Today, 30 March 2014, the Orthodox Christians are on the 4th Sunday of the Lent, also called of Saint John Climacus. The pericope of the Gospel of Saint Mark about the Healing of the man with an unclean spirit was read during the Divine Liturgy in all the places of worship of the Romanian Patriarchate. The weaker the faith of the people the stronger the power of the evil spirits over the people We learn from the Bible text that the weak faith strengthens the work of the devil over the man, said His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, in the sermon delivered at Samurcasesti Monastery. “Very often the demons have power over the people when the faith of the people weakens. The weaker the faith of the people the stronger the evil spirits are over the people making them grumble, revolt or utter blasphemy against God when they suffer, especially when an innocent child is suffering. Very often, when they suffer the people weak in faith revolt or utter blasphemy against God instead of going closer to Him and pray for His help”. The words “help my lack of faith” confirm once more the repentance united with lowliness The devoted repentance of the father of today’s Gospel brought about the healing of his sick son, His Beatitude has also shown. “”In the first part of his words, I believe God, help my lack of faith, the father of the sick child shows that he was strengthened in his faith, while in the second part he shows that he was strengthened in lowliness, admitting that his faith was not strong enough to get the healing of his son. We see in the words of the poor father two attitudes complementary from a spiritual point of view: first of all his tears show his state of repentance because he had little faith mixed with doubt. The words I believe, God show his desire to strengthen his faith, while the words help my lack of faith confirm one more time the repentance united with his lowliness”. Christ, our Lord, teaches us how necessary is the faith united with fasting which heals passions and helplessness, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church pointed out. “The Church scheduled this part of the Gospel according to Saint Mark the Evangelist for the Lent time, especially because it is a time of ardent prayer and much fasting in order to strengthen our faith and fight against sin, bad passions and evil spirits”. Next Sunday, the Orthodox Church will be on the 5th Sunday of the Lent or of Pious Mary the Egyptian.
Patriarch of Romania at Samurcasesti Monastery
