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Reflection on Jn 19:26-27
Post date: 2015-09-11Autor: BCP
Jesus wants us too to be disciples standing by the cross and united by love to Jesus crucified. A disciple forsakes everything for the sake of Christ, even his fear of death, because he knows that Jesus conquered death. In reward for faithfulness in the following of Christ, which is a demonstration of practical love, Jesus gives eternal life.
Reflection on Jn 17:26
Post date: 2015-08-15Autor: BCP
Jesus says that He revealed to the disciples, and to no one else, the mystery of the name of God the Father, which is also the name of Jesus. The Father loves the Son from eternity. He gave Him His name, and Jesus reveals this name to those who are His. This name is Yehoshua – Lord is salvation – Jesus.
Reflection on Jn 15:26
Post date: 2015-02-28Autor: BCP
The Holy Spirit will testify, but Jesus also reminds: “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” (v. 27) This is said about us too. We also should bear witness about Christ at the present time together with the Holy Spirit who is in us and whom Jesus has sent to us from the Father. He is our Counsellor, Comforter and Advocate. He bears witness about Christ through us too! This is an important task: to bear witness about Christ!
Reflection on Jn 15:5; 15:7
Post date: 2014-12-20Autor: BCP
In Jn 15:5, Jesus speaks about the condition and about the fruit, which is unity with Him. In verse 5, He says that He is the vine. “I am the vine.” The Greek original reads: “ego eimi” (I am). These words express the divine nature. Jesus uses the same expression when speaking about the Eucharist: “I am (ego eimi) the bread of life.” (Jn 6:48-51) “You will know that I am (ego eimi) in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (Jn 14:20) In our prayer stops throughout this month we shall repeat the Word of God and realize the deep mystery of “Jesus being in me and I in Him”. Let us realize it by faith at least for one minute during the day.
Reflection on Jn 14:27
Post date: 2014-11-22Autor: BCP
Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jesus says: “…My peace I give to you; not as the world gives…” Do you want to have peace which the world cannot give? Only Jesus gives such peace. Jesus gives peace and joy in suffering and persecution to those who come to Him! He says: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest (peace) for your souls.” (Mt 11:28-29)
Reflection on Jn 14:23
Post date: 2014-10-25Autor: BCP
Jesus said these words the night before His death. These and other words, which He said before His death, are contained in chapters 13-17 of John’s Gospel. Jesus speaks about love which is necessarily connected with the keeping of His commandments. Jesus the Son of God acts as the Law-giver on His own authority. He repeats several times: “But I say to you…” Jesus does not abolish the Decalogue; on the contrary, He points out its essence. He points to the root of sin, lusts, pride, hatred, revenge. Christ makes more accurate the commandments of the Decalogue.
Reflection on Jn 14:21
Post date: 2014-10-11Autor: BCP
True love for Jesus is connected not only with the receiving of the Word but there is also one condition: the keeping of His commandments. In fact, it means the following of Christ, which involves the loss of our soul for His sake: “Whoever loses his soul for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” If a disciple keeps Christ’s commandments, he will be loved by the Father and by Jesus, and Jesus will manifest Himself to him (see v.21). “We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (v.23) We thus become a living tabernacle like the Blessed Virgin. So the knowledge of Christ cannot be acquired through theological, philosophical or psychological studies but only through love – agape – which becomes manifest not in phrases but in the following of Christ, i.e. in the keeping of Christ’s commandments.
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.
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).
Reflection on Jn 14:13-14
Post date: 2014-08-30Autor: BCP
These words, uttered by Christ on the evening before His death, are a continuation of the preceding words by which Jesus revealed to the Apostles the mystery of interior unity between Him and the Father. The uniting love between you and Christ is conditioned by true repentance, i.e. by keeping Christ’s commandments (see Jn 14:15.21.23). To ask in Jesus’ name does not mean just to utter the phrase “in the name of Jesus Christ” spiritlessly. It means to be in interior unity with Christ through true repentance (see Mk 1:15). If you are in unity with Him, then you surely ask according to the will of Christ, which is also the will of the Heavenly Father.
Reflection on Jn 14:9-10
Post date: 2014-08-02Autor: BCP
Jesus speaks about the interior knowledge through faith and enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. The truth that the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father is a mystery. Christ declares this mystery to us and the Holy Spirit guides us into it. It is not sufficient to see Christ physically. The Pharisees and scribes could see Christ and all the miracles, and even make sure of His physical resurrection, but they remained spiritually blind. The knowledge of Christ requires a simple heart. The Father reveals this mystery to the childlike rather than the wise and clever. Jesus clearly says to Philip: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” He does not mean physical but spiritual seeing. He who receives Christ also receives the Father by faith.
