Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Deacon Vitalii Leheta on the Meatfare Sunday
February 22, 2025
May this Sunday be a mirror of our spiritual state. May it awaken in our hearts the desire to be among those whom the Lord will place at His right hand on the Day of Judgment. May God’s grace help us in this.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
Today, the Holy Church reminds us of an event that awaits us all—the Last Judgment. It is the day when the Lord will come in glory to judge every person according to their deeds, words, and even thoughts. We often ponder what the future holds for us, but do we reflect on the most important aspect—our eternal future?
In the Gospel of Matthew (Mt. 25:31–46), Christ speaks of that day when He will separate people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place some on His right and others on His left. To the righteous, He will say, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” But to the sinners, He will say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me…” These words should make us reflect: What kind of people are we today? Do we recognise Christ in our neighbours? Do we help those in need?
Meatfare Sunday, which precedes the final week before Great Lent, calls us to examine our lives. It teaches us not only to prepare for physical fasting, which is undoubtedly important, but also for spiritual fasting—abstaining from evil deeds, from indifference to our neighbours when we could have done good, offered help, or given comfort.
Dear in Christ! May this Sunday be a mirror of our spiritual state. May it awaken in our hearts the desire to be among those whom the Lord will place at His right hand on the Day of Judgment. May God’s grace help us in this. Amen.
