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The essence of Christianity
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. Moreover, we must be prepared for persecution. A fight with the spirit of antichrist is going on and destroying the Church little by little. It was our duty to stand against this whole system. It will seek to attack and destroy us.
Unity in a community
What is necessary for us Christians to live a true life? How can we achieve unity among us? This is the most needful and, at the same time, the most difficult thing. Often it is not possible to speak about the problems of others in the community or to point to the root: “Look, you have such fault, you need to do something about it. You cling to this thing and attitude, and you deprive yourself of 90% of the blessing and all the graces which God has given you.” If you say this to someone, the old self (i.e. our corrupt nature) reacts by taking offence and fleeing both from the community and from Christ. What’s that? The problem is, too, that we are mostly under pressure, exposed to a spiritual fight, and so it is not possible to tell a brother about his faults because he would not have the strength to continue to fight.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways be mindful of Him, and He will make straight your paths.” (Pro 3:5-6)
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.
The consequence of original sin: we easily accept lies
+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Practical spiritual advice /5/ – Pearls
Pearls
- Psalm 86:5 For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abundant in mercy to those who call upon You.
What does this Psalm say about God? He is good, forgiving and abundant in mercy. But only to those who call upon Him. Those who do not call upon Him, refuse His help, or do not even admit that they need His help, are like starving people whom you give bread and they turn away from you. They don’t want! They don’t want good, they don’t want life, so what can you do? The condition of salvation is: …to those who call upon Him.
- Eph 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
How are we forgiven? We are forgiven through His blood.
Reflection on Jn 14:15-16
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.
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. Repeat the words: “Jesus said to the disciple and now says to me and to the inhabitants of the (Lvov) region: ‘Behold, your mother.” Then pray with your spirit and mind for about a minute, and say in the end: “I receive Your mother on both my and their behalf.” Pray again for the particular regions of Ukraine, standing in the column of light, and make an act of faith – i.e. accept Christ’s testament – on your behalf and on behalf of the inhabitants of the particular region.
The Word of Life – Jn 14:15-16 (14/9/14 – 28/9/2014)
If you love Me, keep My commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you forever.
We must watch over small matters of vital importance
+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Sin makes people and whole nations unhappy
+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
Practical spiritual advice /4/ – True and false repentance
1Jn 1:7 “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from every sin.”
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin if we walk in the light. What does it mean to walk in the light? To confess our sins is the first step in the light.
The second step in the light is to fix our spiritual eyes on Jesus crucified and to receive His forgiveness by faith. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn 1:9) 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. God did promise the forgiveness of sins but He did not promise you tomorrow. I must not rely on God’s goodness, sinning. I must resist sin: I won’t sin! I won’t! I must cut off a sinful thought or feeling and start to think about something different.
