Kitobni o'qish: «On Sins and Virtues»

Lubomyr Husar

Ilona Shuster, 14 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Foreword

He said he wanted to be a Human Being putting a very special sense into this word. And that is what he was – a Human Being. Unique, extrordinary – yet humble. His austerity and modesty highlighted his grandeur.

Few people have a moral right to expound on human morality in public. Liubomyr Huzar certainly was such a person since he himself was a man of high moral standards.

In this book he speaks about human merits and shortcomings – not as a celestial divinity, but as a wise man who obtained his wisdom through his personal experience including his own errors and weaknesses. He doesn’t boast of his impeccability and he doesn’t scorn those who are called sinners. His love for his neighbor encompasses all the neighbours regardless of their devoutness or depravity, nor their faith, nationality or social status…

In their everyday communication with each other people often forget about their calling in this world to be Human beings, and behave in an immature way falling back on unseemly actions. Liubomyr Huzar sees the root of all evil namely in the lack of love, respect and tolerance. More often than not, in the lack of self-respect.

I believe this latest one of the books he has written will help many people better realize their role in the human society, in their relations with their kindred, friends, neighbours and colleagues and even with their enemies, if any.

Mustapha Dzhemiliev

On sins an virtues

People like talking about other people’s merits and demerits. Our attitude to others is often based on our view of human virtues and sins. But in my communication with others I come to the conclusion that many people do not know what some or other virtues and vices mean, and what is hidden behind them…

Our Lord created man free, gave him mind and will and entitled him to do good. Therefore, it is inherent in the human nature to be free, or, in other words, to have an opportunity to choose. Thus, to be free means to make a choice in favour of good. And when we sin, we do it due to our infirmity and weakness. A person can err and do evil, but they were not entitled to do it by our Lord.

I hope this book will help grasp the essence of what we – for short – call “good” and “evil”, as well as how they are manifested in human deeds and thoughts.

Good and evil.

Darina Parakhonyak, 6 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Kindness

Kindness.

Ilona Shuster, 14 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

A person is considered to be kind if they do good and sow the seeds of good all-around for their relatives, friends, beloved ones and acquaintances. Everything they do has a positive feature to it and yields benefit to those who it is directed at. Being kind means above all trying to be oneself, being human. We show our kindness through doing our duty in accordance with our human nature. If a machine functions properly, we say it is a good machine. Likewise a person who accomplishes their human mission successfully is a “good” or “kind” person.

On top of that, a kind person does good with a smile, in a positive mood and seeks no reward.

Kindness.

Olesya Babiachok, 12 years old, Lviv

Kindness.

Olena Zub, 9 years old, Ivano-Frankivsk

Kindness.

Sofia Kuzik, 12 years old, Stryi city (Lviv region)

Goodwill

A person of good will is the one who does good. This person wishes it and does it because they are kind. They do not count on getting something in exchange. Benevolence is closely linked to kindness and is one of its manifestations.

Benevolence.

Anastasia Parakhonyak, 9 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Benevolence.

Adriana Prunko, 9 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Cynicism

Cynicism is the utmost manifestation of disrespect. Sometimes I hear people say: he was driving too fast – and crashed. It serves him right! – they say. He deserved it… To say this about other people, and such attitude to a human being, to his life – is cynicism. Since a human being and their dignity is a great value in itself. This dignity is to be respected. The failure to respect it is a form of cynicism

Shame

The Good Book mentions the fear of God. What is the meaning of it? Many people believe that we should be careful about our deeds, since if we do something wrong, then God, our Lord, like a fair policeman, will punish us. So we need to be cautious and wary of everything, not to get our bumps.

Actually, the fear of God is nothing but the feeling of shame. For instance, I feel if I do something “wrong” in the presence of my mom or another person dear to me. Likewise, we feel ashamed to do wrong in the presence of God. And God is everywhere, He is omnipresent. To put it short – we feel awkward , we feel bitter, we are afraid to have hurt someone by our negligent, unfair and sinful behavior. The feeling of shame can be analyzed in various ways. But, generally speaking, it is a feeling of inner discomfort caused by doing wrong in front of other people, particularly, the beloved ones.

Shame.

Justina Yakimyak, 16 years old, Kyiv

The feeling of shame is peculiar to those who respect others. One may also feel ashamed for someone else, who they are related to. For example, for a son or a daughter, for a relative, for a compatriot, for a colleague ot an acquaintance.

Ask me if I have ever felt ashamed? Of course, I have.

Unfriendliness

This feature is based on a lack of human’s dignity. A person who respects himself/herself and others, tends to treat other people in a way he/she wants to be treated by them. Love your neighbour as yourself. Therefore if I want to be treated politely and respectfully, I must treat other people politely and respectfully.

Unfriendliness is, so to say, an infirmity of human nature.

A person who shows hostility towards others has no self-respect, and no dignity in them.

Unfriendliness

Maria Ruban, 10 years old, Izyum (Kharkiv region)

Thankfulness

To be grateful is to acknowledge that someone did good to me, and to do justice to that person. Particularly if that deed was selfless, done for my benefit only, and could even do harm to the person who did it.

When I thank somebody, I express my gratitude aloud. The ability to be grateful and thankful is a very nice and noble merit.

Gratitude

Nazar Prus, 11 years old, Lviv

Bravery

Bravery.

Anastasia Veres, 6 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

What does it mean to be brave? To have the courage to do good. Sometimes we lack courage to confess who we are. We do not dare cross our heart not to be laughed at, we do not dare speak of God not to be mocked. Bravery is the courage to be oneself.

You know, people may be thoughtless, they can fly off the handle and push into danger. This is not bravery, it is stupidity. Genuine bravery is when I feel I have to behave in a particular way, considering all objective circumstances – even though I don’t know what will come out of it. For example, I admit that I am a Christian and I am determined to do good even if people laugh at me.

This is a kind of positive and practical bravery – and not thoughtlessness or a desire to show off my readiness to face a risk for a vain glory.

In our liturgical prayers we often ask God to give us enough daring to appeal to Him. So to say, a courage of trust. Like a child appealing to his father.

Bravery.

Yaroslav Murafa, 10 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Bravery.

Sofia Lozova, 12 years old, Kyiv

Bravery.

Diana Kovtun, 11 years old, Halych (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Because when we speak to strangers we often feel embarrassed to ask for something. Whereas a child addresses its father simply and clearly: dad, I am hungry, dad, I need something… Our Church encourages us to appeal to God in that same way: God, listen to me, God, help me. In other words, not to feign anything before God, but just appeal to him : God, I am in pain, help me, listen to me.

We often lack such blessed innocence and trust – the holy simplicity. Some say: how can I speak to God so simply?

Speak to Him simply! That is the courage of trust in God, and the realization that God is my best friend.