His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian: “The Paradox of the Christian Life – by fulfilling the will of God, we discover that we fulfill ourselves”

On the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. George the Great Martyr and of Saints Epictetus and Astion Episcopal Cathedral in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The clergy serving with him were: Protos. Maxim Morariu, Fr. Adrian Manea, and Deacon Valentin Boțu.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the hierarch offered a homily in which he evoked the personality of Saint Nicholas, whose feast “is so naturally woven into the time of fasting, into this period of waiting and spiritual preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Saint Nicholas is a symbol of goodness, generosity, and Christian unity. In this last month of the calendar year, he prepares our souls for the celebration of the Lord’s Nativity, which brings before us the greatest gift that God has offered to humankind – His incarnate Son.”

The bishop then highlighted several important aspects from the two scriptural readings appointed for the day. Referring to the Epistle to the Hebrews, he noted:

“Saint Paul invites us to an essential exercise of the Christian life: obedience. Obedience is the very work that Christ fulfilled toward the Father when He came into the world ‘for us and for our salvation.’ The Christian life, and especially the time of fasting, is an exercise of opening our mind and heart, of cleansing our life so that we may hear and fulfill the will of God.

Following Christ places our existence once again in the light of God and, at the same time, makes us fruitful for those around us. Any gift, any vocation we receive from God is for our benefit, but also for the edification of the Church, for each of us is a living member of the Body of Christ.

Saint Paul says: ‘May the God of peace, who through the blood of the everlasting covenant brought back from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, make you perfect in every good work to do His will.’ These words reveal to us God’s work in our lives: every good deed, every beautiful fruit of faith is accomplished through the grace of Christ. Fasting, prayer, and presence in the Church are not simply moral exercises but openings of the soul to the working of grace.

This is the paradox of the Christian life: by fulfilling the will of God, we discover that we are, in fact, fulfilling ourselves. God, in His mysterious knowledge, knows far more deeply than we do what is beneficial for us and how the work of His will unfolds in our lives.”

Regarding the Gospel reading from Saint Luke, in which Christ briefly reiterates the Beatitudes, the bishop said:

“The Beatitudes overturn the usual logic of the world: Christ calls ‘blessing’ precisely what we call suffering. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who weep, those persecuted for the sake of the Son of Man, for theirs is the heavenly reward. Not every suffering is saving, but that which is lived in God, in hope and patience. Some trials are, as the Fathers say, bitter but healing medicines.

Saint John Chrysostom warns us: a virtuous life does not always attract the admiration of the world. On the contrary, it often arouses envy and opposition, and the most striking example is Christ Himself.”

For the cathedral community, the joy of the feast of St. Nicholas was crowned by the reception into Orthodoxy and the celebration of the Sacrament of Chrismation for the young man Juan Esteban. For more than two years, he has faithfully attended the Church services, participating and becoming involved in the life of the community. His discovery of Orthodoxy was not accidental, but the fruit of a sincere friendship with several young Romanian Orthodox believers. Through their conversations, through their example, and through the openness with which they welcomed him, Juan began to understand the beauty of tradition and the spiritual depth of the Church. After a time of personal searching, reading, and consistent participation in the liturgical life, he decided to fully embrace the Orthodox faith. Thus, in an emotional service, he received the Holy Mystery of Chrismation, becoming a full member of the Orthodox Church.

“Drawing closer to the Church and converting is a testimony to the discreet yet real work of God in the lives of those who seek Him with a sincere heart, - said His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian. It is also an encouragement for today’s young people to be living witnesses of their faith, capable of bringing others closer to Christ through kindness, patience, and authenticity.”

At the end, the bishop offered an icon of Saint Nicholas to the young Juan, icons of the Mother of God to his family members, and all those present received a blessing.

(Notes by Nun ana Bulgariu)