English > UOGCC Publications
Who do we fight against?
Post date: 2017-10-26Autor: BCP
When we are to fight, we need to know who we fight against. We do not fight against a dead territory – factories, airports, arms depots… We do not fight against any physical, i.e. dead energies but we fight against the kosmokratoras – spiritual forces, intellectual evil beings, who have spiritual power. But they too must bow to God’s Majesty, to the Word of God. To the Word of God spoken through His faithful servants. They must bow whether they like it or not. However, the Word of God must be spoken in faith, with no doubting.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…
Post date: 2017-10-16Autor: BCP
In the spiritual struggle, we need to be clothed in Christ. We cannot fight with our own strength; that would be a certain defeat. We also need to know the basic spiritual principles. The most basic spiritual principle at the beginning of every spiritual struggle and in spiritual life in general is to humble oneself before God, to confess one’s sin, to repent of it, and to receive purification by the Blood of Christ. It is also important to be able to humble oneself before another person. God gives victory to the humble, that is, to those who love the truth.
The nuts and bolts of the Gospel
Post date: 2017-08-25Autor: BCP
The Scripture gives us directions for life. So we need to begin to learn slowly and seriously THE NUTS AND BOLTS: e.g. Jesus says, “If your brother has something against you, go and be reconciled to your brother.” In other words – e.g. your brother vents his anger and rebukes you unjustly and now there is a tense situation. He becomes aware of his guilt afterwards, and is overcome with sorrow. He doesn’t know what to do, how to apologize, and tension increases. Who should make the first step, or rather, who is obliged to? According to the Gospel, he who has been wronged is obliged to make the first step. You have been wronged, and moreover, your brother has something against you! So you have to make the first step and not wait until your brother does so! When you realize in prayer that you must go and you would not go, then however good your prayer may be, you are disobedient to Jesus!
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood...
Post date: 2017-05-26Autor: BCP
The Word of God says clearly, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age – so-called kosmokratoras.” (Eph 6:12) Are we aware of it? If we want to fight with a sling or a bow against an army with tanks, it is de facto suicide. Similarly, if we want to fight against the kosmokratoras with our feelings or anything human only, for example with our cunning, the battle is lost in advance. First of all, we must realize that the spiritual powers are leading a spiritual struggle against us. In the spiritual struggle, as the Apostle Paul writes in the Ephesians, we must have spiritual weapons and spiritual armour: the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit, i.e. the Word of God, is not a physical sword, but a symbol of a spiritual weapon. The Apostle Paul also constantly repeats and emphasizes that we should act “in faith”.
The beauty of heaven surpasses everything
Post date: 2017-05-25Autor: BCP
Heaven surpasses all our imagination. Let us imagine supreme happiness, unspeakable beauty, and yet heaven is far more beautiful. The Scripture says about heaven that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. What then this heaven must be like if it surpasses our imagination?!
How to pray the prayer of unity and power
Post date: 2017-05-22Autor: BCP
If you are absent-minded during the prayer and you use the prayer model as a mere formality, you benefit minimally from the prayer. If you pray with the heart, you benefit more. But what is most important is to pray with faith, to concentrate your thoughts and to be in union with Christ, with His death – and the power of God works.
How to humble ourselves truly
Post date: 2017-01-23Autor: BCP
A living fellowship and certain forms of self-humiliation are the best means of dying to our self. The first and basic form is that I accept the order established by God and that I want to be open to the Holy Spirit every day and to do the will of God to the extent I am able to discern it. Humility also means that I sincerely consider others better than myself (cf. Phi 2:3).
How pride manifests itself
Post date: 2017-01-11Autor: BCP
You can ask yourself: How does pride manifest itself? The others around me are better than me – jealousy. And this manifests itself even if we follow Jesus: competitiveness, comparing with others, sadness or bad mood if I am not who I want to be. For the most part I am not interested in who God wants me to be and what His plan for my life is.
