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Pensioners of the United States, become a pillar of the spiritual army
Post date: 2020-11-23Autor: BCP
The Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate has previously addressed all sincere and responsible Americans with a call for spiritual mobilization and the establishment of prayer watches (https://youtu.be/a-s2HawV0WU, http://vkpatriarhat.org/en/?p=18712). We also encouraged the Americans in a prophetic prayer according to Ezekiel 37 as well as in a prayer of faith – the lifting up of a spiritual mountain of demonic forces (cf. Mk 11:23). Over the past half century, the satanization of the world has been secretly prepared by the very strong influence of pagan pseudo spirituality. It concerns mainly the popularization of Hindu yoga, transcendental meditation, Buddhist meditations, occult yin and yang, magical acupuncture, homeopathic pseudo-healing and various forms of divination, magic and superstition. One must renounce and break with this false spirituality, that is, a sin against the First Commandment. God demands continual prayer to save the United States at this critical time. Let us build a net of one-hour prayer watches (cf. Lk 18:1; 1Th 5:17). You, pensioners, are needed to fill the hours during the working day, because students and workers can only start praying when they return from school or work.
Wielkanocny duszpasterski list 2020 /polish version/
Post date: 2020-04-24Autor: BCP
To jest wielkanocna radość! Chrystus cierpiał i zmartwychwstał trzeciego dnia. W Jego imieniu głoszona jest teraz pokuta na odpuszczenie grzechów wszystkim narodom! Tobie też! Dlatego daj Mu swoje grzechy z wiarą! On Ci je odpuści. Ta wielkanocna radość jest potwierdzona rzeczywistością fizycznego zmartwychwstania Chrystusa! Udowodnił, że jest Synem Bożym, a Jego słowo, które nam dał, jest niezmienną i wieczną prawdą! On jest w prawdzie twoim Zmartwychwstaniem i twoim życiem!
Reflection on Rom 8:26
Post date: 2020-04-18Autor: BCP
This truth is extremely topical for us. If we have believed in Jesus and received His Spirit, the Spirit of God especially in a simple prayer literally groans in us without words or makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered. How often we feel pain or fear and we are unable to explain it or to express it in words. But if we stand before God, aware of His presence, and give Him our pain, fear, instability, suffering, the loss of our loved ones, an uncertain future – both ours and of our close relatives, we do not even know how to pray and what for. And it is said that right then the Spirit of God makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
2020 Easter Pastoral Letter
Post date: 2020-04-11Autor: BCP
This is the joy of Easter! Christ suffered and rose on the third day. In His name, repentance and remission of sins is being proclaimed to all nations! And to you as well! Give Him therefore your sins with faith! He forgives you. This Easter joy is confirmed by the reality of Christ’s physical resurrection! He has proven that He is the Son of God and that His Word which He has given us is the unchangeable and eternal truth! He is truly your Resurrection and your Life! His words are directed to you who have received Jesus: “Peace be with you! Do not be afraid, it is I Myself! I am with you always, all the days of your life!” (Mt 28) And this refers to you personally: Peace be with you! Hallelujah! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Reflection on Rom 8:23
Post date: 2020-04-04Autor: BCP
We are approaching the culmination of Lent. The worldwide coronavirus quarantine forces us to think about death. Let us make the most of it. Some few people die of the coronavirus, but none of us shall avoid death after all. Death, however, is not the worst thing; the worst thing is the death of an unrepentant sinner because he loses eternal life. Let us devote especially these last two weeks of Lent to the prayer of the Stations of the Cross with songs during the holy hour.
The lamp of the body is the eye (+german version)
Post date: 2020-03-03Autor: BCP
There is light which comes to us through our physical sight. We can see the light of the day, people, trees, houses, the beauty of nature. There is also the light of reason through which we can know certain hidden truths. Then there is also the light of faith. The light of reason is not sufficient for the fight with darkness. But if we open to the Holy Spirit, He will open God’s Word to us and give us the light. If we seek the truth and repent, God really works. He gives the true light to all who pray in earnest and seek the will of God with a sincere heart.
