“By Your word alone, o Lord, Your people will triumph through Your power” — His Beatitude Sviatoslav
The example of the saints of the Ukrainian people today calls us to ask ourselves: When you hear God’s word today, how ready are you to fulfill it as God’s command is provided to you? How willing are you to listen, take it deep into your heart, and conform your personal life to it? The heroic ascetics of the Christian life of our nation today call each of us to follow the example of the faith of this centurion. We are called to say similar words to Christ today: “Lord, just say the word, and I will accomplish it!”
The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, stated in his sermon on the Sunday of All Saints of Ukraine during the Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that today’s Gospel passage announces the good news of the healing power of God’s word. The centurion comes to Jesus and begins to ask for the healing of his servant. Hearing his request, Jesus says that he will come to his house. As if responding to Christ’s reaching out to him, the centurion begins to ask for something deeper and stronger than just his servant’s health. He asks for the word of Jesus.
“Today, in the context of this Gospel text, we hear that God’s word is not ‘something,’ some blind force which a person needs to optimize their lack of health, well-being, and other kinds of deficiencies in the fullness of life. God’s word is Someone! God’s word is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the One who is ready to come to your home”, said the Head of Church, and added, “God is searching not only for listeners but also for doers of His word. Those who hear God’s word but do not fulfill it, says the Apostle James, are like a person who looks at his face in a mirror — as soon as he walks away, he immediately forgets what he is. According to the Apostle James, we need to constantly look into God’s word and fulfill it so it becomes a part of our personal life.”
“When we listen to God’s word, we need to take the side of the healing power given to us; we need faith. Faith in the One who comes to us, and a miracle happens. God speaks and heals the person who receives it with faith,” explains His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
“We ask today: all the saints of our nation, pray for us! Ask for our Savior to come to the sons and daughters of Ukraine, each of us suffering in this brutal war. Ask for Ukraine’s victory over the Russian attacker today. And today, we want to say in unison: Lord, say the word, and your people will win through your power! They will overcome their pain, even the cause of that pain. Just say the word and save us from perishing,” the Patriarch wrapped up his sermon.