Let our soul be the Bethlehem stable where God Himself comes
Post date: 2016-12-23Autor: BCP
During Christmas Mass, we wish to experience our encounter with Jesus. Let us realize again the Word of God especially at the moment of Holy Communion: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” Let our soul be the Bethlehem stable where God Himself comes. Let us be like the Blessed Virgin who bore Christ and gave Him to the world. Let us also bear Him in our hearts, abide in Him, remain rooted in Christ and bring Him to others.
The situation today is difficult. What can we do?
Post date: 2016-12-13Autor: BCP
The devil deceives us and we believe lies. The spirit of antichrist rules and changes the thinking to such extent that people no longer distinguish good from evil. We literally breathe this atmosphere from television, music or contact with people who have the spirit of the world. We must be aware that we are powerless and work out our own salvation with diligence, grieve about this situation and give it to Jesus in prayer again and again. We need a living fellowship, and we also need to carry out mission. However, we first need to be rooted in Jesus ourselves and only then can we give Him to others. We need to seek what God’s will is. It is important to have small groups, a fellowship, and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Everyone prophesies on the level one stands on
Post date: 2016-12-12Autor: BCP
We really need the Word of God. The mere letter of Scripture is not enough. We need the word of prophecy which God gives for a particular situation. Therefore, God’s Word says: “Desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” So each of us has to desire it. And everyone then prophesies on the level one stands on – that means, depending on one’s own experience of God. If you stand at the gate of the temple of God, you prophesy from that place. If you stand in the sanctuary, you prophesy from the sanctuary. If you stand in the Holy of Holies, then your word has the greatest power.
Salvation is in Christ alone (video)
Post date: 2016-11-20Autor: BCP
Salvation is in Christ alone. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
God’s way to salvation (video)
Post date: 2016-11-14Autor: BCP
God’s way to salvation. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1Cor 14:1)
Post date: 2016-11-11Autor: BCP
“Pursue love.” We should pursue love, true love. Not love which is, in essence, apostasy from Christ and a compromise with the spirit of the world. The word “love” is now very frequently used in the Church. However, this term now includes everything – fornication, betrayal, apostasy from Christ. Everything is “love”; only one thing is not allowed – defending Jesus Christ and loving Him with a pure heart. What is love – true love – “agape”? The manifestation of this love is that I want to be saved and I also want others to obtain salvation; and then whether I endure pain or suffering or carry a cross in union with Christ or I have to tell the truth which hurts, this all is love.
What to do so as not to go to Purgatory?
Post date: 2016-11-04Autor: BCP
We have to be converted, to receive Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. We have to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Holy Spirit. But this is still not enough for escaping Purgatory. So what shall we do? The Word of God says: “He – Jesus – will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Mt 3:11) So this is a very important thing – baptism with fire. Jesus says: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49) Where shall this fire be kindled? In us. It shall purify us. It is a fire of zeal, of pure love for Jesus. A fire that shall burn all manifestations of our pride, self-love, envy, self-pity, criticism, rebellion, impurity, various dependences – on people, things or plans.
Let us do works worthy of eternity
Post date: 2016-11-01Autor: BCP
Before you stand before the judgment seat of God, do your best so as not to stand there with empty hands. We will be judged not only for doing evil. We are obliged to do good – to do works worthy of eternity. We will be judged for what we were obliged to do and did not do. Every good word, every encouragement, every step of faith, every suffering which we accept and bear, every mockery and every persecution for the sake of Christ is of great worth. So let us live by faith. Certainly, we will not be justified through our good works only but we are justified through the righteousness of Christ.
After the promise comes the test and only then the blessing (video)
Post date: 2016-10-29Autor: BCP
After the promise comes the test and only then the blessing. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Let us be men of faith like Abraham (video)
Post date: 2016-10-20Autor: BCP
Let us be men of faith like Abraham. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
To remain faithful to God in essential things (video)
Post date: 2016-10-16Autor: BCP
To remain faithful to God in essential things. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Life becomes fruitful through the cross
Post date: 2016-10-13Autor: BCP
Through the cross our life becomes fruitful, otherwise we would die of apathy or vanity. Many times we do not give thanks for our cross but rather avoid it; however, if we begin to give thanks, the Lord will gradually fill us with joy and we will be happy that we could deny ourselves instead of groaning or being in fear.