The Head of the UGCC on Christmas: “When God touches a human in His Nativity, their fear turns into hope”

Thursday, 07 January 2016, 14:16

Today Christ’s Church is celebrating one of the greatest Christian holidays – holiday of birth of Son of God in a human’s body, who comes to save a human from sin and death. In the books of Scriptures we read that the only Son of God who was born from God Father, Who, before the creating of world was the one through Who and for Whom this world appeared. We confess the divinity of Son of God in “The Symbol of Faith”, when we say: “Through Him all things were made”. Son of God enters human’s history, is begotten and becomes a human, touching the deepest foundations of human’s life in all historical times and epochs.

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His Beatitude Sviatoslav said about it during his homily on Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, in Kyiv, January 7. With the Head of the Church co-served: Archbishop Claudio Gudgerotti, Apostolic nuncio in Ukraine, bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy of the UGCC, Josyf, bishop Bohdan, the head of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC.

Explaining the spiritual sense of a holiday, His Beatitude Sviatoslav signified that in the Gospel about Nativity, we find words “do not be afraid” three times. Firstly, we hear them from the angel Gabriel, when he addresses to Mary on the Annunciation Day: “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God”. Secondly, angel speaks to Joseph the Betrothed in a dream, dissipating the doubts about the one, who has to be born from Mary: “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home; for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her”. Thirdly, angel speaks to the shepherds, who were watching over their flock on Christmas night: “Do not be afraid; for I proclaim to you good news of great joy; for today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord”.

“When God touches a person in his Nativity, then their fear turns into hope, pain into joy and dark night is shining with a heaven’s light. What can feel a person, who has been touched by God? They blossoms out. What can feel a person who is afraid of their future? But their future lies in a crib on hay. What can feel a person who is searching God in their pains? He touches them, heals their wounds, turns to dignity and freedom, and joy comes back to them”, - said the head of the Church.

According to words of the preacher, God in His Nativity is similar to a good physician, who comes to a person and they are healed: “Touching human gently with a newborn Child, God touches everyone alive, changes everything what we live out and shows new future horizons”.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav, remembering Gospel’s “do not be afraid”, noticed that everyone who has heard these started doing: magi from East were folling star, seeking the King Who was born; the shepherds left their flocks and hurried to find the Child, who was foretold by the angel. For, “the one, who was touched with love and hope cannot but share this worry with a neighbor”.

Thus we, celebrating Christmas not in easy times, hear from heavens: “Do not be afraid! Today your Savior has been born. However, do not be passive, but share God’s touch in a way to help people to live a Christmas joy”.

“An ancient Ukrainian carol – the way that has inspired and lifted up. When we go caroling, Christmas joy touches all of us”, - mentioned he.

“On Christmas holiday I want every Ukrainian to be touched with God’s love of a newborn Savior. Let our joy reach everyone who is sad; reach those who we cannot visit physically. Today, let us have in our hearts those, who are a front, because owing to them we can pray. Let us remember about needy ones and those who don’t have anyone to share this joy with”, - asked His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

At the end of homily the Head of the Church added: “Let Christmas become a power of Ukrainian people that will turn our fear into hope and uncertainty into joy of a Christmas holiday”.

Department of Information UGCC