TAKE NOTHING FOR THE JOURNEY.
"Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
"He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
"He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”
"So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them." (Mark 6: 7 - 13).
Sunday 14th July 2024 in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time.
Jesus said to His disciples as He sent them off to practice evangelization: "Take nothing for the journey."
Why? In order to separate the sheep from the goats. Those disciples who could not obey this instruction could leave for home from the mission field.
Total dependence on God, absolute trust in God for provision and protection must be learned by the disciples; first theoretically and then put into practice every day in the missionland.
"My grace is sufficient for you," Jesus told the Apostle Paul. This grace is sufficient for all your provision and protection. And Jesus added: "For power is made perfect in weakness." God's almighty power is designed to kick in when we are genuinely weak.
When Paul heard and understood this divine law, he danced for joy and shouted: "Now I can rejoice in all my weaknesses. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (Cf 2 Corinthians 12: 9).
Brethren, this same promise is today yours to appropriate and enjoy.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
Feast of St Henry II. Holy Roman Emperor.
"Jesus said to his Apostles:
“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.
"What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
"Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 10: 24 - 33).
Saturday July 13th 2024 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
(973 - 1024). Henry II was German.
Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII as Emperor Henry II. He was a powerful man of the world, a man of war and international politics.
Emperor Henry became a saint. It shows that anyone can become a saint. Henry used his wealth and power with the cooperation of his saintly wife to promote the Kingdom of God by supporting missionary work and establishment of monasteries. In spite of his cares of the earthly Roman Empire, his gaze was on Heaven, the eternal Kingdom.
Our key Scripture for today plunges us into the profound mystery of Divine Providence.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
The above text establishes God's hierarchy of being. God created sparrows and human beings. God takes care of sparrows who live for a few years. They die and that is the end of the story.
God created man and woman in His image and likeness. He created them for eternal life.
Jesus teaches us today that if God takes care of the sparrow, it is ridiculous to imagine that He takes less care of human beings. No! God established a higher level of Divine Providence for human beings.
Let us renew our faith in the loving and merciful Providence of the Almighty God.
Jesus-Emmanuel, I trust in Your merciful love. I remain steadfast in Your love. I do not depend on my filthy works. (USELESS CREDENTIALS).
I surrender myself completely to You. Take care of everything Your way according to Your Plan for my life.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WILL SPEAK THROUGH YOU IN EMERGENCY.
"Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
"But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
"Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
"You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
"When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10: 16 - 23).
Friday 12th July in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time.
We reflect on the awesome promise of Jesus to His present and future disciples.
"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
Brethren, I love this promise. I have enjoyed it a number of times. The first time was in college when I was facing a panel of hostile lawyers. Suddenly I took aim at their top gun and shouted "What you say has no point in law." I did not know what I was saying. But those words changed the tide of the confrontation.
St Paul wrote:
"At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. . . . The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. (2 Timothy 4:9–22).
My brothers and sisters, trust the Lord Jesus, He delivers in all His promises.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
“Every time a creature offers up this Blood by which he was redeemed, he offers a gift of infinite worth, which can be equaled by no other!”. (St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
FEAST OF ST BENEDICT, ABBOT AND FOUNDER OF THE BENEDICTINES.
"Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
"Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
"Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick.
"The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” (Matthew 10: 7 - 15).
Thursday, July 11th 2024 in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity: St Benedict of Nursia, Abbot. (480 - 547). Italian and founder of the Benedictine Order.
His twin sister St Scholastica embraced religious life and became a leader in monastic movement for women.
St Benedict is the co-patron saint of Europe. He is also the patron saint of monks, witchcraft, diseases among others. His rules for monastic life is still widely used. His motto is: "Pray and Work."
Jesus commands us in today's Gospel:
"Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons."
Do you believe that Jesus actively heals today through believers that believe and practice what He teaches about healing?
I have been healed on numerous occasions by Jesus.
I believe in prayer.
I believe in the word of God.
I believe in miracle.
I believe in medicine and science.
I surrender everything to God to act according to His will.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
“Don’t hold yourselves cheap, seeing that the creator of all things and of you estimates your value so high, so dear, that he pours out for you every day the most precious blood of his only-begotten Son.” (St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN YOU.
"Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
"The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
"Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10: 1 - 7).
Wednesday 10th July 2024 in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time.
Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles to proclaim this truth: "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Today, Jesus is saying to you and me: "My Kingdom is at hand."
Do you see and recognize any signs of the Kingdom in you? In your family and friends?
The Church is the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth.
When we gather for the Eucharist on Sunday, we see vividly many signs of the Kingdom. We see the altar with beautiful flowers.
We notice the priests robed in beautiful Sunday vestments. We notice men, women and children dressed gaily in their Sunday best to honor the Lord. These are just a few of the signs of the Kingdom of God in the Church in the world.
How does the Kingdom of God grow inside us? It grows through the daily journey of faith: the 7 - Way Plan:
1. Prayer.
2. Word of God.
3. Eucharist.
4. Reconciliation.
5. Examination of conscience.
6. Spiritual Reading.
7. Faith-sharing /Ministry.
What changes your life is not what you know but what you do daily, every day.
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
“Precious Blood, ocean of divine mercy: Flow upon us! Precious Blood, most pure offering: Procure us every grace! Precious Blood, hope and refuge of sinners: Atone for us!" (St Catherine of Siena).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
Feast of ST Augustine Zhao & Companion Martyrs.
"A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
"The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
"Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.
"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 9: 32 - 38).
Tuesday 9th July 2024, of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine Zhao, Chinese priest and martyr and 119 of his companion martyrs.
These 120 martyrs died between 1648 and 1930. Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese soldier and after his conversion was ordained a diocesan priest. He was martyred in 1815.
The Chinese martyrs were beatified in groups at various times. On the 1st of October 2000, Pope St John Paul II canonized the 120 martyrs in Rome.
We see in our key Scripture for today the compassion of Jesus for the crowds who were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. He healed many of their diseaae and illness and preached to them the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Yet Jesus was sad because the need is so great and the human resources needed for the work are paltry.
The Lord has given us today two incredible and powerful tools for Evangelization and Cathechesis:
#1. The Internet.
#2. Music
On the Internet for example, millions wander about troubled, seeking spiritual nourishment. There are great possibilities for catechesis and evangelization through the social media. The social media, viz: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, etc are the Mission Field of Today.
Music is a powerful tool for the New Evangelization. Both the young and the old love music. Music is one of the first blessings we shall recognize in Heaven. There is today abundant Christian music. They have good theology and lyrics. Subscriptions are available and affordable through Amazon Music and Google YouTube Music and others.
If you want to learn more about what the Catholic Church believes and teaches, click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2021/03/compendium-of-catholic-teachings.html?m=1
The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.
“Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified before they ascend to Your divine altar.” (St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi).
Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ purify and heal us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ click the link below:
