The ecumenical culmination of the prayers in Wrocław was a service at the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The evening service was led by His Excellency Jerzy, Archbishop of Wrocław and Szczecin. The sermon was delivered by Archbishop Józef Kupny of Wrocław.
The preacher explained the call to love God and neighbor, repeated many times by the authors of the Gospel of Ki. This proves the importance that Christ attached to this commandment. Archbishop Kupnensky recalled the words of St. Basil the Great saying that we all have the power and ability to love within ourselves. We do not receive the love of God through teaching from the outside, which lies in the power of the mind. Jesus does not say, do to others what they do to you. That would be the law of retribution. He says: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Jesus does not consider only members of the Jewish people to be his neighbors. Everyone is a neighbor without exception. Jesus considered love of neighbor as his commandment, said the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wroclaw.
He noted that many people identify Christianity with the commandment to love one's neighbor. The first Christians differed from the pagans in that they tried to practice love for both their loved ones and strangers. This was a novelty that surprised and attracted the pagan world. The preacher mentioned of works of mercy toward those in need. This is one of the consequences of loving, not being loved. He explained what love of neighbor should be - without hypocrisy and without pretense.
"We Christians are called to live in mutual love. It is easy to be good and kind to those we love. We need Christ's help, His grace, and the strengthening and support of our loved ones. We need to learn love in families. We need to widen the circle of those who are encompassed by our sisterly and brotherly love. We are all children of the same God. Christ gave his life for everyone," the preacher reminded us.
He urged us to build ecumenism on the basis of love for God and neighbor. We should also learn to be ecumenical in the family, i.e., openness to others. Regardless of religion.
"This constant transmission of our prejudices and stereotypes to subsequent generations must be stopped. Let's stop judging. Weeks of prayer for Christian unity will not help if there is no support from our families. If there is no spirit of love in relationships, then these ecumenical meetings will do no good. It does not matter that we may not be able to immediately convince our community to adopt this position. It takes time. But there is a tremendous power in love, which can transform the neighbor'" Metropolitan urged Wrocławski.
Archbishop Jerzy thanked Archbishop Kupny for his profound, direct and sincere sermon, which expressed the spirit of all denominations.
"Despite doctrinal differences, we are united by the doctrine of love, we are constantly learning it. Love must be well understood. We often say that love is the most important thing. IT ISN'T. The most important thing is God. God is love, but not all love is God. If you love the Lord your God, everything will fall into place. The most important thing is not faith in God, because demons also believe in Him and tremble, maybe they believe in Him more than we do. God, who also loves the demon, does not receive love from him. He believes, but does not love'" Archbishop Jerzy said.
He emphasized that the purpose and meaning of our life is to love God without expecting gain. God's love never pays off in this world. It is a sacrificial love.
"Our meeting today is an expression of love for God and a request to Him to help us see ourselves in other people," emphasized the Ordinariate of the Orthodox Diocese of Wroclaw-Szczecin.
The preacher explained the call to love God and neighbor, repeated many times by the authors of the Gospel of Ki. This proves the importance that Christ attached to this commandment. Archbishop Kupnensky recalled the words of St. Basil the Great saying that we all have the power and ability to love within ourselves. We do not receive the love of God through teaching from the outside, which lies in the power of the mind. Jesus does not say, do to others what they do to you. That would be the law of retribution. He says: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Jesus does not consider only members of the Jewish people to be his neighbors. Everyone is a neighbor without exception. Jesus considered love of neighbor as his commandment, said the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wroclaw.
He noted that many people identify Christianity with the commandment to love one's neighbor. The first Christians differed from the pagans in that they tried to practice love for both their loved ones and strangers. This was a novelty that surprised and attracted the pagan world. The preacher mentioned of works of mercy toward those in need. This is one of the consequences of loving, not being loved. He explained what love of neighbor should be - without hypocrisy and without pretense.
"We Christians are called to live in mutual love. It is easy to be good and kind to those we love. We need Christ's help, His grace, and the strengthening and support of our loved ones. We need to learn love in families. We need to widen the circle of those who are encompassed by our sisterly and brotherly love. We are all children of the same God. Christ gave his life for everyone," the preacher reminded us.
He urged us to build ecumenism on the basis of love for God and neighbor. We should also learn to be ecumenical in the family, i.e., openness to others. Regardless of religion.
"This constant transmission of our prejudices and stereotypes to subsequent generations must be stopped. Let's stop judging. Weeks of prayer for Christian unity will not help if there is no support from our families. If there is no spirit of love in relationships, then these ecumenical meetings will do no good. It does not matter that we may not be able to immediately convince our community to adopt this position. It takes time. But there is a tremendous power in love, which can transform the neighbor'" Metropolitan urged Wrocławski.
Archbishop Jerzy thanked Archbishop Kupny for his profound, direct and sincere sermon, which expressed the spirit of all denominations.
"Despite doctrinal differences, we are united by the doctrine of love, we are constantly learning it. Love must be well understood. We often say that love is the most important thing. IT ISN'T. The most important thing is God. God is love, but not all love is God. If you love the Lord your God, everything will fall into place. The most important thing is not faith in God, because demons also believe in Him and tremble, maybe they believe in Him more than we do. God, who also loves the demon, does not receive love from him. He believes, but does not love'" Archbishop Jerzy said.
He emphasized that the purpose and meaning of our life is to love God without expecting gain. God's love never pays off in this world. It is a sacrificial love.
"Our meeting today is an expression of love for God and a request to Him to help us see ourselves in other people," emphasized the Ordinariate of the Orthodox Diocese of Wroclaw-Szczecin.
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