Page 57 - Western Diocese Annual 2023

2023 DIOCESAN ANNUAL
what the Gospel reading gives us today is another surprising dimension showing not only how when we are with God we have everything, but also, and especially now in these times of utilitarianism and greed, we learn how God asks for us to rely on Him and to offer ourselves to Him. Every perfect gift comes from above, the Church says, and every perfect giv- ing is inspired by our Lord. We are created in His image, and there is nothing more blessed than to of- fer, to give. The Eucharist that we are now participat- ing in has this character, it’s a gift. It is an offering, and also it is a self-offering of the Church to her Cre- ator. By embracing the coming Feast of the Nativity of Christ, let us also embrace this message from to- day’s Gospel, and unlike the fool rich man from the Gospel story, we should take the opposite path which is a Christ-like journey in which everything is a gift, a filial grace given to us in the Holy Spirit. What we are being asked is to give it back, to return it to our Creator. In today’s Liturgy we manifest that, and may this Divine Eucharist be an image of that true life and also an inspiration for us in our daily
struggles on our journey, said Bishop Maxim in his sermon.
After the Liturgy, parishioners of St. Sava togeth- er with Damjanco Adzievski and his family prepared a delicious lunch for everyone. Children’s choir pre- pared a short program for our guests, and everyone enjoyed a fellowship with Bishop Maxim until late afternoon.
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