On the Eleventh Sunday according to the Gospel of Saint Luke, known in the Church’s tradition as the Sunday of the Forefathers, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated with solemnity at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana, presided over by Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania. The large gathering of faithful once again bore witness to the spiritual vitality of the Church and to the enduring thirst for the Gospel message as the Feast of the Nativity draws near.
The Gospel readings of the day (Luke 14:16–24; Matthew 22:14), through the Parable of the Great Banquet, proclaimed with clarity the essence of God’s call: the universality of the divine invitation and the necessity of a personal response. The words “Many are called, but few are chosen” were presented not as an arbitrary exclusion, but as a reflection of human freedom to respond—or not—to God’s love.
In his pastoral homily, Archbishop Ioannis offered a profound theological and existential reflection on the relationship between time and eternity. He emphasized that although earthly life is limited and temporary, people often invest everything in it, neglecting preparation for eternal life. In this light, the Gospel was presented not merely as a sacred text, but as spiritual healing and guidance toward the Kingdom of God, which lies at the heart of Christ’s teaching.
The Archbishop stressed that Christmas cannot be understood without preparation. An outward celebration emptied of spiritual content remains incomplete, for God does not seek formal rituals but the purification of the heart. As was underlined, the Gospel’s call is universal: all are invited, worthy and unworthy alike. Entry into the Kingdom is not the result of human merit, but of God’s boundless love.
At the center of this reflection stood the understanding of religious life as a path of healing and transformation. Humility, born of such a life, cleanses the heart; a purified heart is filled with love; and from love flows true joy. Using a vivid image, Archbishop Ioannis compared the human heart to an oil lamp: without being lit, no matter how much oil it contains, it cannot shine. Likewise, without inner purification, a person cannot become light for oneself or for others.
As Christmas approaches, this call takes on even deeper meaning. According to the Archbishop, the Nativity of Christ is the salvific act in which God assumes fallen human nature in order to raise and heal it. This is why Christ is called the Savior: because He delivers humanity from what it cannot overcome by its own strength. Only those who have personally tasted this salvation can truly follow God’s path, as the Psalmist testifies: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