Reflection on Rom 8:4
Post date: 2019-10-25Autor: BCP
Verse 4 of the Epistle to the Romans says that the condition for the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us is that we should not live according to the flesh, i.e. according to the law of sin which is in us but according to the Spirit of God. This chapter eight often repeats the Greek word “sarkos”, which is translated as ‘flesh’. In this sense, it means the lower physical aspect of the human being. It is exposed to a very strong influence of the law of sin and negative lusts that enslave man. The Greek word “soma” is used for ‘body’, which also includes the mental aspect. On the other hand, the related verses speak about the Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit. Verse 16 says that deep within us, in our soul, is our human spirit, and it is written: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Taking note of the previous three verses, verse 1 emphasizes that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Again, it is emphasized that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.
What it means to be in the Lord’s presence (+german version)
Post date: 2019-08-30Autor: BCP
We need to experience what it means to be in the Lord’s presence. It does not mean that we will have a vision, or that Christ will appear to us. Standing before the Lord is very simple: I stop, realize God’s presence and stand in truth, as a sinner, before God. I confess at least one sin to Him, and I am ready to accept that He will expose my other sins too. I am also ready to forgive all who have hurt me, because I want God to forgive me.
Original sin and deliverance in Christ - Part 2 (+video)
Post date: 2019-08-28Autor: BCP
The mystery of original sin can be understood only in relation to the death and resurrection of Christ. The Word of God indicates two opposite polarities – Adam and Christ. He who abides in Adam is in death and slavery. He who enters into the death of Christ has new life and true freedom. We were born as children of Adam without the divine life. If we are not born again but continue in this state of spiritual death, we will be condemned for ever. Jesus said: “You must be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn 3:6f) How shall we be born again? This means that we receive the Lord Jesus into our life through metanoia and faith! “To all who received Him He gave power to become children of God.” (Jn 1:12)
Original sin and deliverance in Christ - Part 1 (+video)
Post date: 2019-08-21Autor: BCP
We would like to draw attention to topical issues which are necessarily connected with the true restoration of the Church. It concerns the question of original sin and Christ’s death on the cross. The first sin caused the incarnation of deceit and consequently spiritual death. Man did not become like God but since then has carried a god, ego, within himself. Man no longer respects God and objective truth. He has his own subjective truth and subjective good which, unfortunately, drags him into perdition. He uses positive terms to promote his own interests and in his pride elevates himself higher than God. Jesus says: “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (Jn 8:34) However, because of spiritual blindness man considers this slavery as his good.
Where to get the courage and strength? (+german version)
Post date: 2019-04-14Autor: BCP
Jesus says to the apostles several times: “Do not be afraid!” And where to get the courage and strength? In prayer. In God’s presence. When you pray, do not talk to yourself, for such prayer will not give you strength. First realize: Where is Jesus? He is here and He is waiting for you. He is waiting for you to come into contact with Him, to give Him your sin and your problems. Jesus is with us in every problem, we only need to be aware of it.
Michael Faraday – scientist and Christian
Post date: 2019-04-12Autor: BCP
Every true scientist should be a believer if he is a real expert in his field. Michael Faraday was the man who invented the dynamo. He died in 1867. He was a devout believer. When asked what his idea was about what would happen after death, he said he had no idea but he was sure about it. He quoted the Scripture from the letter to Timothy: "I know whom I have believed" (2Ti 1:12). And he added: "I'm sure. I'm sure that after I die, I’ll pass into Jesus' arms. I trust the Word of God."
