THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY. 

 

THE GOSPEL:

"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).

Sunday 15th June 2025 is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Godhead, the adorable Blessed Trinity. One God, three co-equal Persons. Father, Son and Holy Spiri is the revelation of the Son, Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. This truth did not come to us from a philosophical deduction.

It is interesting that the mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed at the end of Christ's earthly ministry. This mystery was revealed in the context of Baptism and Mission of the Church. What could this mean? Jesus Christ became Man so that man can know God, love Him and serve Him and live with God forever. 

The Trinity is a great mystery beyond the intellect of man. We make the sign of the Cross in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Creed teaches us all we need to know about the Holy Trinity, the One Undivided Unity.

"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified."

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY. I PRAY TO ABBA FATHER USING THE LORD'S PRAYER TAUGHT US BY JESUS OUR TEACHER. I PRAY TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD AND SON OF MARY. I EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER, IN HIS INSPIRATIONS AND POWER. THIS IS HOW I KNOW THAT THE TRINITY IS REAL. I BELIEVE BECAUSE THE CHURCH TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE. 

This is the Faith of our Fathers. The Faith revealed by Jesus Christ.

We believe!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

"I beseech Thee Most Sacred Heart, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants." Amen.

Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS ALWAYS KIND AND MERCIFUL.

THE LORD IS KIND AND MERCIFUL. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Bless the Lord, my soul;

    all my being, bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, my soul;

    and do not forget all his gifts,

3 Who pardons all your sins,

    and heals all your ills,

4 Who redeems your life from the pit,

    and crowns you with mercy and compassion,

5 Who fills your days with good things,

    so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." (Psalm 103: 1-5 ).

In today's reflection from the Responsorial Psalm, we join King David in praising the Divine Providence. 

David experienced profoundly Divine Providence in his roller coaster life. Just like Job and Joseph, the Prince of Egypt in the Old Testament. 

When God blesses you, how do you respond? You respond with praises and thanksgiving. This is the lesson for us today. 

How much do you know that the Lord is truly kind and merciful?  (Cf Psalm 103: 8).

On Saturday 14th June 2025, we chant in the Responsorial Psalm that the Lord is kind and merciful. 

Why do we need to remember this important truth?

Because our love for God is in direct proportion to our awareness of God's love for us. In other words, the more we know of God's mercies and kindnesses to us, the more we love Him.

The Catechism teaches us that:

God made us to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him so that we can enjoy eternal life with Him forever.

It is therefore very important to remember all the time that the Lord has been kind and merciful to us.

When we want to remember key facts like doctor's appointments, birth days, court dates, interview dates etc, what do we do? We write them down and place the note where we can easily see it as often as possible.

You do exactly the same with sacred facts like our key Scripture for today. The key to a romantic relationship with God is REMEMBERING! 

Do you have important landmarks in your life? All those key events where you have experienced God's kindness and mercies.

Scripture instructs us never to forget our landmarks. (Cf Proverbs 22: 28). 

Now organize your landmarks into Timeline and “Write down the special dream [landmarks] on stone so that one may read it in a hurry." (Cf. Habakkuk 2: 2). Do this and you will never forget that the Lord is kind and merciful.

The great misfortune of Israel in their Journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was to forget all the marvelous things God did for them. They paid severe penalty for this forgetfulness . It is an axiom that:

OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO OUR AWARENESS OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US. 

The Divine Office teaches:

"T'IS NOT FROM CHANCE SPRINGS ANY OF THE COMFORTS WE ENJOY." 

IT IS FROM THE FATHER’S GRACIOUS ORDAINING. OUR MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL FATHER, WE THANK YOU. 

Every single thing we enjoy in life comes from the mighty and merciful Providence of our Heavenly Father. Without God, we can do absolutely nothing. (Cf John 15: 5).

THE MORE WE KNOW OF GOD'S MERCIES AND KINDNESSES, THE MORE WE RESPOND WITH LOVE. 

