THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA, THE MOTHER OF ALL THE CHURCHES IN THE WORLD.

THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA. 

"Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.

 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables,

 and to those who sold doves he said, 

“Take these out of here,

 and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, 

Zeal for your house will consume me.

 At this the Jews answered and said to him, 

“What sign can you show us for doing this?” 

Jesus answered and said to them,

 “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”

 But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,

 his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had ­spoken. (John 2: 13 - 22).

Sunday November 9th, 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

"Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”  (John 2: 16).

We see Jesus displaying righteous anger when He witnessed unrighteous activities inside the Temple.  

How far are you prepared to go to defend the sacredness of the House of God? 

 Many people are prepared to show some spirited zeal to defend the honor of their mother, for example.  

What would you do if you see someone in your parish drinking beer with a chalice?

Let us remind ourselves what the Bible says about the House of God:

"He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."  (Genesis 28: 17).

"They are to make a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell in their midst.  According to all that I show you regarding the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of its furnishings, so you are to make it." (Exodus 25: 8 - 9).

"Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."  (Exodus 40: 35).

"And he said to them, “It is written:

"My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.”  (Matthew 21: 13).

Jesus has left us an example of how to honor the House of God.  Watch out for an opportunity to do the same.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

Venerable Fulton Sheen:

 “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, ‘a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.” 

For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD AND MONEY.

YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD AND MONEY. 

"Holy Mother Church dedicates the 30 Days of November to thinking and praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. As we think and pray for them, we remember the Last Four Things:. 

Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. 

What a great gift from the Church of this Memento Morris. (Remember you shall die). 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

"The ­person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones;

 and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.

"If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

"If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

"No servant can serve two masters. 

He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. 

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

"The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him.

"And Jesus said to them,

 “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16: 9 - 15).

Saturday 8th November 2025 in the 31st week of Ordinary Time is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

What is dishonest wealth? Dishonest wealth is any material possession above your concrete needs which is obtained dishonestly.

Who then will your dishonest wealth belong to?

 Many Church Fathers notably Saints Ambrose and John Chrysostom teach that they belong to the poor.

 That extra car, coat, shoes, cash belong to the poor. 

All belong to the poor who are in need of these necessities right here and right now.

 They do not belong to your grandchildren who are not yet born and may never be born.

What will be your reward if you obey God on this?

 "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19).

What if you choose to live in disobedience to this commandment? 

Then understand clearly:  "No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”"

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

St. Francis de Sales:

 “With Charity towards the dead, we practice all the works of charity. The Church encourages us to aid the souls in Purgatory, who in turn will reward us abundantly when they come into their glory.” 

For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

HONOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER.

FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER, 2025.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month

 by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion in Nine Consecutive First Fridays.

  In the 11th month of the year, November 2025, we look at Promise #11.

#11. "Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced."

Seven Easy Ways to Promote the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion and earn the everlasting rewards:

1. Make a list of your family, friends and colleagues and share this Sacred Heart of Jesus Blog with them every month.

2.    Get about 100 or more Sacred Heart of Jesus picture cards from your a local Catholic Bookstore.  Or from Amazon or any Internet vendor of Catholic books and holy cards. Get the ones with the picture of the Sacred Heart in front and the Promises of the Sacred Heart on the back.

3. Give the Sacred Heart cards to family members, relatives, friends and work mates.

Leave some of the Sacred Heart cards in the Church Narthex or Gathering Area at the back of the Church. Don't be afraid.

4. Water your new Sacred Heart of Jesus ministry through daily prayers. Praying for the success of your ministry is very important and tells Jesus something about who you are: "This person is serious about this ministry. I will try her for a few months to see if she is faithful." You are already on the way as a promoter of the Sacred Heart devotion.

5. Tell friends and family about the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus any opportunity you have.

6. Remind the Sacred Heart often of these promises especially those that touch your present needs. Jesus loves to be reminded of His promises.  Not that He forgets.  It is important for you to know deeply that the Lord is faithful in all His promises.

