WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU TO DO, DO IT WITHOUT DELAY.

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. 

"There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.

” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 

Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” 

So they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”

So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, ­without knowing where it came from—although the servers who had drawn the water knew—, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,

“Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples ­began to believe in him. (John 2: 1 - 12). 

Sunday 19th January 2025, in the 2nd Week of Ordinary Time. 

When wine ran out at the Wedding at Cana, Mary's advice to the servants was simple and precise:  "Do whatever He tells you."  (John 2: 5)  

Today's Gospel shows us the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for her children.

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.

The Church from ancient times did not miss the critical lesson of the Miracle at the Wedding of Cana. 

Scripture teaches that "the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful." (Cf James 5: 15 - 17).

If the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful, how much more the prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary made directly to her Son, Jesus? 

Mary said: They have no wine. She then turned confidently to the servants and said: Do whatever He tells you. Mary did not know what Jesus would do.  But her motherly instinct knew that Jesus would do the best thing under the circumstances.   She taught the disciples to open their hearts to Jesus in confident trust.

We reflect on this passage in the Second Luminous Mystery of the Holy ROSARY. (The Wedding Feast At Cana). 

The confidence of Mary in God's answer to our prayers should be an inspiration to us. 

St Luis Marie de Montfort, Apostle of the Rosary gives us this slogan: TO JESUS THROUGH MARY. Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces. If it pleases Jesus to dispense all graces and favors through His Mother the Virgin Mary, who can say nay to Jesus? He is free to order the means of salvation as He wishes. 

"And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."  (1 John 5 : 14).

"I am your Mother of Perpetual Help and I am the Mediatrix of all graces for my dear children. My eyes of mercy are turned toward you. My Heart is open to you. My hands are ever raised in prayer for you, or open over you to shower abundant graces upon you and upon those for whom you pray." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, December 10, 2007). 

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

“Jesus,
Name full of glory,
grace, love and strength!
You are the refuge of those who repent,
our banner of warfare in this life,
the medicine of souls,
the comfort of those who morn,
the delight of those who believe,
the light of those
who preach the true faith,
the wages of those who toil,
the healing of the sick.
To You our devotion aspires,
by You our prayers are received;
we delight in contemplating You.
O Name of Jesus,
You are the glory of all the saints for eternity.
Amen.  (By St Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1 

THE MEMORIAL OF A GREAT SPIRITUAL WARRIOR: ST ANTHONY THE ABBOT.

MEMORIAL OF ST ANTHONY THE ABBOT. 

WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS?

THE GOOD NEWS OF TODAY:

"When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. 

"They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

"Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

"Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

"He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” (Mark 2: 1 - 12).

Friday 17 January 2025 of the first Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Anthony, Abbot (251 - 356). Also called St Anthony the Great, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Hermit, Anthony of Egypt. 

Anthony inherited vast wealth from his parents who died when he was about 20 years old. 

It is said that Anthony 

"On his way to church one day, he found himself thinking about the words of Jesus, where He said, "Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come follow me."

When he got to church, he heard the preacher speaking on those very words. He took this as a message from God for him, so having provided for the care of his sister, he gave his land to the tenants who lived on it, and gave his other wealth to the poor, and became a hermit, living alone for twenty years, praying and reading, and doing manual labor." 

St Anthony is called the Father of Monasticism. He died at the age of 105.

Great quote of St Anthony:

“The illusions of this world soon vanish, especially if a man arms himself with the Sign of the Cross.

The devils tremble at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord, by which He triumphed over and disarmed them.” (St Anthony the Abbot). 

How do you reckon with sin?

"She [Mary] will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Mary's Son will be named Jesus (Yeshua, that is Savior) because He will save His people [us] from sin.

In our key Scripture for today, we see Jesus answer the challenge of the lawyers as to His power to forgive sin. The background of the story is the crippled man lowered from the ceiling to the presence of Jesus. Jesus could have commanded the man to stand up and go home. But instead He said: “Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2: 5).

Why did Jesus do this? Perhaps to teach that there is a connection between Sin, Suffering and Salvation.

The doctors of the law who challenged Jesus believe that the authority to forgive sins belongs to God alone. They were right. But Jesus is God. Jesus answered them by saying: I will prove to you that as Messiah, I can forgive sins by healing this crippled man. “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”  He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone." (Mark 2: 11 - 12).