Reflection on Rom 7:4
Post date: 2019-03-09Autor: BCP
In the previous verses 1-3, we find a picture of a wife and two husbands. The first husband represents the law of God, which is just and perfect. The other husband represents Christ. So long as the woman is joined to the first husband, there are always demands made on her, but the perfect husband, the law, never lifts a little finger to help her carry them out. She desires to marry the other husband, but she cannot be freed from the first one. And because he refuses to die, the only way out for her is to die herself. Next, the verse says that we should bear fruit to God, but the condition is that we should be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead – Jesus. Then we will bear much fruit. Jesus said: “Without Me you can do nothing.”(Jn 15)
Reflection on Rom 7:3
Post date: 2019-02-23Autor: BCP
God’s purpose in uniting us to Christ was not merely negative; it was gloriously positive – “that you should be joined to another” (Rom 7:4). Death has dissolved the old marriage relationship, so that the woman, driven to despair by the constant demands of her former husband, who never lifted a little finger to help her carry them out, is now set free to marry the other Man, who with every demand He makes becomes in her the power for its fulfillment. And what is the issue of this new union? “That we might bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom 7:4). By the body of Christ that foolish, sinful woman has died, but being united to Him in death she is united to Him in resurrection also, and in the power of resurrection life she brings forth fruit unto God. The risen life of the Lord in her empowers her for all the demands God’s holiness makes upon her. The Law of God is not annulled; it is perfectly fulfilled, for the risen Lord now lives out His life in her, and His life is always well-pleasing to the Father.
Reflection on Rom 7:1-2
Post date: 2019-02-09Autor: BCP
In Romans 6 we saw how God delivered us from sin; in Romans 7 we see how He delivers us from the Law. In chapter 6 we were shown the way of deliverance from sin in the picture of a master and his slave; in chapter 7 we are shown the way of deliverance from the Law in the picture of two husbands and a wife. The relation between sin and the sinner is that of master to slave; the relation between the Law and the sinner is that of husband to wife.
Reflection on Rom 6:23
Post date: 2019-01-26Autor: BCP
The root of sin in us bears poisoned fruits which are harmful both to us and others and set us against God. The verdict is final – death. We need to be aware of it. That’s the reality. There is only one way out – only in time; on the day of God’s judgment there will be no more chance of salvation, for the time of test and trial, which is our life, will have ended. Therefore we have to know and bear in mind that the solution – salvation from eternal death – is only in Jesus who is the Son of God and became man just for our sake, to deliver us from sin.
Reflection on Rom 6:22
Post date: 2019-01-12Autor: BCP
The condition for being set free from sin is to become slaves of God. Chapter six of the Epistle to the Romans very often uses the term “slave”. On the one hand, there is a reality of slavery to sin. Even if we want to get out of this slavery by our own efforts, we cannot. We can be set free from this kind of slavery neither by our own efforts nor by any other means but only by the power of God, and we receive this power under one condition – that we give ourselves wholly to God. It means that we accept His commandments and are guided by the Spirit of God, and no longer by the spirit of the world, the spirit of lies. This freedom, however, has one basic condition – we must lose our soul for Christ’s sake and the Gospel’s (Mk 8:35).
Christmas 2018, pastoral letter
Post date: 2018-12-25Autor: BCP
Dear brothers and sisters! The year has passed, not one minute will return. Again, we stand before the mystery of Christ’s birth to be spiritually united with Him. Before our spiritual sight a history unfolds, associated with the town of Bethlehem. The Holy Virgin and Saint Joseph came here all the way from Galilee for the census ordered by the Emperor Augustus. The child’s birth is approaching, and there is no place for them anywhere. The child is the promised Messiah, predicted by the prophets, and so long awaited by all mankind. They did not find a place in any house, in any shelter, except in the Bethlehem stable, where our Saviour was born, who is Christ the Lord!
Metanoia – orthopraxy /Advent 2018/
Post date: 2018-12-11Autor: BCP
In these times of spiritual chaos, one needs to have a clear grasp of the means that lead to spiritual life – orthopraxy.Many have been baptized, even confirmed, but without conversion and the path of repentance they are dead members of the Church (cf. Lk 13:3). Although Jesus was without sin, He was baptized with the baptism of repentance, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him (Mt 3). He gave us an example.Conversion and repentance are the foundations of orthopraxy.
The Epiclesis /Part three: The Epiclesis – How to experience the Epiclesis in the Liturgy/
Post date: 2018-12-04Autor: BCP
We present one of the ways how to experience the Epiclesis, as practised in some monasteries.