Tbilisi, August 31, 2015
During a Sunday sermon Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia addressed the faithful with his speech:
“In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May the Lord bless us! Times are changing and we are changing with them. We are living in an astonishing age. There is a reappraisal of everything: of values, virtues and good. All is changing. Today the things that our ancestors regarded as vices and sins are being promoted by people. This is impurity and spite. And it is in our time of change when one should keep lucid mind. The river is flowing and we often have to go against the stream. Today I want to speak about our youth. The youth often give way to despair. They take examinations and often very talented young people fail to join a higher educational establishment, while less talented students manage to do this. We should not lose our hope. This life is multifaceted and many-sided. It is not necessary for everyone to obtain a higher education. We are the main teachers of ourselves. There are numerous occupations and paths in a human life. So, if you experience failure, if you have failed to enter an university, then try another one, third or tenth one…
Try to practice manual labor, try to work in agriculture. And the Lord will surely bless and help you abundantly. But I want to ask you all: shun drugs, escape alcoholism and avoid evil deeds – and God will definitely justify your trust and give you success.
When you ask God to send you His help, you should not doubt anything. When we have doubts while praying, we will not receive what we ask and our prayers will remain unanswered.
Thus, do not hesitate when asking God for anything. The Lord says: “Ask and it will be given to you” (Mt. 7:7). Ask with joy, with faith and love – and the Lord will give it to you, if it is for your benefit. “Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mat. 7:7). May God grant you strength and wisdom! Do you know what is written in the Bible: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). May the Lord bless you and show you the way.
“Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk” (Ps. 142:8). May the cross guard you! And may the Lord give you His blessing! I want to say that we have talented young people, but this talent should come to light… May God give you strength to reveal this God-given gift. God is with us! May He bless, strengthen, multiply you and grant you the grace of the Holy Spirit! Amen!”
