{"id":193130,"date":"2018-05-02T11:04:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T08:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=193130"},"modified":"2018-05-02T11:04:36","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T08:04:36","slug":"patriarch-daniel-urges-faithful-to-convert-suffering-into-hope-through-repentance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-urges-faithful-to-convert-suffering-into-hope-through-repentance\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel urges faithful to convert suffering into hope through repentance"},"content":{"rendered":"

During his homily delivered Sunday, April 29, at Tiganesti Monastery near Bucharest, Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful \u2018to repent for our sins, to convert suffering into hope through repentance and to become the hands that help others.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Let us not be selfish as those who helped only their family members at the pool of Bethesda. Let us help the others whom we do not know, those who are not related to us, but need our help\u2019, the Patriarch advised.<\/p>\n

\u2018This way we become the hands of Christ\u2019s merciful love\u2019, His Beatitude added.<\/p>\n

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The 18th century \u021aig\u0103ne\u0219ti Monastery, Ilfov County. Photography: Mircea Popa\/ZL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The souls becomes deserted through selfishness<\/h4>\n

The head of the Romanian Orthodox Church said that even though the paralytic was surrounded by many people \u2018he felt deserted because of his helplessness.\u2019<\/p>\n

Speaking about the paralytic, the patriarch noted that \u2018he did not judge those who did not help him, he did not curse them, he did not speak evil of them, but nor did he fall into despair.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Even though he tried so many times to enter the water,\u2019 the invalid did not lose his hope.<\/p>\n

The Romanian Patriarch explained that the crowd of people became like a desert because the soul of selfish people who are only interested about their own sick relatives becomes deserter through selfishness and indifference.<\/p>\n

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Patriarch Daniel of Romania together with the sisters of Tiganesti Moanstery, after the Divine Liturgy on the 4th Sunday after Pascha 2018. Photography: Mircea Popa\/ZL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Christ helps the patient, humble sick person<\/h4>\n

His Beatitude noted that Christ healed the paralyzed man because He \u2018learned that his great suffering led him to repentance.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018His 38-year-long suffering made him patient, humble and uninterruptedly hopeful,\u2019 the Patriarch of Romania said.<\/p>\n

Good should be done at all times<\/h4>\n

The Patriarch referred to those who murmured for the healing performed on Sabbath day saying that \u2018they camouflaged their envy with the respect for the Sabbath in which work was prohibited.\u2019<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel pointed out that, according to the example given us by Christ, \u2018every day we can help a man who suffers because the merciful love towards the suffering is stronger than any feast day.\u2019<\/p>\n

He said that \u2018the good deed of merciful love shows that God is working in the person who helps the suffering.\u2019<\/p>\n

The patriarch concluded that the healing at the Pool of Bethesda points out three great truths:<\/p>\n