The greatest power is the almighty power of God. By His almighty power God created the whole universe out of nothing – millions of stars, our Earth… By the almighty power of God Christ was raised from death. And He gives us a share in this power; He gives us His authority – “in My name”. We cannot act in our name, demons would laugh at us. When a policeman in a uniform waves at a driver on the road, everyone has to respect him and stop. If someone else waves, the driver is not bound to respect it and he can go on. The policeman has power – authority.

Let us confess like Peter: “Lord, I have sinned!” What was the encounter of Peter with the risen Jesus like? Why did Jesus not appear e.g. to John? Why did He appear to Peter who had betrayed Him, denied Him with an oath? Peter sinned out of weakness but he loved Jesus sincerely. And Jesus gave him a chance. Peter confessed: “Lord, I have betrayed You.” And then Jesus asked him: “Do you love Me?” He answered: “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Even if your sins are many, Jesus asks if you love Him and if you believe Him; if you believe that He died for you and took all your sins on Himself. That is the main thing. Therefore, confess to Him: “Jesus, You are the Lord of my life. You are my Saviour. You died on the cross for me. Your blood was shed for my sake, that my sins may be forgiven. You also deliver me from the bondage of original sin, from the chains which are in me.”

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. For the Apostle James says: “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (Jam 1:6) Jesus says: “Do not doubt but believe!” In what? Not in our own strength, our skills or experience… Yes, we need to have experience and we can use it in the fight, but the main thing is to have a connection to the “centre” – to Jesus.

The wars in the past were won by those who had strong arms, later on by those who had good weapons. Today, it is enough if there is a control panel and someone who can operate it. He can see everything before him, and just fires missiles in one direction or another, exactly to the target they are intended to reach – for example, an underground bunker. The missile flies to a designated spot, and another one behind it with absolute precision… This is just simple technology controlled by the human mind behind which is the inventive human spirit. But there is another struggle – spiritual struggle.

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.

What it means can be illustrated by the following example: A man in a white coat sits at the control panel in a nuclear power station and watches the monitor before him. He does not take the trouble to emotionally experience the process that occurs during nuclear fission. He only needs to be concentrated and to know exactly what reaction occurs when he presses certain buttons, e.g. a certain amount of energy is released which has an effect on something, sets something in motion etc. He can increase or decrease the efficiency of the power plant or even stop it completely. All he does is be concentrated, and monitor and control the process.

What should our attitude be toward God, His providence and the mystery of sin in the world, in us and in the Church? Again, we need to humble ourselves. When Job complained, God said to him: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” Our understanding is very limited! We must not complain but rather accept with humility and in faith everything that God allows in our life. Then God will give us the light and reveal to us the mysteries of good and evil one after another both in our life – i.e. in practice – and in the Holy Scripture, and through our humility and surrender (love) He Himself will teach us and open our eyes.

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). Let us try to see positive things about others, and if they sin or cause offence, let us bear it patiently. Let us try to realize that they may be attacked by temptations which we cannot understand, and let us humble ourselves in our thoughts and feelings by realizing that we have been endowed with abundant grace and have so often wasted it, let us think of our empty words, our constant grumbling, self-will etc.

Let us trace back to early childhood. You can ask yourself: How did pride manifest itself? Some children behaved in a stubborn way when they did not get what they wanted, some indulged in self-pity (usually highly sensitive children). You can also recall your behaviour towards other children. As early as then, the basic form of ego manifested itself, adapted itself or altered its appearance but it was true both then and now: Alas! 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.

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 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. Therefore we need to draw strength from prayer, from a living fellowship, from God’s Word. The devil forms public opinion which is not based on the truth but rather on a lie, and puts pressure on each of us. We need to be wise and must not allow mass media to manipulate us. Today mass media are in the hands of those who promote films leading to moral decay. Even the news manipulates people. Today the official church newspapers and magazines spread the spirit of the world. They do not lead Christians to realize the essential things nor encourage them to follow Jesus in earnest.

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.

“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. Even when I have to hurt someone unto salvation, e.g. to point out his heresies. This all is love because I want this person to be saved.

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. This all must be burnt by this fire. Jesus will then truly be our Lord. Otherwise it is a mere phrase. We need this fire. This fire is also connected with martyrdom. “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you shall be My witnesses (martyres).” (Acts 1:8)

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. Indeed, our salvation is in Christ – this is the foundation of Christianity, but the question is what we build on this foundation: wood and straw or the works of gold done in union with Christ.

There are different forms of the cross. Today we have one cross, tomorrow we will have another. 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. We will be happy that we can do the will of God, and His will shall penetrate us at last.

It is necessary for the Orthodox priests to resolve to devote at least one and a half days a week to God and their souls in prayer and reflection on God’s Word. This would lead to the spiritual resurrection of all Russia and Ukraine.

An Orthodox priest has his own family. It would be enough if these married priests spent less than two days in prayer and fellowship. After a certain period of time, they could discuss together in fellowship the problem of mutual unity on the basis of the fact that they will first begin to perceive their outward sins which arouse indignation in the faithful and cause them to leave the Church, be it e.g. love of money, overbearing manner and clerical pride, or their ill-behaved children which cause outrage… Finally, they would come to the conclusion: indeed, we must stop being schizophrenics at last, we must stop preaching one way and living another way, and then our family will really be a model, a living Gospel for the whole parish.