Spiritual gifts, ministries and manifestation
Post date: 2014-07-24Autor: BCP
The will of God for us is revealed in the Scripture. In the First Epistle to the Corinthians, we read clearly: “Pursue love, and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts!” So it tells us to desire eagerly, not carelessly or idly, and we should not say in false humility that we are not worthy of it. For who is worthy of being eternally saved? And what is more – the gift or the Giver? To be saved means to share in divine life. And eternal life already begins on earth. And then: “God wills everyone to be saved.” (1Tim 2:4)
Reflection on Jn 14:6
Post date: 2014-07-19Autor: BCP
Jesus says about Himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus said to the Jews: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (Jn 8:58) They took up stones to throw at Him, for the name of God is “HE WHO IS”. Jesus says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the Truth. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. Jesus said to those who believed in Him: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn 8:32) He does not speak about an abstract truth but about Divine Truth in the flesh, i.e. about Himself. Jesus also says that He is the Life. The contrary of life is death, both temporal and eternal. Jesus gives us eternal life, and He Himself is Eternal Life. He says: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (Jn 11:25)
Reflection on Jn 14:1-2
Post date: 2014-07-04Autor: BCP
Chapter 14 captures deep truths concerning the mystery of the inner unity with Christ and the Heavenly Father. This mystery is also related to the Holy Spirit. Jesus uttered these truths on the evening before His death. In verse one, Jesus says: “Let not your heart be troubled…” These words also refer to you personally. Every day we face situations in which our heart is troubled; we feel tension and fear, see how evil and lies destroy the truth and good… What to do to let not our heart be troubled but find true peace? Jesus offers a simple solution: “You believe in God, believe also in Me.” And how to believe? To believe that God is almighty and next, that if He sends on us suffering, He always provides a way out. He either gives us the light and strength or solves the situation Himself.
Reflection on Jn 13:14-15
Post date: 2014-06-21Autor: BCP
What does it mean for us to wash one another’s feet if we want to be true followers of our Lord and Teacher? It means little self-humiliations in relation to my brother in Christ. His soul is marked by sin, various bad habits which annoy me, and gestures which I automatically condemn. But these evil habits, sins and all spiritual dirt of his have already been cleansed by the Blood of Christ. My task is just to wash his feet. It means that I humble myself before my brother, which penetrates his heart and causes his soul to be cleansed! At the same time, this service of mine cleanses my soul also, and my brother benefits from it too.
Reflection on Jn 12:27-28
Post date: 2014-06-07Autor: BCP
In verse 27, Jesus speaks about His soul: “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?” And Jesus Himself answers: “But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” These words are an example for us too. In verse 26, Jesus says: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.” Jesus did not use the word servant but slave (doulos).A slave belongs wholly to his earthly master and has no right to leave him, being his property. The earthly master can do with him anything he likes.We humans are not mere servants but slaves of sin! Sin is our master and we are its slaves. But we refuse to admit it. Who will make us free? Jesus, the Son of God, alone! He makes us free indeed.
Reflection on Jn 12:24-25
Post date: 2014-05-24Autor: BCP
The mystery of a grain of wheat is not a matter of philosophy but of the practical following of Christ. It is about renouncing our will in every-day life. One form is to give thanks for everything. Not to blaspheme or grumble in suffering but to accept it as purgatory on earth and to give thanks to God, being aware of one’s own sins.
Reflection on Jn 11:23-25
Post date: 2014-05-10Autor: BCP
The Blessed Virgin said: “How can this be?” How can impossible things become possible? And the reply was: “The Holy Spirit shall do it!” We do not need to know how but who will do it. She said: “I am the slave of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” And Elizabeth testified: “You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.” You are blessed too if you believe God. The Holy Spirit will raise Ukraine to life. The Holy Spirit will raise up heroes of faith in Ukraine. The Holy Spirit will unmask the spirit of lies and death. The Holy Spirit will bring to life the dry bones of the Ukrainian people. How? By His divine power. Through whom? Through you. “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
Reflection on Jn 10:27-28
Post date: 2014-04-26Autor: BCP
Who is a shepherd, a bishop or priest, after the example of Christ? Which of the bishops or priests cares in the first place to feed the sheep entrusted to him with sound doctrine? Which of these shepherds is ready to give his life for the sheep? Many of them are no true shepherds but mere hirelings. Jesus emphasizes that His sheep hear His voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus repeats several times that He is the Good Shepherd, and knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He gives His sheep eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of His hand.
Reflection on Jn 9:35-38
Post date: 2014-04-12Autor: BCP
Chapter nine of John’s Gospel describes in detail the event relating to the healing of the blind man and the spiteful reaction of the religious leaders – the Pharisees and the scribes. There are three kinds of blindness: physical blindness when man is sightless, mental blindness when man is bereft of reason and spiritual blindness when man does not believe in God. Just as in the times of Christ, so also today there are people who reject Christ and are spiritually blind, though they are able to see and sane in mind. The main reason why people do not believe is that they do not want to. They do not want to accept the way of salvation which God offers them. Everyone needs personal experience with God. No theological study can substitute for this personal faith. The living faith is poured into our hearts by God. It is His gift. We receive this gift in our personal encounter with Him.