bishopwarda

Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil-IRAQ

[bishopwarda @bishopwarda]

Faith, in its essence, is not only the opposite of doubt. It is also the opposite of that closure caused by fear. Faith is a going out of oneself, out of the circle of anxiety, toward trust in a living person.

For this reason, the true confrontation with fear is not to deny it but to transform it into a point of encounter with God. This happens when I say, "Yes, I am afraid, but despite this, I choose to trust." Here the heart begins to open again.

Only then does the human person begin to see what had been hidden from him: that God was present all along, working in silence, and waiting only for us to open to Him the door of faith.

Faith is openness, it is courage, it is the decision to trust, not because I understand everything, but because I know the One in whom I believe. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

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As for the fearful person, he searches only for what confirms his fears, not for what reveals the presence of God. His eyes become ready to see danger, not grace; and his ears become ready to hear bad news, not the word that gives life.

In this way, little by little, the human person enters into a kind of spiritual blindness: God is working, but he does not see Him. God is speaking, but he does not hear Him. This is not because God is absent, but because fear has filled all the inner space.

Here we understand why the Lord Jesus says, "Do not be afraid; only believe.” It is as if He opens a window in this closure and redirects the heart from within.

Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

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For the work of God often does not come according to our prior calculations, nor within what we consider “safe” or “guaranteed.” God works in surprise, in weakness, and in what seems impossible. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

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The fearful person tends to withdraw. He does not take risks & does not open himself & does not trust. He searches for safety at any price, even if this safety is only an illusion. He prefers narrow control to free openness. What is more dangerous than all this is that such closure prevents him from seeing the work of God. Mar Polis III Nona

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With great joy, I congratulate my dear brother and companion in study, priestly ministry, and episcopal service, His Beatitude Mar Paul III Nona, on his enthronement today as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church. May the Lord bless and strengthen him in this new mission, and grant him many years of fruitful service for our Church and people.
Congratulations, Your Beatitude.

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Pope Leo’s inspiring words and warm encouragement to the Chaldean Church worldwide, honouring its rich history, tradition and steadfast mission in Christ despite persecutions, and guiding our selection criteria of the next Patriarch, continue to resonate deeply in our hearts.

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To my dear friend from seminary days , Patriarch Mar Paul 111 Nona, you have my deep & heartfelt congratulations, my prayers for leading us in unity in shepherding our people worldwide. You are made of holiness “honesty, mercy, and purity of heart” & will lead our Church as such.

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The Chaldean bishops gather in the Holy City of Rome to prayerfully discern whom the Holy Spirit is calling to serve as the next Patriarch. As brothers in Christ, we seek wisdom & guidance in our decisions for the good of our Church & its future. We humbly seek your prayers.

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Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Listen to the risen Jesus: He is always with us, especially in His true Presence in the Eucharist

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Despite the dangers posed by drones, families bravely gathered in steadfast faith for Good Friday services. They continued visiting churches and parishes, remaining in prayer to the crucified Jesus until late into the evening: a powerful witness of faith, hope and charity.

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In Ankawa, amid the fears of war, our hope remains alive: the God who formed humanity from dust and breathed into it the breath of life is the same Lord who took bread, blessed it, and made it His Body, giving us new life in the Eucharist.

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Our Palm Sunday processions have not taken place due to security concerns, but every parish church was full as was St Joseph’s Cathedral ; voices lifted in praise, singing “hosanna” to our Lord, praying for His protection and for peace in the Middle East. In Him we trust.

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Despite pastoral programmes being cancelled due to drone activity, we prepare for Holy Week commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion & Resurrection of Jesus Christ. His first words to His disciples: “Peace be with you.” That is His love & gift to the world & we must listen to Him.

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Can we continue to live here without int’l support? Do our children have the chance to live decent lives & practice their faith, find work? Must we leave everything behind as we are rejected in our homelands? Our crucial role is to keep the voice of Jesus here & our communities.

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The greatest threat to Christians in the Middle East is not just danger, it is the loss of hope & community. Families are forced to leave in search of dignity & a future for their children. Our strength is resilience, but this alone is not enough. We need int’l support to remain

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“When the scale of values is disturbed & evil becomes mixed with good, individuals & groups consider only their own interests, not those of others. The result is that the world is not yet a home of true brotherhood”. Gaudium et Spes: The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965)

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Jesus' teaching is marked by open dialogue with all the flaws of humanity that still remain in the whole world. Dialogue is vital for mercy, love of neighbour, to listen deeply, respond truthfully & act compassionately. We pray for dialogue to stop wars & to care for the other.

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‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Matthew 5:43-44. Jesus challenges our attitude toward hatred, revenge, dehumanisation & to see everyone as a unique soul to be treated with dignity.

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A self-righteous world is confident in knowing everything & can see clearly in everything. They insist what they say is obvious. Confidence in one’s own understanding can blind us to deeper truths. Only by listening, dialogue, wisdom & understanding can we grow together in peace.

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Our prayers & thoughts for those souls killed in drone attacks in Erbil & elsewhere. Each life is sacred & we pray for their families & communities who are grieving. We are all souls created by God to love thy neighbour as thyself. The 6th Commandment says thou shalt not kill.