The notes in this series are translated from the Telegram channel of Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaphorozhie and Melitopol (UOC).
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Christ is in our midst, dear readers!
Today [July 20] we heard probably one of the apostle Paul’s most optimistic and joyful exhortations, to which one wants to return again and again: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9). And he is speaking of this not from book learning, in which as we know, he was strong, but from his own experience—because he immediately goes on: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.
How important this is now, in particular, in these sorrowful days, to have such consolation in our hearts. When we read the canons from the Octoechos or the Menaion, we find similar words. The holy martyrs, who endured the cruelest sufferings and tortures, where comforted by this very hope. They beheld the joy of abiding in eternal blessedness with God, and counted all the woes and sorrows that they encountered during this brief, temporary life as nothing. Let these words be a consolation to all those who hope in the Lord. We are now living through a very difficult period of life. War is on, many people are perishing, and even more are losing the very roofs over their heads. We do not know what lies ahead, but we understand that most likely there is nothing good awaiting us in this earthly life. Most probably, it will only get worse and harder. Every Christian ascends the Golgotha that God has prepared for him, carrying the cross given him by God’s Providence. And in order to not despair, not despond and not fall in spirit, we need to remember only one thing—there, over the horizon of earthly existence, after our sojourn in this sorrowful veil of tears and suffering, waiting for us is the endless joy of God’s love, which is prepared by our Heavenly Father for people from the foundation of the world. It is a joy that the fallen spirits envy, knowing what blessedness they themselves fell from in their time. Nevertheless, we must never forget that only those who “love God” can attain this joy. And love for God is manifested in our fulfilling His commandments and humbly following His holy will.
