Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Fr. Taras Gorpynyak on the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
November 4, 2023
The memory of God’s presence in life is the memory of the goodness of one’s own soul. If a person loves himself and takes care of his own soul, he often thinks about God being with him inseparably here and someday in heaven.
The Gospel of today’s Sunday tells that when Jesus came to the land of Gerasenes, he was met by a man who had demons who began to shout loudly: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” In fact, it was not the man who screamed, but the evil spirit screamed through the mouth of the sick man because he felt the presence of God in Christ, and in this way, he felt the threat—the end of his power over this man.
An evil spirit often lures a person’s attention with carnal pleasures, various passions, and earthly things to put the needs of the body first and, in that way, distract from the needs of the immortal soul and, most importantly, from God.
Jesus Christ calls himself the light, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). His science and the example of his life are the spiritual light for people that helps to distinguish good from evil and to know what comes from God and what comes from an evil spirit. The memory of God’s presence in daily affairs, of God’s commandments, becomes a spiritual light for a person and guides him on the good path that leads to God, to the goal of life—an inseparable connection with God in eternity. The memory of God’s presence in life is the memory of the goodness of one’s own soul. If a person loves himself and takes care of his own soul, he often thinks about God being with him inseparably here and someday in heaven. A person’s memory of God’s presence becomes for him a certain spiritual guardian who protects his soul, life, and health from spiritual and physical dangers.
Let us always try to remember God and His commandments, and this will protect us from various tricks of the evil spirit, help us to preserve God’s love in our souls, to be constantly under His care, and thereby assure ourselves of temporary and eternal happiness.