7. Friends, this is a question of whether you trust the promises of Jesus or not. Review the 12 Promises about once a month to see which promises have been fulfilled.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

For the Sacred Heart of Jesus Promises, Prayers, Prayer intentions, click the link below:

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

I HAVE FOUND MY ONE LOST SHEEP.

THE ONE LOST SHEEP. 

"The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, 

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 

So Jesus addressed this parable to them. 

“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 

‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, 

searching carefully until she finds it? 

And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 

‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 

In just the same way, I tell you, 

there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 1 - 10).

Thursday November 6 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture is from the famous Luke's Chapter 15. 

Jesus exclaims joyfully 

"Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." 

 Thank You Jesus for the lesson You teach us in this parable. 

You teach us the power of One. 

You have also reminded us of the power of the mustard seed. Help us to follow Your example, Our Good Shepherd.

"I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

The Communion of the Saints abound with many saints who were once the "one lost sheep". The patient love and mercy of Jesus pursued them, found them and brought them back. 

Here are some of these saints:

#1 Mary Magdalene

#2 Paul the Apostle

#3 Peter Chief Apostle

#4 Augustine

#5 Francis of Asissi

#6 Ignatius Loyola

Jesus is the Face of Mercy of Abba Father. 

 Mercy is the name and essence of God the Father revealed to us through His Only Son, Jesus the Christ.

 The open Heart of Jesus is the symbol and seat of Mercy.  

Mercy is promised to all.

To demonstrate that the powerful gift and message of Mercy that Jesus shared in His public ministry will remain in the Church after His Ascension, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation and gave His Apostles and their successors the power to forgive sins. 

To prepare ourselves to receive and retain Mercy, the ABC OF MERCY is very useful.  

It is called  ABC because, it is an acronym that can be remembered easily and secondly it is as simple as ABC.

A:  Ask for Mercy.

B:  Be Merciful.

C:  Completely Trust Jesus for Mercy.

God is rich in mercy and is waiting for us to turn to Him to blot out all our sins and receive us in His merciful love.

Mercy, mercy. Nothing but mercy!

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by."  (Psalm 57: 1)

"Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, 

look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent,

 but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself." (The Diary of St Maria Faustina, #950).

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

 “If during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in Purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.”-St. Paul of the Cross. 

For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

COUNT FIRST THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE YOU COMMIT.

COUNT FIRST THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE YOU COMMIT. 

"Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 

Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 

‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 

But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14: 25 - 33).

Wednesday November 5th in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time. 

Jesus weighed the cost of Discipleship carefully in the Garden of Gethsemane in an intense struggle of prayer with His Father the night before He died. 

As God, He knew what he was going to face.

Our salvation and eternal life meant so much to Him. He did not consider the sufferings and the shame. He said Yes to His Father. "I will do it!" 

 Wednesday 5th November in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time.  

When you embark on a new project: building a home, a new career, moving to a new city, volunteering for a new ministry, etc. 

Rule #1 is sit down and count the cost.

 This will save you embarrassment and mockery from friends, family and neighbors.

 "This fellow started something he is unable to complete. He is foolish." 

Jesus is speaking to His disciples in this Gospel. 

Count the cost of Discipleship before you decide to follow Me. 

To make good decisions, we need wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth, health and power.

 God answered him: "Here and now, I give you what you ask for." 

God added: And for what you did not ask for, I grant them to you in abundance! (Cf 1 Kings 3: 1 - 15).

The greatest wisdom is to know the shortcut to peace and prosperity in life.

 Jesus gives this wisdom in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest will be given you." (Matthew 6: 33). 

If you are unwilling to renounce all your possessions and seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, not only will you not enjoy the fullness of privileges in being a disciple of Jesus Christ but you will be like the man who started a building he may never complete. 

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

St. John Vianney: - 

"I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works. I seem to hear them crying from the depths of those fires which devour them: ‘Tell our loved ones…how great the evils are which they are making us suffer. We throw ourselves at their feet to implore the help of their prayers."

For Prayers and how to help the Souls in PURGATORY, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES BORROWMEO, BISHOP.

MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES BORROWMEO, BISHOP. 

"One of those at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.” 

He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. 

When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

 ‘Come, everything is now ready.’

 But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. 

The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’

 And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ 

And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’ 

The servant went and reported this to his master.

 Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

 The servant reported, 

‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’

 The master then ordered the servant,

 ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be full. 

 For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’” (Luke 1n4: 5 - 21).

Tuesday November 4, 2025 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of St Charles Borrowmeo, Bishop. 

 (1538 - 1584).

 Cardinal, Archbishop of the famous See of Milan, the See of St Ambrose. 

Borromeo was born into wealth and splendor but was not possessed by his wealth and patrimony.

St Charles Borromeo was one of the architects of the successful conclusion of the Council of Trent. 

A great reformer, he worked hard for the implementation of the decrees of the Council.

 He established seminaries and had catechisms produced. 

The context of today's parable is the enthusiastic statement of a fellow dinner guest with Jesus:

"One of those at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

Dining in the Kingdom of God is the summit of blessings.

 It is the ultimate aspiration. 

The Marriage feast of the Lamb is the mother of all feasts. 

"Blessed are you who are invited to the Supper of the Lord." 

Where do you hear the above words? 

JUST BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION! 

"I want My House to be full." Jesus said. 

Why will anyone in his right mind turn down such an invitation? 

The answer is that there is something akin to insanity with regard to pride and sin. 

When the Prodigal Son came back to his senses, he wondered why he ever did what he did. Ran away from the gorgeous home of his loving father to live like a scum of the earth for a number of years. 

The Church is the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth.  (Cf CCC 541). 

Individually, we are tiny seeds of the Kingdom of God.

 Is the Kingdom of God growing inside you? 

The Eucharist is the Marriage feast of the Lamb on this side of Heaven. 

If you have been avoiding the Eucharist, forget your foolish pride and ask the gracious Lord to rescue you from "the highways and hedgerows" before it is too late. 

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

“I saw my guardian angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. 

They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid.

 The flames, which were burning them, did not touch me at all.

 My guardian angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was.

 They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God.” (St. Maria Faustina Kowalski). 

For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

THE FEAST OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES, OP.

FEAST OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES, OP. 

"Brothers and sisters: The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?

 Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To God be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11: 29 - 36).

Monday 3rd November 2025 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Martin de Porres, OFM.

Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima Peru in 1579 to a black mother and a Spanish gentleman.

 He first entered the Dominican Priory in Lima at the age of 11 as a servant. 

Later, he applied to be accepted as a lay brother since he could not apply for the priesthood because of his color. 

He was trained as a barberpharmacist and soon used his gifts and talents to heal both humans and animals. 

He lived such a life of heroic sanctity that even while he was alive, many miracles were attributed to him. After he died, he was famed as a miracle worker. 

Brothers and sisters, we choose to reflect on the First Reading because of this one sentence,, a core teaching in the Scriptures :

"The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." 

What does this mean? It means that despite my messiness, God does not regret the fact that he choose a broken egg like myself to serve him. 

You too should rejoice about this truth. 

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ teaches us that God is merciful and faithful. God did not choose the best, the creme de la creme,  filtered humanity to form the Tree of Genealogy for His Son Jesus. 

 He chose whom He  pleases, a mixed bag.

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." (Ephesians I: 5 NLT)

God had decreed that the Redeemer will come out of real humanity.

“The deliverer will come out of Zion, he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;

and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11: 26 - 27).

"In respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarchs.  For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."  (Romans 11: 28 - 29).

Again: "The gift and the call of God are irrevocable." Amen!

The Church teaches that it will arrive at its perfection in the Escathon, that is the End of the age.  

As we make our pilgrimage towards our home, the Church labors to grow in the fullness of truth and charity. 

 Each life committed to Christ hastens the Second Coming.

"O Wisdom of our God Most High,

guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!" 

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus! 

November is the Month the Church prays for and honors the Poor Souls in Purgatory. 

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html