The notes in this series are translated from the Telegram channel of Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaphorozhie and Melitopol.
Christ is in our midst, dear readers!
What terrible and a rebuking words we heard today [July 14, 2022] during the divine services. Just think about them: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Cor. 13:3). It turns out that you can give away everything you have, even consign yourself to the most torturous death, and yet not receive any benefit at all for your soul from these deeds.
God is love. And this means that eternal life can only be had by those who possess what God is in His essence. We can perform the most exalted ascetic feats out of pride, we can give away all our possessions out of the desire for praise, and go to the most horrific death for the sake of glory. But without simple, sacrificial love, all this will be like a “sounding brass”.
Precisely for this reason, everything that the devil is doing today in this world is a war on love—because he is absolute evil, and God is absolute love. Under the guise of “democratic values”, “the struggle for human rights”, and so-called “freedom and equality”, satan is cultivating first of all egoism, selfishness, depravity, and the cult of enormous pride and theomachy. Even the good deeds that people do for all to see are manifestations of self-love. After all, when the antichrist comes to the earth, he will perform “good deeds” so that people would glorify him, praise him, honor him, and accept him as the “savior” of the world.
Apostle Paul teaches us to be constant sources of love—always, everywhere, and under every circumstance. This is the only way we can prove that we belong to God and His Holy Church. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (Jn. 13:35). No words, sermons, or even good deeds will bring us or anyone any benefit if they are without pure love for God and every human being. Whoever loves for Christ’s sake does not divide the world into “us” and “them”, “friends” and “enemies”; into those who are worthy of love and those whom we need to send off to hell lickety split. Love has mercy on all, pities all, and desires for all salvation.
