His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry: Wounds from sin are healed by repentance
The Primate urged not to be ashamed of repentance, but to be ashamed of sin.
In his sermon in Odesa, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine urged Christians to repent of their sins, as they wound the soul, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.
“On this day, the Holy Orthodox Church prayerfully glorifies one of its saints – Venerable Kuksha of Odesa, who intercedes before God for all who live in this holy city and for those who honor him,” said the Primate.
His Beatitude recounted the parable of those invited to the wedding feast, noting that it refers to the Kingdom of Heaven, to which the Lord invites all of humanity.
According to him, the Lord calls everyone to His Kingdom, but “nothing unclean can enter” it. A person’s sins make them unclean.
“A person may say to the Lord: 'Forgive me, Lord, I have sinned and do not have the proper garments to enter Your Kingdom.' Then the Lord will give the person clean garments or cleanse their garments, making them worthy,” explained His Beatitude.
He emphasized that Venerable Kuksha is an example of such purity of soul, for despite the godless times and persecutions, he lived a pious life and taught people to live piously and to repent.
“By the prayers of Venerable Kuksha, may God help us, dear brothers and sisters, to live our earthly lives in purity, holiness, and without reproach. When we sin, we should not be ashamed to repent, but rather, we should be ashamed to sin… A person is so weak that they often sin, either willingly or unwillingly. Sins are wounds. You can wound yourself voluntarily, or it can happen involuntarily – the pain is the same. Sins are a disease, a filth that defiles and oppresses the human soul. Therefore, in our prayers of repentance, we seek God's forgiveness,” concluded Metropolitan Onuphry.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Primate led the festivities of the 200th anniversary of the Dormition Monastery in Odesa.
