“Our Spirit Grows Stronger and Stronger If We Believe”: Bishop Hlib Lonchyna’s Homily in Ostroh

On August 14 in Ostroh, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna delivered a homily on Christian hope, faith in the Resurrection, and God’s presence in our lives amid suffering and trials.

Reflecting on the words of St. Paul the Apostle, the bishop addressed the questions that arise when people face death, illness, tragedy, and evil. If God is love, why is there so much suffering in the world? According to Bishop Hlib, much remains beyond our understanding, and therefore we must continually turn to the Word of God and to Holy Scripture.

Bishop Hlib placed particular emphasis on the importance of hope in the Christian life. “You see how important hope is in our lives?”

Referring to the words of St. Paul, the bishop recalled that although “our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Speaking about aging, illness, and physical weakness, he emphasized: “Our spirit grows stronger and stronger if we believe.”

The bishop described faith as the key to a Christian understanding of life’s trials. “Here is the key. If we truly want to live this life as Christians, first of all we must believe what the Lord tells us. And when we believe, it makes us stronger.”

He explained that a person without faith may see illness or another serious trial as a tragedy after which there is nothing left to hope for. A person of faith, however, can turn to God even in the midst of suffering and say: “God, I know that You are with me, that You do not abandon me. Even in this tragedy, whatever may happen to me, You are with me.”

Bishop Hlib also reflected on St. Paul’s words about the temporary nature of earthly suffering in comparison with eternity. He noted that a human life of 50, 70, or 90 years is brief compared with eternity, while our present sufferings prepare for us “an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” According to the bishop, faith in what God has prepared for us gives us the strength to endure pain and various forms of suffering.

Toward the conclusion of his homily, Bishop Hlib reflected on St. Paul’s words about what is seen and what is unseen. What we see and experience now is temporary, while what is unseen is eternal. God’s grace and God’s power are unseen, and therefore Christians are called to trust in God even when they cannot understand what is happening in their lives.

Faith that the Lord, who raised Jesus, will also raise us and bring us into His presence is the source of Christian hope. It is this hope that gives us the strength not to lose heart amid the trials of life.