I am doing a new thing in your life.

"Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers." (Isaiah 43: 18 - 19).

On the 5th Sunday of Lent 2019, the Lord has great encouragement for those who believe they are spent force, have used up all their gifts and are quietly waiting to transition to the next world. The Lord says to you: Forget the past completely: all your accomplishments, the silver and gold medals, the long resumés. The Lord is about to begin a new thing in your life: the Next Step and the More.

Are you prepared for this? It all depends on your "... forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3: 13).

What if you think: "I am already too old!" The Lord says to you:
"He gives power to the faint,
abundant strength to the weak.
Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint." (Isaiah 40: 29 - 31).

Depend on faith and not on your intelligence.

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, for I am all tenderness and compassion.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (Joel 2: 12 - 13).

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In my extremity, I cried to the Lord. He heard my cry.

"The waves of death rose about me; the pains of the netherworld surrounded me.In my anguish I called to the Lord,and from his holy temple he heard my voice."
(Cf. Psalm 18: 5, 7).

Our reflection today, Saturday in the 4th week of Lent 2019 is from Psalm 18 which is used in the Entrance Antiphon. Have you ever been overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable problems? Let us face it, very few of us have gone through the experience of martyrdom. Christ tasted this during His Passion and Crucifixion.

The message of our Scripture today is the infallible power of prayer. Ask, seek and knock. You shall not ask, seek or knock in vain. Jesus Christ knew after His painful cry from the Cross that His Father would not abandon Him to the underworld. Psalm 22 which He quoted from the Cross ended in a triumphant note.
God provides all our necessities through His loving Providence. Quit doubting. Believe!

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart,take the word of God to themselvesand yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!" (Cf Luke 8: 15).

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Is this your appointed time?

"They tried to arrest him, but his hour had not yet come." (Cf John 7: 30).

On the First Friday of April, in the 4th week of Lent 2019, we reflect on the Hour of Destiny. Jesus refers uncannily to His hour not yet come or His hour has come. What is this hour that Jesus talks about all the time? We know that the biblical concept of time is divided into Chronos from where we get chronology: years, months, weeks, hours, minutes, etc. Is this what Jesus means? Or does He allude to Kairos, which can be interpreted as the hour of grace. The Hour set by the Almighty Father for the execution or realization of certain plans.

God’s Kairos hour governs the major events in the life of Jesus. It also governs the major events in your life. Are you impatient that some prayers or expectations of yours have not been fulfilled? Are you in the appointed time? Nothing happens in God's government of the world before the appointed time.

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3: 1).

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –come back to me with all your heart, for I am all tenderness and compassion.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" ( Joel 2: 12 - 13).

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Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday.

April 05, 2019 First Friday in April.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:  Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 4th month of the year 2019, we look at Promise #4.

#4.  "They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death."

The key word in this promise to me is DEATH.  Do you find the subject of death troubling?

I consider Promise #4 a great Promise.  St Augustine says:  "If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."  To die well therefore is what every human being must desire.  Most of the post Ascension apparitions of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary to mystics promise succor at the time of the last struggle of death to those who honor them in the manner they specified.  The Church declared St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, patron saint of Happy Death.  I believe in the Resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. The thought of dying no longer scares me.

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

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, click the link below:

http://sfjweb.com/?q=content/sacred-heart-12-promises

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Moses interceded with God for the People.

"Let me alone, then, that my anger may burn against them to consume them." The Lord said to Moses. (Exodus 32: 10).

On Thursday of the 4th week of Lent 2019, we ask, what is Intercession? Intercession looms so high in the doctrine of salvation that few topics are more important. What is intercession? Intercession is beseeching God earnestly on behalf of someone in dire need of mercy.

In our Scripture today from Exodus 32, let us see what Moses did as intercessor on behalf of Israel when they apostasized by worshiping the golden calf.
"But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying, “Why, O Lord, should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand?" (Exodus 32: 11).

Who else is intercessor in the Bible?
Abraham, Jacob, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah. Intercession is a key aspect of the job description of a prophet. It is also a key part of the ministry of the Aaronic priesthood and the Christian priesthood.
One of the principal titles of Jesus Christ is our Able and Eternal High Priest. Jesus Christ in Heaven is continually interceding for us besides the throne of grace and mercy of God. When we intercede for people, we do so through Jesus Christ and in His name. We do not ask God to remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but to remember the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. The Church intercedes for her children day and night through Jesus and in His name. What are the saints doing in Heaven now? Interceding for the Church and for the family and friends of the saints.

Prayer moves God.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. John 6 :63, 68).

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The Lord has not forsaken you.

“The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Said Zion. (Isaiah 49: 14).

On Wednesday, in the 4th week of Lent 2019, we see the kindness and mercy of God in full display. The People broke the Covenant with God and suffered as a result. The suffering was at a breaking point. They must have muttered thus: "We are convinced now that God has utterly forsaken and forgotten us." How close have you been to despair? You pray for recovery from illness but no sign of healing. For the mending of a broken family but things get worse. For financial improvement but slide into bankruptcy. Or any one of the conditions that befalls man on earth.

If you or your loved ones is in any of the above situation, God has a special good news for you in His word today.

"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you." (Isaiah 49: 15).

But in case you still have some doubts, "See, upon the palms of my hands I have engraved you." The Lord God assures you. (Isaiah 49: 16).

Now, the ball is in your court:
To believe or not to believe. It is a choice. If you believe, appropriate the Scripture, write it down, memorize it and repeat it until it is yours.

