Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest and underlined that the encounter between the Saviour Christ and the Samaritan woman illustrates the dismantling of specific prejudices and complexes.

By speaking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus “overcomes this complex of the superiority of the Jewish people, showing that other nations are equal in dignity, as we are all, as He teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount, children of the Heavenly Father,” following the Lord’s Prayer.

“Moreover, He breaks down gender prejudices. He speaks with this woman, even though in antiquity, women were despised and often compared to beasts of burden useful in a household. That is why the evangelist John says that when the disciples returned, they were amazed that the Teacher was talking with a woman.”

“Furthermore, He abolishes this complex of religious superiority, showing that with the establishment of Christ’s Church, the old Law and all pagan beliefs lose any significance and importance, for the Church remains truly the place where people worship in Spirit and truth.”

The patriarchal vicar bishop reminded that the Saviour Himself was threatened with death in a Samaritan city, and He had previously told His disciples, “Do not go to the Gentiles and do not enter the city of the Samaritans.”

“But because He came to perfect the law and renew divine revelation, to fulfil it, to perfect it, He wants to abolish these barriers, these prejudices.”

Worship in Spirit and Truth

His Grace Varlaam then explained what worship in Spirit and truth means.

“Why do we worship in Spirit? Because the Spirit is the One who prays in us with groans that words cannot express, as the Holy Apostle Paul teaches the faithful in Rome.”

“Unfortunately, many understand this worship in Spirit as personal worship within our soul. The Holy Apostle Paul shows that this spiritual worship must involve both soul and body,” explained His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.

Saint Paul urged, “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

“That is why, when we worship, we worship with both soul and body, marking it with the sign of the Holy Cross, bowing or prostrating, participating in communal prayer at church, especially at the Holy and Divine Liturgy.”

“Preparing ourselves for these two feasts, the Ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, may the Good Lord make us worthy to become worshipers as God the Father desires, in Spirit and truth,” urged His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești.