Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: “Our life is a journey toward the light that is Jesus Christ”
“We have survived another terrible night that tried to rob us of the light of day… But today, we can see that our life is a journey toward the light that is Jesus Christ. We are called to know Him and experience the power of His saving love.”
These were the words of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, during his sermon at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv on the Sunday of the Blind Man, following another brutal night of shelling, on May 25.
Reflecting on the Gospel story of the healing of the man born blind (John 9:1–38), the Primate emphasized the unique power of God’s gaze upon humanity, underscoring that Jesus Christ is the light of our lives.
“This story begins with the words: As Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from birth. This means it wasn’t the man who saw Jesus—he couldn’t—but Christ saw him. It was His gaze that marked the beginning of the great act of God’s love,” the Patriarch explained.
In his sermon, the Head of the UGCC drew attention to elements in the Gospel passage where each person can find themselves: “Jesus is the one who sees and acts. He says of Himself: I am the light of the world. His gaze heals. His word opens eyes.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the man born blind not only received his sight, but also encountered the living God who had found him: “He knows God not only from books or Holy Scripture—he knows Him through personal experience.” This, the Head of the Church said, reveals the essence of faith: the gift of spiritual sight.
In contrast to the enlightened young man, His Beatitude spoke of the scribes—those who knew much but remained spiritually blind: “They are the truly blind, unable to perceive the greatness of God’s work, which the Lord is performing before their very eyes among His people.”
Thus, according to the Father and Head of the UGCC, “it is not those who have heard or read much about God who truly know Him, but those who have experienced His love and have felt His gaze upon them.”
Against the backdrop of Kyiv Day and the nighttime shelling, His Beatitude Sviatoslav drew a parallel with the spiritual darkness the enemy seeks to spread: “That night tried to rob us of the light of day. Those who sow darkness want to rob us of the strength and light of life. But today we are gathered in prayer for the Resurrection. We hear that our life is a journey toward the light that is Jesus Christ. We are called to know Him and experience the power of His saving love.”
Also that day, a special event took place at the Patriarchal Cathedral: the presentation of certificates to the first graduates of the “Ray of Light” catechetical school, which over the past six years has led children “step by step toward the light of encounter with the living Christ.”
“Dear children, today—like the young man in the Gospel—you too can say: I believe, Lord!And together with the Church, you can meet Him in the Mystery of the Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy and worship Him together with the angels in heaven,” the Patriarch told the children.
In conclusion, His Beatitude Sviatoslav offered this prayer: “Lord, enlighten us with the rays of Your attention. Today we receive the light of hope that You will never abandon us, no matter how dark our earthly journey becomes. You tell us that the life we live is a journey to You, and You are our light. Come, Lord, enlighten us with the light of Your word, Your Gospel, Your life.”
At the end of the Liturgy, His Beatitude reminded the faithful that the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ marks the beginning of the Missionary Decade, which lasts until Pentecost. He called on clergy and laity alike to participate actively: “I encourage all of you, especially our priests, to properly organize and live this Missionary Decade.”
The UGCC Department for Information
