“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,

even the death of the cross.“

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,

even the death of the cross.”

What mind was in Christ Jesus? And therefore, what mind should be in us? Not the proud mind of the spirit of the world. Rather, Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

In what did His great humiliation consist? In this: Being in very nature God, co-equal with the Father, He made Himself nothing, humbled Himself and took on human nature. Jesus was obedient to the Heavenly Father also in that He accepted the means of our salvation – death on the cross.

Martyrs and Other Saints

+ Elijah – Tuptalo

January

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Original sin is in every one of us. It is inborn stupidity which deceives us all our life. We must fight against it. That is why Jesus says: “Deny yourself!” Deny that lie in you which wants to harm you, leads you by the nose into self-destruction and finally into hell. That’s our pride. If someone points out our fault or tells us that we are proud, we are mortally offended. How foolish we are! We should be grateful to everyone who tells us: you are such and such. Even if someone spat in our face, we should be thankful: “Really, maybe I do not yet understand what you tell me but I am aware of my sins…” If you are humble, the devil flees. Let us walk in the truth and we will fear nothing. Or else, how shall we stand before the judgment seat of God where eye witnesses will accuse us?

+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

“If you do not forgive others their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“

“If you do not forgive others their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

For two weeks, the word of life will remind us of the necessity of forgiveness. If we forgive others, the Lord enlightens our minds and we understand that we also have hurt others and need forgiveness. Therefore, it is good to know and adopt a life principle expressed in the short prayer: “My God, I forgive this person, and I pray that You also forgive me, for I have hurt and offended many, and I was blind to my own guilt and unwilling to admit it.” Every act of forgiveness marks a spiritual breakthrough. It is no good philosophizing or theologizing about it. You need to make this step. And then you will experience peace and the light of understanding that you have never had before. You will gain the assurance that when you ask for God’s mercy, God forgives your sins because you have fulfilled the condition and forgiven your brother from your heart.

+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

January 19, 2026

The basic condition of our salvation is repentance. Jesus warns us, “Unless you repent, you will all perish.” He says at the beginning of the gospel, “Repent, and believe in the gospel!”

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“I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …

I have set you an example.“

I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …

I have set you an example.

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the apostles an example of deep humility. He did not act as one who is to be served, but as one who himself serves. He washed the apostles’ feet. This was a task performed by slaves. We know how much this shocked the apostles. The apostle Peter, in particular, resisted strongly. In the end, however, he obeyed.

Jesus says: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” It is also possible, from time to time in small communities – perhaps once a year, to make such a gesture, where brothers wash one another’s feet. Some non-Catholics even practise this more often. Washing another brother’s feet, and also allowing one’s own feet to be washed, is a gesture of humility, especially when a person does it sincerely, with awareness of their own guilt, which they may not have recognized for a long time.

When asked who can actually be saved, Saint Anthony the Hermit answered emphatically: “Only the humble.” That means those who have dethroned their self-confident ego and made Jesus the king of their soul instead.

+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate

Jesus loves you; He puts His trust in you. Never say that something is beyond your power. God always gives us the strength. Trust in God’s Word which says: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Do not believe in the words of the devil who says: You can’t stick it any longer! These are the devil’s words, and the old self like a cunning fox full of pride is inclined to believe this nonsense and lies over and over again!

Each day has enough trouble of its own, but I need to give it to the Lord. Don’t let it worry me, and if I must carry it, so let me carry it together with Jesus – Jesus and I. Only one thing is needed: together – Jesus and you!!! Jesus and I, together! Never more alone! We need to try it in practice not just every day but a number of times a day. And not just for one or two days but until death. This is the miraculous remedy for everything: union with Jesus!!!

“My brothers, do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.“

My brothers, do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

What is true freedom in Christ? It does not mean casting aside God’s laws and commandments, allowing the proud ego to indulge its unrestrained bodily desires and commit evil without remorse. Human freedom does not consist in the inviolability of the ego, which, in its pride, wants to have the final say, even over God’s word. This would be false freedom, leading to destruction. Freedom in Christ means that a person accepts the path of truth – that is, repentance – and denies himself, his own pride. He is aware of the law of the grain of wheat, which must die in order for new life to come. He thus fully recognizes the reality that the pride of our ego – untouchable and easily offended – must be called by its true name. He is conscious of this spiritual poison within the human heart, within himself, from which all wars and crimes arise and which is also the cause of eternal condemnation. On the throne of our soul sits the proud ego. It must be cast down!

Holiness consists in the fact that we stand in the light every day and repent immediately of our self-will, stubbornness or pride which rebels against God. We need to become aware of our sins which we have committed in our life, to bow our head and to confess: “Lord, I have done this and this, and now I have rebelled against You again…” In this way, we immediately bring the spirit of pride to light, so it flees very quickly and we receive peace and light for the next steps. All rebellion, self-pity… must be nailed to the cross daily, at all times. Without this it is not possible to truly follow Christ and to be delivered from sin. Only then will God’s Word be true in our life: “Christ lives in me.” Otherwise Christ cannot live in us but it is the old self which lives in us and has its own programme – hell both here on earth and after death. The old self serves the devil and is ready even to lay down its life for his sake. We must burn with holy anger: “STOP! There must be an end to it! I know whom I have believed and whom I serve! The programme for me is Jesus. He is my Way. He is my Life. I will not serve myself or my old self!”