God is love and Father, not punisher
Bishop of Corfu, Mr. Nektarios : “God is love and Father, not punisher”
On Wednesday afternoon, July 25,2018 his Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu, Paxoi and Diapontian Islands did the Vesper in the Holy Church of Saint paraskevi in Manesatika village in Paxoi and following, on July, 26, he did the Divine Liturgy in the celebrating Church of Saint Paraskevi in Bogdanatika village of Paxoi.
In his preaching, his Eminence mentioned the life of Saint Paraskevi, who had indestructible faith and thus, she gave her soul to Christ. She had such a love for Him and she healed even the Emperor of the time. Three elements are worth noticing: firstly her bold spirit, secondly her confession of Christ and thirdly the amount of people who started believing to God because of her.
Referring to the destructive fires and the following conversations on who is responsible, the Bishop of Corfu underlined that God is a source of love and not a punisher. He allows trials and difficulties, pain and sadness in order to teach us. Triune God cannot be a source of punishment, because only good can come from Him. As human beings, we have the belief that He thinks and acts like we do. We project our own way of thinking to God but this is not true.
Moreover, Mr. Nektarios praised the faith and bravery of all the people who were damaged by the murder fires. These fellow people are like Job, who was put in difficult times by devil, yet he shouted in the end that God’s name is always blessed.
In his closing, the Bishop of Corfu invited the faithful to imitate the example of Saint Paraskevi and have a bold spirit through faith and love for Christ.
