When a person does what is pleasing to God, God rewards him/her with His grace.

Who adorn themself with virtues and lives according to the commandments grows, become rich in God. This was stated by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onuphry in his sermon during the Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra on December 6, 2020, on the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, the day of memory of the Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, the Information and Educational Department of the UOC reports.

The Primate recalled the Gospel parable about the unreasonable rich man and explained the meaning of the Lord’s words «the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God» (Luke 12:21).

According to the Archpastor, «getting rich for yourself»means collecting what only we like, and «getting rich toward God» means collecting what God wants.

«For example, I like to relax, eat well, drink well, have fun with friends. And God likes it when I endure my neighbors, when I love my neighbors, when I am not angry, when I do not condemn, when I do good, I give alms. Therefore, getting rich toward God means doing what God likes. And when a person does what God likes, then God rewards the person. It does not pay, but rewards with His grace – sucha wondrous Divine power that strengthens a person, makes him happy, peaceful, bright and noble and which introduces a person into eternal life», – said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

Moreover, the Archpastor emphasized, «becoming rich toward God» means doing what God commands us, and this, of course, is useful for our salvation.

It was by this principle that the faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky lived.

«Saint Alexander Nevsky was not originally a monk or priest; he was a prince. When a person is simple – thisis one thing, but when a person occupies some position in society, then an additional burden falls on him, which makes it difficult to do what is called “getting rich toward God”. But he, living in the world, being a prince, so enriched himself with good deeds that he became a saint», – noted His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

Summing up what was said, the Primate urged to live in such a way as to enrich oneself not with material wealth, but with Christian virtues.

«May the Lord bless our land by the prayers of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky, who was a direct descendant of the holy prince Vladimir, help us live so that in our life we become rich toward God. It is clear that we need food, clothing, but there is a measure in everything. If a person buys food, clothes, then he does nothing. And if he also acquires riches for God, that is, adorns himself with virtues, then he will do what a person should do. Then there will be God’s blessing over us in this life, and in the future life we will be honored to be partakers of that Kingdom, which is called the Kingdom of God», – said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

During the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate was co-served by the Vicar of the Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel, the Managing director of the UOC, Metropolitan of Borispol and Brovary Anthony, Archbishop Panteleimon of Buchansk, Bishop Viktor of Baryshevka, Bishop Mark of Borodiansk, clergy and guests of the monastery.

During the service, special prayers were offered for an end to the coronavirus epidemic, for doctors and patients.

After the release, the Primate congratulated the believers on Sunday and gave an archpastoral blessing.