"Dear brothers and sisters! Glory to Jesus Christ!
Today we celebrate the glorious feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God. This feast reminds us that Mary, Mother of God and our spiritual Mother, is always nearby, covering us with her mantle, her intercession, and love.
The Gospel of this feast brings us to the home of Martha and Mary, where Jesus reveals to us what true happiness is. Martha and Mary represent service and listening. We see two attitudes: Martha is busy, preparing, serving – which is important and necessary. Mary, on the other hand, sits at Jesus' feet and listens to His word. Jesus calls this the better part, which will never be taken away. This is not a contradiction but the proper order: first listen to God, then live with His blessing. Without listening to God's word, our service becomes busywork, in which we do not hear what the Lord wants to tell us.
When a woman from the crowd exclaimed: «Blessed is the womb that bore You,» Jesus replied: «Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.» With these words, Jesus reveals the secret of a true Christian. And such was the Holy Mother of God, Mary. She was the first to hear God's word, accept it with faith, and keep it in her heart all her life. She not only gave birth to Christ but also lived His word even more.
Celebrating her feast of Protection, we believe that Mary, faithful in listening to God's word, stands with prayer before the throne of God for each of us. Her Protection is her care, maternal guardianship. For our Ukrainian people, this feast is especially dear. The Holy Mother of God has always been the Patroness of warriors, the Protector of families, and the Guardian of the Church. And today, when we experience difficult times, we especially need her protection over our children, families, soldiers, and all of Ukraine.
The Gospel today urges us to imitate Martha in service and Mary in listening to God's word.
I invite you to our solemn festive Liturgy this Sunday, led by the bishop Bogdan Danylo. On Sunday at 10 a.m., we will be genuinely glad for his presence with us.
Happy feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God to all of you! See you! Glory to Jesus Christ!