gospel you read at home with Holy Spirit have to go through your heart. The king Solomon said: “making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding….. for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (Pr. ІІ:2,10). So, write this wisdom in your heart. When we understand this all and remember it, it will be our wisdom, it will be in our heart and the Lord will be with us.
That is why the Lord said: “ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” So everything, what the Lord creates, everything what He carries brings the grace, truth and harmony. When we are with God we take His truth and do His things. Father Vitaliy says all the time: “Do good things.” And it a truth. Because to do good things means to execute God’s Will. It means to take His yoke. When we do His work we become His helpers, His servants and His friends and not just slaves.
That is why remember - every time when we come to this temple we put this wisdom in our heart; and realize that we come here to feel God. And the Lord blesses us, gives us strength and everything we need to be saved and to save our families and all our Ukraine.
Glory to Jesus Christ, dear brothers and sisters!
