JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.

YOUR GRIEF WILL BECOME JOY.  

"Jesus said to his disciples: “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” 

"So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 

"So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.” 

"Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?

"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” (John 16: 16 - 20).

Thursday May 9th in the 6th Week in the Easter Season.

YOUR GRIEF WILL BECOME JOY. 

Have you ever had an experience in life when your grief becomes joy?

Jesus gives the best example of child birth when a woman in labor groans in pain but soon experiences the joy of holding a baby in her arms.

YOUR GRIEF WILL BECOME JOY.  This is the word of Jesus, a prophecy to encourage every Christian to persevere in the sometimes challenging day to day trials of remaining faithful to Jesus.

If you want to serve and follow Jesus day after day, you must be imbued with the Holy Spirit. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that you can succeed.

The 2024 Novena of the Holy Spirit starts tomorrow, Thursday the 9th day of May. The 9-days Novena ends on the eve of Pentecost Sunday.

If you have never made this Novena, this may be your most exciting investment in life.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1 

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WILL GUIDE US TO THE FULLNESS OF TRUTH.

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WILL GUIDE US TO ALL TRUTH. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.

"But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.

"He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12 - 15).

Wednesday May 8th 2024 in the 6th Week in the Easter Season. 

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WILL GUIDE US TO ALL TRUTH.

This is the great Promise of Jesus Christ in today's Gospel. So what is Truth? 

God is truth and the foundation of truth. Although the second Person of the Holy Trinity says: I am the truth, the way and the life. Truth and Faithfulness are the essence of each Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

The Holy Spirit is promised to guide us to All Truth. Not partial truth. The scientists do great work and perhaps have discovered less than 2% of reality visible and invisible. But unfortunately, some scientists would like us believe that they have discovered 50% of the truth or reality in the world. 

The Holy Spirit guides us to all truth. We focus here on the truth that concerns Eternal Life. For example:

1. Who is God? 

2. Who is Man and what is his origin and destination? Who is Jesus and why did He become man. 

The Holy Spirit guides the Catholic Church to the fullness of truth.

 The Catholic Church is "the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth." (Cf 1 Timothy 3: 15).

Did you get that? The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. It is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth that makes this possible because of the promise of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is concerned with the Fullness of Truth. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1 

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? 

"The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.

"About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.

"When the ­jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 

"But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

"Then he brought them out and said,

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

"And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”

"So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God." (Acts 16: 22 - 34).

Tuesday 7th May 2024 in the 6th Week in the Easter Season.

Jailer asked: 

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

He got the reply from Paul and Silas: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”

The Jailer might have thought: Is that all? Then it is very easy. We can do it. 

God wants the means of salvation to be very simple and easy. 

What did the Jailer and family need to believe initially? Paul and Silas proclaimed to them the Apostolic Kerygma:

"Christ was born. Christ died. Christ rose from the dead. Christ will come again."

This Apostolic Kerygma or Proclamation is the sole content of early Church catechesis till the Gospel was written about forty years after the death and Resurrection of Jesus. 

For you and me today, the formula to enjoy the fullness of salvation is still the same:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”

Here are some words of Jesus that I believe and repeat often during the day and they empower me to gain mastery over the many trials that beset me during the day. 

"My grace is sufficient for you. For power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9). 

"It is I. Do not be afraid." (John 6: 20). 

"Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God and believe in me also." (Cf John 14: 1).

"If Jesus Christ is my Good Shepherd, what shall I lack? Nothing!" (Cf Psalm 23: 1). 

"All things are possible for God." (Cf Matthew 19: 26).

AND SO MANY MORE CONSOLING SCRIPTURES FOR YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1 

THE GREAT FRIEND AND COMFORTER.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TESTIMONY.  

"Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. 

"I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” (John15:26–16:4a).

Monday 6th of May 2024 in the 6th Week in the Easter Season.

Friday 10th May, the Pentecost Novena starts worldwide to 18th May. 

People who know the power, sweetness, comfort of the Holy Spirit are looking forward to this yearly action and festival of grace. I am eagerly looking forward to it. Holy Spirit every year strengthens me in the gifts He has given me and adds some new ones to meet new challenges.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Most Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

He is the Lord and Giver of life. He gives abundant life to His friends. Abundant life is not silver and gold, bread and wine, houses and all types of luxuries. Abundant life of the Holy Spirit is being filled with the Seven Gifts and Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirity. When you taste these, you will know the difference.

The Holy Spirit is the Author of inspiration and power. He is the driver and power behind Evangelization. No Holy Spirit, no Missionary Work, no Evangelization.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He teaches the Church the fullness of truth about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Church, the World System, etc.

The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Sacred Scriptures and the Interpreter.

If you are not imbued with the Holy Spirit, now is your opportunity. Go for it with great desire, prayer and enthusiasm.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1 

YOU ARE CHOSEN.

YOU ARE CHOSEN. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

"I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” 

"This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 9 - 17).

Sunday May 5th 2024 in the 6th Week in the Season of Easter. 

I feel here and now that I am truly chosen by Jesus. Jesus tells me that: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."

Jesus chose Peter and Paul and the other Apostles. He chose St Catherine of Siena and the other saints. He once chose Trump and other world leaders. Jesus chose you! He chose me. 

Why did Jesus choose the people He chose? For one reason: "TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT THAT WILL REMAIN." 

To bear fruit that will glorify His heavenly Father. 

St Catherine of Siena said that if you know why you are chosen and be it and live it, you will set the world on fire. 

Before you are chosen, you are called by your name and then Chosen and finally anointed (qualified) so that you can accomplish your Mission. 

To deal with the trials and obstacles that are inevitable in your Mission duties, God says to you:

"MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU. FOR POWER IS MADE EFFECTIVE IN WEAKNESS." (2 Corinthians 12: 9). 

Therefore, boost about all your weaknesses: poor health, material poverty, etc. When you do this, you can say to the Father: You say that Your grace is sufficient for me. SHOW ME. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1