Jesus dealt first with the root and source of illness.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world knows more than anyone the intricate connection between Sin, Suffering and Salvation.

Every Sunday, we repeat in the Creed:

"I believe in the forgiveness of sins."

There is no salvation without the elimination of sin. Sin is the one cancer that blocks the benefits of salvation in our lives. 

When Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room after His Resurrection, He first said to them: "Peace be with you." Then He said: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 23). Thus Jesus gave us the great gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also called Confession or Penance.

Some churches have problem about confessing our sins to a priest. 

Let us pray for the grace to learn the truths of our faith and express it in gentleness and works of charity.

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

“The illusions of this world soon vanish, especially if a man arms himself with the Sign of the Cross.

The devils tremble at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord, by which He triumphed over and disarmed them.” (St Anthony the Abbot). 

The devils tremble too at the Most Holy Name of Jesus. 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART TO THE VOICE OF GOD.

HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS. 

"The Holy Spirit says: Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years.

Because of this I was provoked with that generation and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. 

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end." (Hebrews 3: 7 - 14).

An evil and unfaithful heart is one that conveniently forgets all that God has done for him. He is not constant in prayer nor steadfast with acts of devotion.

The word of God wants us to be our brother's keeper.  "Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin."  (Hebrews 3: 13). The lure and the lust of sin are everywhere. This is why the ministry of encouragement is sorely needed in the Church today.

Never forget that without perseverance and constancy we cannot make it to the Kingdom of God. "We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end."  (Hebrews 3: 14).

Brothers and sisters, encourage one another with prayers and the word of God.

There is more stern message from the First Reading today (Hebrews 3: 7 - 14). 

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice,

‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years."  (Hebrews 3: 8 -  10) 

Meribah was the Desert of testing, the combat zone between God and His people.  God tested the people to see if they had an obedient heart.   The people tested God by their obstinacy.  There ensued a battle of two strong wills.  Who won?  It took 40 years to subdue the people. 

Lesson:  "Oh, that today you would hear his voice, ‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion."

How do we hear God? 

God speaks to us through the following ways:

1. Inspiration. 

2. Locution. 

3. Sacred Scripture. 

4. Prophetic utterance of a person. 

5. Dream. 

When God speaks to us and we do not listen, we harden our hearts. 

Where is your Meribah today?  Please yield to God. Do not let your heart be hardened like Pharoah or Nebuchadnezer. Rebellion is worthless. God will always win. 

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January.

“The name of Jesus is the crowning glory of preachers. It is due to him that their preaching and its reception are blessed with extraordinary enlightenment. How else in the world could the fervent light of faith be kindled so suddenly if not by the name of Jesus? It is not by the light of this name that God is said to have called us into his own glorious light? To the enlightened who see light in that light, Saint Paul says: “You were once all darkness; now you are all light in the Lord; walk then as children of the light.” It is not a name to be hidden; it is to be proclaimed for its light to shine. An unclean heart and a sordid mouth are no fit way to speak this name. The preacher should be a choice vessel, holding and proffering this name." (St Bernardine of Siena). 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

JESUS IS OUR GUIDE IN PRAYER.

THE PRAYER HABIT OF JESUS. 

"On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

"Simon’s ­mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

"When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

"Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 

"Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee." (Mark 1: 29 - 39).

Wednesday 15th January 2025 of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time. 

Our key Scripture for today reveals something of the habit and prayer life  of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus taught a great deal about Prayer. He called Prayer a vital necessity. Jesus taught us to pray with expectant faith, with persistence and humility. Prayer is key to the life of faith. St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church says that if you pray, you will be saved. If you do not pray, assume that you are lost.

St John Chrysostom says:

"Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness."

(St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

“If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well.” (St Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

How is your prayer life? Let us consider 3 points:

#1. Time of Prayer:

 For Jesus, we see that His sacred time for prayer is early in the morning. First thing in the day. Note that not when it is convenient. 

#2. Place of Prayer: 

Our Guide to Prayer, Jesus does not pray in the marketplace, Starbucks Café or restaurant. Jesus goes to an isolated place where He can be alone with His Father without distraction and interruption.

#3. Prayer Intention:

 Jesus prays a lot for His ministry and His followers. This is His persistent sacred intention in Prayer. "Father, I pray for those You have given Me..."

Imitation of Christ in Prayer can teach us something from the prayer habits of Jesus to bless our prayer life. The Bible teaches us to:

#1. Pray always.

#2. Pray everywhere.

#3. Pray about everything.

This is the habit of Prayer of Saints. If we can pray like Saints, our faith will grow. Prayer strengthens faith teaches St Teresa of Kolkata. Our mental life will be healthy with regular prayer. We will be able to overcome most of the trials that life hurls at us.

Prayer helps us to appreciate deeply the workings of Divine Providence. This is perhaps one of the striking benefits of a regular prayer life. 

The Church defines Divine Providence:

303 "The witness of Scripture is unanimous that the solicitude of divine providence is concrete and immediate; God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history. The sacred books powerfully affirm God's absolute sovereignty over the course of events: "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases." 162 And so it is with Christ, "who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens". 163 As the book of Proverbs states: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established." 164 (CCC 303).

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

“So great is the Most Holy Name of Jesus that God highly exalted Him and gave Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11). 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS IN HIS WORD AND TEACHING.

A NEW TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY. 

"Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.

"The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

"In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

"Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

"All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

"His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee." (Mark 1: 21 - 28).

The people of Nazareth noticed something exceptional about Jesus the first time He walked into the synagogue as a public figure, a Rabbi.  Their eyes were transfixed on Him as He applied Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah to Himself.

On another Sabbath, Jesus "entered the synagogue and taught.  The people were astonished at his teaching, "for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."  (Mark 1: 21 - 22).

On this occasion, Jesus cast out the demon from a man possessed by an unclean spirit which made the people exclaim: “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

Jesus taught with the authority of Moses and all the prophets combined plus something different: "A new teaching with authority."  (Mark 1: 27). The people did not fail to notice His authority. "It is said [in the law] but I teach this..."

Jesus taught with authority during His public ministry.  He is still teaching  with authority today through the Church.  It is ridiculous  to imagine that Jesus founded a Church without giving the Church real authority to teach.  "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”  (Luke 10: 16). Can you imagine the Supreme Court of the United States without authority to legislate? 

The name of this authority  is the Magisterium.  It comes from the Latin word magister, which means "teacher."  The divine teaching role of the Church stands on 3-legged stool:

#1  Sacred Scriptures

#2  Sacred Tradition

#3  Magisterium

Like the 3-legged stool, each of the legs need each other to support the superstructure.  The teachings of the Magisterium cannot contradict Sacred Scriptures or Sacred Tradition and vice-versa.

Thank You Jesus for making Your Church "the pillar and foundation of truth." (1 Timothy 3: 15).

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

THE NAME OF JESUS IS AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. USE IT. 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE FEAST OF ST HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.

FEAST OF ST HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH 

They abandoned everything and followed Jesus. 

THE GOSPEL:

"After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

"As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

"He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him." (Mark 1: 14 - 20).

Monday 13th January 2025 in the 1st Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (315 - 368). French. 

Why is France called the eldest daughter of the Church? Look at the dates of St Hilary and you will see why. Before 315 AD, the Church hierarchy already existed in France.

Hilary is remembered in history especially for these reasons:

#1. Hilary helped us understand and profess the Divinity of Jesus Christ. This is contained in the Nicene Creed.

#2.  He worked to undermine the Arian heresy which had plagued the Church for a long time.

#3. Hilary developed an authoritative doctrine on the Holy Trinity.

#4. He helped the Church understand the deeper significance of the Incarnation.

Hilary understood that bad theology inevitably leads to heresy. 

Great quote from St Hilary. 

“There is no space where God is not; space does not exist apart from Him. He is in heaven, in hell, beyond the seas; dwelling in all things and enveloping all. Thus He embraces and is embraced by, the universe, confined to no part of it but pervading all.” (St Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

In the Gospel of today, the very first word Jesus uttered in the mission field of Galilee is very important and significant:

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

"The time of fulfillment" or the fullness of time will be sure to catch the attention of any religious Jew. This is why. Every prophecy comes to birth in the fullness of time. 

Does the proclamation of Jesus in today's Gospel has the same urgency for us now as the audience of Jesus in the first century AD? Absolutely sure. 

In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read: "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."

In the fullness of time, Jesus came to Galilee and called four of His first disciples. They heard the Call and left everything and followed Jesus at once. Because it is the fullness of time.

The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January. 

“To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living.”(St John Henry Newman (1801-1890). 

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1