In his Sunday sermon, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Primate of the OCU, reflected on the Gospel reading.
“The benevolence of God toward people is a manifestation of His love and mercy. It depends on the Lord, not on people. And God gives even to those who don’t deserve it, even though they need it,” the bishop said, reports the OCU press service.
He emphasized that “being grateful for charity is an important component of education, culture, and behavior between people. Even animals show gratitude for kindness – they express cheerful feelings to those who will feed them, keep them warm, or protect them from danger. All the more, the ability to be grateful should be characteristic of people.”
Metropolitan Epifaniy noted that, when we receive favors from God, be they small or large, exceptional or everyday, we should show our love for our Lord through gratitude.
“That is why it is so important for each of us to keep the rule of starting the morning with a prayer and ending the evening with it, thanking God before and after we eat, asking for a blessing for a good deed and thanking for help after its completion,” the hierarch concluded.
Earlier, the head of the OCU consecrated the cornerstone at the site of the new church construction in Kyiv region.
