Today, 21 October 2012, the Patriarch of Romania celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of “Saint Steven” – Stork Nest of Bucharest, in the presence of hundreds of faithful. His Beatitude was assisted by a group of priests and deacons.
In the sermon delivered His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasised the spiritual teaching of the Evangelical pericope: “What we notice first of all in today’s Gospel is the fact that nobody called Jesus to the territory of Gerasa and nobody asked him to heal the demonised man. Yet, why did the Saviour cross the lake from Galilee and went straight to the territory where the demonised man was? It was out of merciful love, showing us that we must go where sufferance is and help even if we are not called or if nobody asks us to do a good deed. Thus, we see that it is out of merciful love that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, goes to those who suffer, to those who have nobody to pray for them. He goes to the lonely, to those alienated even from themselves. Secondly, we see that Jesus Christ, our Saviour heals a man, but allows for a material damage, namely the drowning of the herd of pigs the people of Gerasa owned. Jesus Christ, our Lord, wanted to show us how destructive the power of the demons was, who not only that broke chains but also killed animals. Much more than these two meanings, we see that the soul of a human, even sick, has greater value than all the temporary things of the world, than all the material goods and wealth that a human can have in the world. Only one soul valued more than any other material thing.”
The demonised man healed is a true model of gratitude – also showed His Beatitude: “This man healed used to be an alienated man, bad and brainless, but he has become now a teacher for all of us and a missionary of gratitude. Christ, our Lord, wants to urge us through him not to forget the benefits received from God. When we get rid of a disease or hard moment we must confirm the help of God, thank Him, and show gratitude. This confirmation of the benefits of God is very important in all our life, and this is why the highest and most precious activity of the Church is the Holy Eucharist, the Eucharistic Liturgy or Thanksgiving Liturgy. May God help us understand how big the need to help other people is when they cannot help themselves, to alleviate other people’s sufferance, and pray for other people’s healing. We cannot make wonders, but we can pray God to help those who suffer. Thus, we shall feel the joy the healed man felt and the need to be closer to God, and get from Him the mission to be grateful”, informs Trinitas Radio station.
During the event the first monograph of the holy place of worship was launched too.
To end with the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch of Romania awarded distinctions to those who helped with the renovation and equipment of the church of “Saint Steven” – the Stork Nest.
