Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was stabbed while delivering a sermon that was being live-streamed online this week, has revealed he is doing ‘fine’ and has forgiven his alleged attacker.
Mari Emmanuel was preaching at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney when a 16-year-old boy walked up to the altar and began stabbing him.
The Bishop was later rushed to Liverpool Hospital, where he spent the last few days recovering.
He later broke his silence from his hospital bed in a recorded statement.
The Bishop said he was recovering ‘very quickly’ and that there was no need to be concerned.
He then went on to urge everyone to be ‘Christ-like’ in the wake of riots in the immediate aftermath of the alleged attack.
“I’m doing fine,” he said.
“The Lord Jesus never taught us to fight. The Lord Jesus never taught us to retaliate,” Bishop Emmanuel said.
“The Lord Jesus never said to us an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
“The Lord Jesus said, ‘Never return evil with evil but to return evil with good.'”
“So my beloveds, I want you to always be calm.”
“We need to be always law abiding citizens as well.’
“Above all, we are Christians and we need to act like it.”
Bishop Emmanuel thanked the Lord for “whatever happened to me personally.”
“It’s a huge blessing for me,” he said.
The Bishop also had a message for his attacker.
“I say to him ‘You’re my son. I love you and I will always pray for you’,” Bishop Emmanuel said.
“And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well, in Jesus’ mighty name.”
H added that he “has love for everyone” of all religions.
“I have nothing in my heart but love for everyone, whether that person is a Christian or not,” he added.
“The Lord Jesus always told us to love one another.”
“Love God, I love your neighbor like yourself. Whoever that neighbor is, we need to love them and respect them as we love and respect ourselves.”
Bishop Emmanuel ended his message by reminding worshippers to reflect Christ in their lives and to respect the law.
“The Lord Jesus never said to go out and fight in the street,” he said.
“He never said to retaliate but pray, which is what I’m asking everyone to do.”
“God bless you all, we will see you soon and go back to our normal duties once again in serving the Lord from the heart,” he said.
The Daily Mail reported:
Father Isaac Royel, who was also injured in the alleged attack, was released from hospital on Wednesday.
Police also made their first arrest over the riot following the alleged attack.
A man, 19, was arrested in Doonside in Sydney’s west on Wednesday night. Police expect to make more arrests.
Father Daniel Kochou condemned the ‘unnecessary and disturbing’ actions of rioters in the video message released by the church.
“The unfortunate events which took place outside the church caused unnecessary delays and threats to both victims, paramedics and police,” he said.
“The Church does not condone the activities which took place whereby several persons were injured, property damaged and delays in rendering much-needed assistance.”
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