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!. 

"Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand." (Cf. Matthew 4: 17).

The Holy Catholic Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

AVOID ANGER!

AVOID ANGER. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your right­eousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You fool, will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”  (Matthew 5: 20 - 26).

Thursday 12th June 2025 in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time. 

Are you a minimalist or one who lives the More in life in everything. A More person is a Magis person. Magis simply means More. It is an attitude of the heart and mind that goes for More in everything and never for the least or minimum.  This is a core principle of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius urged his followers to give more, to be more and to do more. Perhaps this may be one of the reasons the Jesuits excel in many of their understandings. 

In Matthew 5: 20:

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your right­eousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven." 

In other words, the Minimum will never get you into Heaven.  For example, the Church law states that you must receive Holy Communion "at least" once a year. The minimalist rejoices and says to himself:  "This is great. This is easy. I can do this." The Magis person goes for more. Weekly Holy Communion or even daily. 

"Dearest Lord,

teach me to be generous;

teach me to serve You as You deserve;

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labour and not to ask for reward

save that of knowing I am doing Your Will."  (St Ignatius Loyola).

The Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee."

Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

THE MEMORIAL OF ST BARNABAS, APOSTLE.

THE MEMORIAL  OF ST BARNABAS, APOSTLE. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and ­teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 17 - 19).

Wednesday 11th June 2025 is the Memorial of St Barnabas, Apostle. (+ 61).

St Barnabas, a Jew from Cyprus is profiled in Sacred Scripture as: "a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith." You won't find many Bible characters profiled with similar language. What else do we know about St Barnabas?

He was a levite. He discipled Paul the Apostle and mentored John Mark. He was generous in using all his time, talent and treasure in serving the Lord. 

He was a prophet, teacher and evangelist. Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus under the reign of Emperor Nero in 61 AD. Although Barnabas was not one of the original 12 Apostles, Barnabas like Paul had been assigned the title Apostle since ancient times.

"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13: 2).

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Evangelization and Mission commissioned the first Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas.

The Church prays on the Feast of St Barnabas :

"O God, who decreed that Saint Barnabas, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, should be set apart to convert the nations, grant that the Gospel of Christ, which he strenuously preached, may be faithfully proclaimed by word and by deed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son." Amen.

The Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

 Morning Offering Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers and desires, all my sufferings, delays, disappointments and obstacles; all my time, talent and treasure, all my fears, worries and doubts as well as all my weaknesses.  I offer all these on all the altars in the world where the Eucharist is celebrated today and on every Altar where Your Eucharistic Face is present.  I offer them for the remission of my sins, for my family and [Mention the specific intention] and for the Holy Father Pope Leo.  Amen."

Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

SHINE YOUR LITTLE LIGHT.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus said to his disciples:

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 

"Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 13 - 16).

Tuesday 10th June 2025, in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time. 

What is the the meaning of Jesus' word in today's Gospel? You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world? Look no further than in your kitchen. The light in the ceiling of the kitchen allows you to see the cupboards, pots and pans, water taps, etc.

The salt bottle and shaker are placed in a convenient place as you get ready to cook. 

Now you are the salt and the light. Not in your kitchen but in the school, market place, hospital, etc. What do you do as salt and light in these locations? 

Ask Jesus Christ, the Light of the World to give you all you need to be salt and light wherever He places you. 

The Church honors the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus every June. 

 Morning Offering Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers and desires, all my sufferings, delays, disappointments and obstacles; all my time, talent and treasure, all my fears, worries and doubts as well as all my weaknesses.  I offer all these on all the altars in the world where the Eucharist is celebrated today and on every Altar where Your Eucharistic Face is present in the Tabernacle.  I offer them for the remission of my sins, for my family and [Mention the specific intention] and for the Holy Father Pope Leo.  Amen."

Read of the abundant promises made to people who honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus especially in June. 

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1