Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia celebrated the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy today at the Church of St. Stephen of Dečani in Železnik, where he reminded the faithful of the profound meaning of participating in the Divine Service. “Wherever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, there is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; it is the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven,” the Patriarch emphasized.
Preaching on the Gospel parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23–35), Patriarch Porfirije explained that the master in the parable represents God, while the servant represents each one of us. “We have all received countless gifts from God so that through them we may become participants and citizens of the Kingdom of God. How? By believing in Him, loving Him with all our being, and striving to live according to His commandments, which are not burdens but our natural state,” he said.
The Patriarch highlighted that the authenticity of our love for God is most clearly demonstrated in our relationships with others. “When we meet our neighbor—our brother or sister—we have the opportunity to show that we love them as ourselves and fulfill God’s commandment,” he noted.
“Only through encounters of forgiveness and mutual embrace, despite the many obstacles that may exist between us, can we witness that we are truly God’s people,” Patriarch Porfirije stressed. “By doing so, we will live the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven here and now, so that when the Lord calls us to Himself, we will not feel like strangers or outsiders, but welcomed and at home, knowing that this is the fullness and ultimate goal of our existence.”
