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.

Reflection on Jn 16:23-24

Post date:   2015-04-25
Autor:   BCP
The night before His death, Jesus emphasizes several times that we should ask in His name. He also speaks about true love for God which consists in keeping His commandments.

What is it in us? (video)

Post date:   2015-04-23
Autor:   BCP
What is it in us? + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Francis I approves transsexualism

Post date:   2015-04-20
Autor:   BCP
On Maundy Thursday, 2 April 2015, Francis I approved transsexualism by his gesture. Francis celebrated Mass at Rebibbia Prison in Rome. There he washed the feet of 12 prisoners, six men and six women; among the latter was a he-she transsexual with the name of “Isabel”. This act of washing and kissing the foot of a transsexual is more than a simple approval of transsexuals; it is a full consecration of them. Any Catholic can now change sexes and justify it with this act of Francis. But this is the work of the Antichrist!

The Word has power when it becomes flesh (video)

Post date:   2015-04-18
Autor:   BCP
The Word has power when it becomes flesh. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

We cannot rely on our strength (video)

Post date:   2015-04-17
Autor:   BCP
We cannot rely on our strength. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Golden rule: Deny yourself! (video)

Post date:   2015-04-16
Autor:   BCP
Golden rule: Deny yourself! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?

Post date:   2015-04-15
Autor:   BCP
Why are you weeping? We should weep over our sins. How many abortions, how many sins there have been in Ukraine...Whom are you seeking? Jesus! And whom are we seeking? How often we seek pleasure, money, human praise, vanity... But all glory is senseless. We should seek God, seek the truth, seek moral values, seek what gives us eternal life, and our eternal life is in Jesus. Our heart should ache at the living Christ being cast out of the souls. Without Him there is no eternal life, without Him there is eternal punishment and moral devastation.

Reflection on Jn 16:12-13

Post date:   2015-04-11
Autor:   BCP
Jesus says these words on the evening before His death. It is good to read again and again the words of Christ spoken on the evening before His death (chapters 13-17). There is a great depth in these five chapters. We can read them over and over again. Each sentence communicates a deep mystery. Let us realize that these words spoken by Jesus were immediately followed by the events of chapters 18 and 19, which describe the suffering and death of Jesus, and then by the events related to His resurrection in chapters 20 and 21. Try to read at least one of the three chapters (14 or 15 or 16) once a week, e.g. after the holy hour, and perceive the deep truths which Jesus highlights repeatedly: we should abide in Him, He abides in us and we in Him – the parable of the vine and the branches. The word “abide” is important. It is not enough to begin something. We need to continue, to remain united to Christ, to abide in Him and in His name.

Let us act wisely! (video)

Post date:   2015-04-10
Autor:   BCP
Let us act wisely! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

He wins who flees! (video)

Post date:   2015-04-08
Autor:   BCP
He wins who flees! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Manifesto Evangelii Gaudium

Post date:   2015-04-07
Autor:   BCP
In his manifesto EV, Francis introduces a programme “new paths for the Church’s journey”! New in what sense? In the sense that Catholics will abandon the path of the Gospel of Christ and the tradition of the apostles and saints? An uncritical introduction of “new” things poses a danger of jumping into an abyss, a danger of fusion with the spirit of the world. Jesus and the apostles sharply warned against it!