“Let us all love Christ because our love for Christ is all-encompassing.”; This was the main message in the homily of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who officiated on Sunday, 30 August, at the Parish of Saint John the Forerunner in the city of Parramatta, a suburb in Greater Sidney.
In his homily, the Archbishop of Australia analysed the gospel passage of the day from the Gospel of Matthew. The main lesson drawn from it is the following: Whether one is rich or poor, one should not cling to one’s possessions and should not depend on material goods. “If we are free from all this, then we really meet the conditions for the next step, which is the Kingdom of Heaven,” he said. “One who loves Christ, not only loves human beings,” he added, “but also loves animals, plants, nature, trees, flowers, the sea, rivers, and, therefore, the whole world and all Creation.”
On the contrary, the Archbishop pointed out that when one does not love Christ, this kind of love “instead of being universal, is limited. And, ultimately, one’s love depends on the love one has for himself or herself. That is why this kind of love is withering and in the end, lost,” he added. Finally, he said, “Let us love Christ because our love for Christ is all-encompassing.”
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop had the opportunity to meet in person the children of the parish Sunday School.
