Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Fr. Taras Gorpynyak on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
July 25, 2026
Christ tests the human soul, proving how well it is being prepared for eternal life. During times of trial, people often ask themselves, ‘Why has this happened?’ What purpose does it serve? What does it mean for me? Trials help us to know ourselves more deeply and to know God more fully. They awaken within us our need for Him, strengthen our faith, and deepen our hope in God.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s Gospel confirms a profound truth: whenever a person turns to God for help, especially in times of trial, God always comes to our aid, just as He saved Peter from sinking into the sea. As the Evangelist Matthew tells us, when Peter, overcome by fear, began to sink and cried out to Jesus for help, the Lord immediately reached out His hand and lifted him from the water. The same is true in our own lives. Whenever someone finds themselves in great danger, especially spiritual danger, Christ hastens to help. We need only learn to recognise His help and be willing to receive it. Therefore, even in our greatest trials, God never abandons us.
It is simply part of the human condition that trials have become an inseparable part of life. When a cook prepares a meal, he tastes the food to see whether it has been cooked properly or whether it needs more salt, sugar, or seasoning. A tailor carefully examines the fabric he has cut, then asks the customer to try on the garment to ensure it has been made correctly and to see whether any adjustments are needed. Someone assembling furniture tests it to make sure it is sturdy and reliable.
In much the same way, Christ tests the human soul, proving how well it is being prepared for eternal life. During times of trial, people often ask themselves: Why has this happened? What purpose does it serve? What does it mean for me? The well-known Catholic spiritual writer Jean Vanier reflected on this in his book Beyond Depression, writing: “Life is a succession of crises and moments that give us the opportunity to answer once again the question of who we are and what we truly desire in life.”
Trials help us to know ourselves more deeply and to know God more fully. They awaken within us our need for Him, strengthen our faith, and deepen our hope in God.
The final words of the Apostle Peter to Jesus in today’s Gospel — “Truly, You are the Son of God!” — are proclaimed by the priest on behalf of the entire Church at every Divine Liturgy during the dismissal. Every dismissal begins with the words: “Christ our true God…” To acknowledge Christ as our God means to place our complete trust in Him. As each of us leaves the church after today’s Divine Liturgy, may we spend the coming week living in that complete trust. Let us invite Christ into the boat of our lives, so that the winds of doubt, anxiety, and discouragement may be stilled, and be replaced by His peace, serenity, and grace.
Amen.
