The Primate of the UOC: When a person leaves sin, the Lord gives him the grace


His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onufry

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry said that the basis of spiritual and worldly wisdom is fear of God.

When a person begins to live according to the law of God, on the first steps, when he has already made a firm decision, the Lord gives him grace. This was said by his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onufry in his Sunday sermon 2 Dec 2018, according to Information-enlightenment Department of the UOC.

The Primate told why the Lord in the parable of the rich fool, which was read in the Gospel Secale (LK., XII, 16-21), called him a fool.

“The rich man was not ignorant, illiterate, he was an educated man – said the Archpastor. He knew where to buy land, what to sow, when and how to process, harvest, how to store them… And the Lord calls him a fool.”

His Beatitude said that the concept of “education” and “worldly wisdom” are two different things. People experienced in worldly Affairs, not having education, to achieve greater success in your personal life and in relationships with loved ones, said his Beatitude the Archbishop.

“But there is more spiritual wisdom. This wisdom teaches a person not only how to arrange his earthly life, but teaches man to build it to the end of temporal life for him was the beginning of the eternal”, – noted he.

“This wisdom is given to those people who have the fear of God, – said the Primate. – Wise says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Prip. 1, 7)”.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry called two types of fear, one of which leads to the wisdom of God.

“When a person just gets in the way of pious life, he is the slave of fear – he fears God as a slave fears his master. But when one is fixed in devotion, he passes this fear to FILIAL. He is afraid, as if God is not to offend, not to offend with something of their Creator. And he’s willing to do whatever God wants, only that He is not offended. This FILIAL fear gives rise to higher wisdom. This state never leaves a man, even with his transition into eternity – he loves God like a son, always.”

The Archpastor gave spiritual instructions how to learn to acquire in yourself, FILIAL fear of the Lord.

“When a person begins to live according to the law of the Gospel, according to the law of God when he decides to leave sin, to live the truth, the Holy, the pious, the first steps, when he has already made a firm decision, the Lord gives him grace.

God gives man the grace of the Holy spirit in order that it is strengthened. And this grace, entering into a man, brings back quiet joy and peace, which he had never experienced, – said the Primate. – Man is created for peace. So when he feels it, he is afraid of losing him. He has a fear – as if God had not taken away this inner grace, which He gave at the beginning of godliness. I’m starting to think – what to do, how to protect is the inner spiritual treasure. This fear is the beginning of wisdom”.

His Beatitude explained this in more detail on the example with the acquisition of property.

“Man, for example, bought a good car or built a beautiful house, which he loves, then he has a fear, which causes him to think about what to do to not lose. This natural fear is a survival instinct. Similar is the case with our soul. When the Lord gives grace, we begin to explore the spiritual laws that help us preserve this grace.”

“May the Lord help us, dear brothers and sisters, so we took care to acquire the wisdom of God through fear of God, for fear of somehow insulting someone Who doesn’t deserve any insults,” urged his Beatitude the Archbishop.

As reported by PWC, informed his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Onufry said that people in life should either follow its own principles, or of external social laws, or Divine laws. Rightly so the man who lives according to the Divine laws.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.