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Jesus is the Firstborn Son of God, and we are second-born (video)
Post date: 2014-10-02Autor: BCP
Jesus is the Firstborn Son of God, and we are second-born. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Be transformed by the renewal of your mind
Post date: 2014-10-01Autor: BCP
Not only should our soul, our reason, be transformed by the renewal of our mind but our body too should be sanctified. In another place, God’s Word says that our body is the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1Cor 3:16-17)
Reflection on Jn 14:20
Post date: 2014-09-27Autor: BCP
We are in Christ, and He in us. Jesus said: “On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (Jn 14:20)I realize the truths: 1) Jesus is God, and He is in the Father; 2) We are in Christ crucified' 3) The risen Christ is in us.
Constantly entering into Christ’s death
Post date: 2014-09-26Autor: BCP
The Apostle Paul says: …we constantly enter into Christ’s death”. It does not mean that we die physically but that in a particular situation we give the whole problem to God. When we suffer pain, insults or persecution: “Here I am, Lord, I accept it, I give it all to You and I trust in You.”
Untapped treasure (video)
Post date: 2014-09-25Autor: BCP
Untapped treasure. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Why can you rely on God?
Post date: 2014-09-25Autor: BCP
God promised to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. How much we need it, for the world today is full of evil and traps prepared for us. And God says – I will counsel you. This is what we need so much as well!
The essence of Christianity
Post date: 2014-09-24Autor: BCP
We need to get at the root of Christianity. The essence of Christianity is our communion with Jesus, Jesus crucified and risen. This must not be just an empty phrase. We need to live a life of repentance and true following of Christ in a small house Church, in a sound cell of a biblical and prayer community under the guidance of the prophetic voice of a pastor or teacher.
What is true holiness? (video)
Post date: 2014-09-23Autor: BCP
What is true holiness? + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Unity in a community
Post date: 2014-09-23Autor: BCP
Serving others, you need to be very careful and learn to be sensitive to the Spirit of God so as to perform spiritual operation. At the same time, you yourself must allow Jesus to perform an operation on you through your brethren. We need to trust each other. You need to know that those who do you this spiritual service do so because they love you, that your brethren in the community love you, that the community needs you, that God needs you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding
Post date: 2014-09-22Autor: BCP
We have a variety of vices and self-pities which hold us in bondage. We can speak of spiritual resurrection if we let ourselves be healed by God. The precondition is to stand in the truth and to be willing to see and admit our faults. We should not take offence. Let us say: “Yes, it is true. This is my weakness.” We should not fall into depression but say to ourselves: “I have to fight against it. Yes, I will fail again and again but I will ask God for light and strength. I will give Him all problems I have: Lord, I am weak in this thing, I fall time and again, I am overcome by this bondage, I am a slave. I don’t want it but I can’t help it. I rely on You with all my heart.”
The consequence of original sin: we easily accept lies (video)
Post date: 2014-09-20Autor: BCP
The consequence of original sin: we easily accept lies. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Seek first…! (video)
Post date: 2014-09-20Autor: BCP
Seek first…! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Practical spiritual advice /5/ - Pearls
Post date: 2014-09-16Autor: BCP
Salvation is the gift of God. It lies in the fact that Jesus shed His blood for us and sacrificed His life. We have not been saved by our good deeds but because He paid for us. And we receive this greatest gift through faith. Christ died for all people but not all will be saved, only those who will receive this gift. Those who will refuse it will not be saved. Therefore, it is necessary that we should preach the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins. If we accept other religions and their myths and mix them up with the pure Gospel, none of us can be saved. We have the treasure, the assurance of salvation, and we cannot replace this saving faith by fables or pagan myths. Salvation is the gift of God, through the blood of Jesus, through faith.
Reflection on Jn 14:15-16
Post date: 2014-09-13Autor: BCP
For the period of the next two weeks, enter into God’s presence, into the column of light, and stand by Christ’s cross beside the Blessed Virgin. There accept the last will of Christ. To receive the Mother of God means to fulfil Christ’s commandment: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15) The reception of the Mother of God by the Apostle John in the hour of Christ’s death is a model for us too. Jesus came to this world through Mary and the Holy Spirit. Through Mary and the Holy Spirit He will also come into our souls and make His dwelling with us (see Jn 14:23).
He who prays is almighty (video)
Post date: 2014-09-13Autor: BCP
He who prays is almighty. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
We must watch over small matters of vital importance (video)
Post date: 2014-09-12Autor: BCP
We must watch over small matters of vital importance. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Sin makes people and whole nations unhappy (video)
Post date: 2014-09-11Autor: BCP
Sin makes people and whole nations unhappy. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Sin must be an exclamation mark for us: RETURN TO GOD! (video)
Post date: 2014-09-10Autor: BCP
Sin must be an exclamation mark for us: RETURN TO GOD! + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Practical spiritual advice /4/ - True and false repentance
Post date: 2014-09-10Autor: BCP
If I confess my sins in the light, it means that I confess them in God’s, Jesus’ presence. I cannot confess sins like Judas, for that was not in the light! That was in despair. He returned money into the temple, took a rope and went to hell. If he had fallen on his knees and said: “Lord, forgive me, I have sinned…”, we would now have St Judas. Although he was a traitor, God would have forgiven him. But he believed the devil instead of God. Jesus died for my sins however small or great they are. We must wholly trust in God’s mercy. Not to degrade God’s mercy by saying: “God is merciful, so I can sin.” That’s a deceit. Remember that God is just at the same time. I must not rely on God’s goodness, sinning. I must resist sin.
Start a fight against your “self” (video)
Post date: 2014-09-09Autor: BCP
Start a fight against your “self” + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate