And we do not know it! (video)

Post date:   2015-05-12
Autor:   BCP
And we do not know it! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Reflection on Jn 16:32

Post date:   2015-05-09
Autor:   BCP
Jesus knew the weakness of the apostles and He knows our weakness too. In a crisis, our old nature – i.e. our soul infected by original sin – gives way to fear and does not believe in Christ and His Word.Where will the apostles flee? What does “one’s own” mean in spiritual terms? It is the innermost of our heart. The Greek original of the Bible expresses it with the term “eis ta idia”.

Do you want a career? (video)

Post date:   2015-05-09
Autor:   BCP
Do you want a career? + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

How very needful it is to follow Him

Post date:   2015-05-08
Autor:   BCP
Life is so short! We know neither the day nor the hour. Therefore we need to be prepared at all times for the moment when we shall depart this life. We must be in Christ even here on earth and carry all our crosses and burdens with a living faith. Jesus says: “Deny yourself and take up your cross; do not be in depression, take up your cross and follow Me – Jesus.” How very needful it is to follow Him! It is an everyday way of the cross. Lord, what is my cross? How should I deny myself? In little things – you thus get to the level where the power of sin does not work, you get out of your nature and enter into communion with Jesus.

We cannot have accord with the spirit of the world (video)

Post date:   2015-05-05
Autor:   BCP
We cannot have accord with the spirit of the world. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

The cross of responsibility (video)

Post date:   2015-05-01
Autor:   BCP
The cross of responsibility. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Learn one thing

Post date:   2015-04-30
Autor:   BCP
Whenever a problem arises, our old self automatically begins to complain against God, swear or be distressed. Learn one thing: Deny yourself and give thanks. “Lord, thank You for this cross – for getting a scolding again, for missing my bus…” You only need to give thanks and God will enlighten you: “Look, such bad thing would have happened to you there, it could have such and such consequences…” And you suddenly realize numbers of other things related to it.

The most important thing is to save souls (video)

Post date:   2015-04-30
Autor:   BCP
The most important thing is to save souls. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

We must witness to the living Christ (video)

Post date:   2015-04-28
Autor:   BCP
We must witness to the living Christ. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Christ died for sinners – of whom I am the worst

Post date:   2015-04-28
Autor:   BCP
The Apostle Paul said: Christ died for sinners – of whom I am the worst. No false mysticism. He did not consider himself a super saint. Holiness consists in humility, in realizing the truth that every day I am self-willed, every day my soul automatically produces sin, I condemn others in my thoughts, I am a hedonist.