Romanian Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the historic Chapel of Saint George at the Patriarchal Residence, where he warned that worldly concerns can become obstacles to responding to God’s call to salvation.
In his homily, the Patriarch of Romania reflected on the Parable of the Great Banquet from the Gospel reading of the 28th Sunday after Pentecost.
“When a person’s concern for earthly material possessions becomes greater than their concern for their relationship with God, the Creator of heaven and earth, material wealth becomes an obstacle or a danger in responding to God’s call to salvation and eternal life,” Patriarch Daniel said.
The first guest excuses himself, saying he has bought a field and must go to see it. The field symbolises, as the Patriarch explained, all worldly cares and selfish desires to control earthly spaces or territories that bring material profit.
Enslavement of the Senses
The second guest refuses the invitation because he has bought five pairs of oxen and must test them.
According to the Holy Fathers of the Church, the five pairs of oxen represent the five human senses: sight (the eyes), smell (the nose), taste (the lips), hearing (the ears) and touch (the hands).
“These five pairs of oxen signify excessive concern for the biological existence of the body — for food, drink and practices that produce sensory pleasures. When sought excessively or passionately, they enslave the person to the senses and limit the spiritual horizon of the soul,” the Patriarch explained.
A person enslaved by sensory pleasures, he added, is like an ox yoked for labour.
The third guest excuses himself, saying he has married and therefore cannot come.
“Although marriage is a holy institution blessed by God, sometimes family life can become a reason for not responding to God’s call to salvation — namely when one no longer finds time to cultivate a spiritual relationship with God,” Patriarch Daniel cautioned.
“If the family is seen as a gift from God, love for the family is sanctified through prayer for the family.”
The Call of the Weak and Marginalised
The refusal of the first three invitees did not cancel the banquet, but extended the invitation to those considered weak and disregarded by society.
“According to the interpretation of the Holy Fathers, the next category called consists of the pagan nations — those found along the streets, by the hedges and on winding roads. These represent nations who, although religious and worshipping many gods, did not know the one true God, the Creator and Saviour,” the Patriarch said.
He added that the Gospel also addresses today’s Christians:
“We, too, are sometimes inclined to refuse the Lord’s invitation to His banquet. We invent excuses, saying we no longer find time for prayer, confession, repentance or Holy Communion, because we are enslaved by too many worries of today and tomorrow.”
“Today’s parable speaks of the mystery of the salvation of the world in Jesus Christ, who calls all people to salvation through the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and through the institution of the Mystical Supper — the Eucharist — as a banquet preparing the joy of eternal communion between humanity and God, after purification from sins through Baptism and Confession and enlightenment through good works,” Patriarch Daniel said.
Spiritual Teachings
From the Gospel parable, the Patriarch highlighted two practical spiritual lessons.
“The first lesson for this fasting period is the call to cleanse ourselves from sin through repentance and confession, to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord for healing and salvation, spiritual vigilance, sanctification of the senses, peace and heavenly joy.”
He noted that the Church appoints this Gospel reading during the period of preparation for the Nativity of the Lord to encourage believers to be merciful and generous.
“We are called to be compassionate like the One who invites to the banquet — to help the poor, the sick, orphans, the elderly and all those in need.”
Concluding his sermon, Patriarch Daniel prayed:
“May the merciful God help us, during this time of preparation to receive the Infant Jesus to be born spiritually in the cave and manger of our souls, to increase our care for the salvation of the soul and to sanctify our senses through prayer and fasting, almsgiving, repentance and more frequent communion with the Body and Blood of Christ, as participation in the Lord’s banquet.”
Photo: Lumina Newspaper
