The Metropolitan of Syros writes – Mykonos Mr..Dorotheos II
In times of crisis, reshuffles and upheavals, like today, along with the people, the institutions are also affected, intensifying, thus expanding and widening the surrounding atmosphere of instability and uncertainty and posing a key threat to social normalcy and cohesion!
In financial hardship, poverty and unemployment one by one the hitherto considered fixed benchmarks are collapsing, some silent and some deafening, leave the bitter man a bitter sense of futility and …….
the astringent taste of frustration.
All institutions are judged, challenged and rejected, after, eroded by the chronic pathogens of Greek society, they could not or did not want to carry out their mission and instead be part of the solution, became part of the crisis!
In this leveling flood, only one institution resists and promotes salvation and hope as unique to many: the church!
He insists on standing up and, despite the hidden and overt blows, which accepts, and despite the financial bleeding, existing, despite the imperfections of its members, of which it consists, repeats today the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and the two fish, nourishing five hundred thousand, not once, nor in one place, only….
when the 1453 the Greek Nation lost everything, state status, political and intellectual leadership, took refuge and was saved in the Ark of the Church.
And today, that everything seems lost, turns again to the Church, seeking Her help and protection.
Is, is it?, random, that every social effort and philanthropic initiative for the strengthening of our suffering people, has as its final implementation body the Church;
Of course, this is not a unique phenomenon!
The Church has always been, from the Apostolic years, the Kingdoms and the Monasteries-Hospitals-Hospitals of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, was at the forefront of social welfare and philanthropy projects.
Never, Nevertheless, did not change to an informal Ministry of Social Services, was never demoted to a charitable NGO!
Today, Nevertheless, as well as armies of the desperate, hungry, unemployed and homeless people resort to Her and informally the role of Social Welfare has been assigned to Her, the Apostolic statement "you are not pleased to leave the word of God serving a table" is becoming more and more resounding!
In the years that have passed, the “eat, πίωμεν, "Tomorrow we will die" had become our motto and foolish way of life, while "ook on bread only man lives" had been completely forgotten, if he had not been sadly insulted…
Purpose of the Church, Nevertheless, is not to satisfy material hunger, but above all the spiritual hunger!
And it is obvious that today's man, trapped in his small-minded and short-tempered affluence, lost the sense of spiritual hunger, lost the anguish for the real meaning and the true purpose of life.
Without feeling it, spiritually hungry, he wanted to satisfy his hunger materially and was led to tragic dead ends!
"Hungry" for food, for clothes, for fun, for power and for show, forgot to "starve" for love, for justice, for truth, for freedom and closed the doors of his soul to the Word of God.
We must all feel and realize our responsibility towards this disoriented person.
And our responsibility is not limited to securing material food, but it lies primarily in offering our spiritual teaching.
The role of the Church is not to "serve a table", but to save souls, leading them to the Bank of true food and eternal life!
As difficult as it may seem, in fact under the current conditions, the Church must withstand the pressure of becoming a banker and let people understand what the true direction of life should be.
Explain to them that if for something we should be hungry and thirsty, this is the righteousness of God. She alone will be able to satisfy our hunger and thirst!
And above all to remind them of the indisputable words of Christ:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things, money, health, prosperity, will be added to you "!
† THE SYROS-MYKON DOROTHEOS II
Δημοσιεύθηκε στην Εφημερίδα “ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ”