Metropolitan Anthony: Schism is not just evil but a test of our faith
A split is an evil, no doubt, but it is also a loyalty test, says Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).
On October 24, 2019, Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, explained to the Pravlife resource how to respond to the recognition of the OCU.
His Eminence emphasized: “Reading the Gospel, you discover the truth, you find answers to everyday challenges. A passage from the Gospel, which was read today at the liturgy, illustrates the current state of some believers:
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown! He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8: 22–25).
This is an edifying story about the storm, panic of disciples and a miraculous salvation. Above is a situation painfully familiar to us. When trials happen, we begin to panic, trying to draw Christ into our hysteria, only He is calm.
The panic that arose in connection with the legalization of schismatics – the so-called OCU (Patriarchate of Constantinople), repeats in exactly the same way the reaction of the disciples in the boat. And in the same way, in response to our fears and despair, Christ asks us the only question: "Where is your faith?" Do we lack faith so much and believe that some events can occur without the will of the Heavenly Father?
Do we really think that the Lord Who commands the elements, Who instantly stops the storm and the thunder, cannot halt any faint efforts or protect the Church and save Her?
In what capacity do we honor Him then – as the Almighty God and Creator?
From a human point of view, the Lord should immediately punish the schismatics, call thunder and lightning upon them and immediately and harshly respond to what is happening. Yet He is silent.
But this is not alienation; in this silence there is a solution, first of all, to our problems. God has no problems. All problems lie in our hearts.
Rushing into battle with the enemy, hating others and not listening to anyone, considering ourselves the ultimate truth, we forget about Christ and close our hearts to Him. In this case, the split only makes us split. Because evil and Christ are incompatible.
Our battle becomes absurd and meaningless. It is only in the hands of the enemy, and we will not notice how we will start fighting on the enemy's side.
An external crisis is always a manifestation of an internal crisis. Evil begets evil. The external reflects the internal.
The Lord does not need our active actions; He wants to reign in our heart. We must voluntarily grant Him this Kingdom. By having love for the Lord. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).
Thus, all other problems will be solved by God in the best and most saving way, as in the Gospel story: "He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm."
In our trust and voluntary surrender to Him lies the greatest wisdom and solution to all problems.
Not only the elements, but the whole universe is in God's hands. Let's not forget about it.
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1: 3).
A split is an evil, no doubt, but it is also a test of our faith. At the right moment, the Lord will arrange everything at His discretion and according to our faith.”
As the UOJ reported, earlier Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) stated that Christianity is the destiny of strong and courageous people, while humility is valuable in the eyes of God and is His gift given to man for his fortitude.
