Primate of the UOC: If sacrificial love was between people, there would be no wars

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, in his sermon on October 16, explained the essence of the highest manifestation of love — sacrificial, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The archpastor emphasized that the word «love» characterizes our attitude towards other people, objects, phenomena.

“Divine love differs from all other types of love in its sacrifice,” he noted.  “If I have spiritual love, then I sacrifice myself for the benefit of my neighbor.”

“If we had perfect spiritual love between people, then there would be no wars,” the Primate added.

The Primate drew attention to the fact that spiritual love requires from a person some oppression for himself — material or spiritual.

“If there was spiritual love between people, then the Kingdom of Heaven would already begin on earth.  For sacrifice, the Lord gives a person a great reward — such people are called the sons of the Most High.  Such people are really capable of being merciful, just as the Heavenly Father is merciful to each of us,” said Metropolitan Onufry.

He wished God’s help on this path: “It’s not so easy, but it’s not so hard either, you just have to teach yourself the way a child is taught at school.  <…> The Lord loves when a person sacrifices himself for the sake of his neighbor and gives such a person such grace that you cannot buy or find anywhere else — this grace consoles.»