His Beatitude Svaitoslav: “We have become so used to taking advantage of each other that often we don’t know how to otherwise relate to those around us”

Often on the pages of the Holy Scripture we come across a deep symbol which tells us about God.  That symbol is God’s eye.  Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Primate, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) reminded the faithful of this during his sermon on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.

In developing the theme of this symbol, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that on the one hand, God’s eye means an uninterrupted watchfulness over the righteous and God’s protection over them.  On the other hand, it is also a sign of the all-pervasive view of everything created by God, especially the human heart.

“Perhaps,” continued the preacher, “this symbol of the all-pervasive fatherly eye of God, is a fine introduction for us on this Sunday – for us, who are listening to the Parable of the Prodigal Son.”

“I would like for us to look more closely at the figure of the father because Jesus Christ in this parable wants to tell us who is our God the Father – who He is in regard to His children – to each one of us,” the hierarch suggested to the faithful.

The father sees in his children a utilitarian attitude towards him; it seems that at one moment they no longer need a father -- but rather they need his wealth.

“How often do we approach God with utilitarian attitudes?  That all-seeing God’s eye which is watching us today, probably also sees this. We have become so used to taking advantage of each other:  children of parents, parents of children, and government of its people -- that often we don’t even know how to otherwise relate to another person.  The result of this is that become more distant from one another,” claimed the preacher.

“It is said that this Parable of the Prodigal Son has converted more sinners than the sermons of all the priests put together.  In the  consciousness of the sinner who runs away from God and the Church, refuses Baptism, the Parable of the Prodigal Son speaks with a nostalgia for the paternal home, beckons one back to the father,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

The preacher wished that, particularly during this period of Great Lent, all of us would be surrounded by God’s smile, that we find our Heavenly Father and that we, sincerely as a son, open up to Him.  May in the depths of our heart these God’s words: resound: “We must rejoice, because my son, my daughter have been lost and are found, they were dead and have resurrected.”

It is noteworthy that joining in praying at the Liturgy were dignitaries from Canada-- Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Canada to Ukraine, His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk.  UGCC Head welcomed them in English and thanked them “for coming to this cold church” while also assuring them that “We greet you warmly.”

UGCC Department of Information