"The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down." (Psalm 145: 13 - 14).

The Lord is gracious and merciful. His mercies never fail.

"Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son: everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!" (John 3: 16).

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Do you want to be well?

 “Do you want to be well?" (John 5: 6). You too. Do you want to be well? Jesus is asking you and me on Tuesday, in the 4th week of Lent 2019. Although this question was posed to the man who had been ill for 38 years, the deeper meaning of this Scripture applies to you and me on the health of our soul. There are grievous illnesses that are not of the body but are so consequential that they affect our eternal destiny. The healing of these assures us of immortality. Eternal Bliss! This is what the grace of Lent brings to us. Reconciliation and healing. We are less than 3 weeks to Holy Week. Have you taken advantage of the numerous and generous provisions for Sacramental Reconciliation? Why wait for the last minute since no one is assured of tomorrow. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8: 36). "Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! A pure heart create for me, O God, and give me again the joy of your help. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!" (Psalm 50:12,14). SeekFirstcommunity.com

Do not consult your fears and doubts but your hopes.

"The royal official said to him [Jesus], “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left." (John 4: 49 - 50).

On Monday, in the 4th week of Lent 2019, we see two great expositions on Faith. In the above Scripture from John 4, Jesus said to the royal official whose son was close to death: Go home, "your son will live." He believes Jesus and went home and found his son recovered at the precise time of his encounter with Jesus.

In the first Reading from Isaiah 65, God promises through Isaiah:
"See, I am creating new heavens
 and a new earth; The former things shall not be remembered nor come to mind." (Isaiah 65: 17).
Do you recognize in this promise the same as the promise of the Kingdom of God, the constant obsession of Jesus during His public ministry? Can you come to believe that for you personally this could be a promise for the NEXT and the MORE in your life?

Faith is radical trust and confidence in the word of God; in His promises.
Without faith, you cannot enjoy the abundant life promised by Jesus in John 10: 10.
How do you come by strong faith?
#1 Prayer: No prayer, no answer, no miracle.
#2 Feeding daily on the word of God. When you pray, you talk to God. When you read the word of God, God talks to you.
#3 When you overcome trials, fears, worries and doubts, you receive a bump in your faith. The beloved Pope St John XXIII leaves us a wise counsel below:

"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but what is still possible for you to do." (Pope St John XXIII).

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word, because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! (Psalm 129: 5, 7).

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Have mercy on me. I have sinned.

"Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.  I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you." (Luke 15: 17 - 18).

On Sunday, the 4th week of Lent, we reflect on the model of conversion offered us in the story of the Prodigal Son. Conversion, metanoia is what Lent is all about. Not just a conversion from a life of sin, but conversion from a mediocre Christian to a Spirit-filled Christian, on fire to be an ambassador for Christ. This is possible for everyone because of the mercy of God who has promised that Lent is a favorable time for mercy and favors.

Let us reflect on the what the Church teaches about conversion:

"The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father: the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father's house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father's generous welcome; the father's joy - all these are characteristic of the process of conversion. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life - pure worthy, and joyful - of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way."(CCC 1439).

Be who you are redeemed to be:
A new creation and ambassador for Jesus Christ. (Cf 2 Corinthians 5: 17 - 21).

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
I will leave this place and go to my father and say:
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!" (Luke 15: 18).

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Let us strive to know the mercy of God.

"The tax collector stood at a distance, beating his breast and saying: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." (Luke 18: 13).

On Saturday in the 3rd week of Lent 2019, the Gospel is the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisees. In this reflection, we want to dwell on Mercy as a key attribute of God.

In the first Reading from Hosea 6: 1 - 6, we hear this urgent cry:  "Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming. He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” (Hosea 6: 3).

God reveals Himself as Mercy in the Bible. The word Mercy is used 273 times in the Bible (KJV version) and 13 times during the Mass. Hosea urges us to strive to know the Lord. If all that we know of God is that He is merciful, we are as good as any saint. Unfortunately, the observant Pharisee did not know this truth.

Never forget the ABC of Mercy:
Ask for mercy.
Be merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

"Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!" (Psalm 94: 8).

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You alone are God.

"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, for you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God." (Psalm  86: 8, 10).

Our key Scripture for Friday in the 3rd week of Lent is from the Entrance Antiphon. As we draw nearer to the great Solemnity of Easter Vigil and the renewal of our Baptismal Promises, you may call this Friday, "No to Idols Friday." After soul searching, we say to God: "You are the only God." Not money, not science, not technology, not health, not family, not power, lust or fame. "You alone are God." You are the Evergreen Cypress Tree. Because of You, we are alive and still faithful. (Cf Psalm 85: 10; Hosea 14: 8).

"The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12: 29 - 30).

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower; whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!" (Gospel Acclamation).

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Has faithfulness disappeared from the Church?

"Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper." (Jeremiah 7: 23).

What does Abba Father say to Peter, James and John on the Mountain of Transfiguration?
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Cf Matthew 17:5, Mark 9: 7, Luke 9: 35). This message seems to be the running theme of Lent 2019. Today, Thursday in the 3rd week of Lent 2019, the Lord pleads with us and added some sweet carrots: "Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper." (Jeremiah 7: 23).

But sad enough, the people refused to listen. "Say to them: this is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech." (Jeremiah 7: 28).

What about you brother? What about you sister?
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Cf Psalm 95: 8).

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, for I am all tenderness and compassion.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (Joel 2: 12 -13).

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Study the Law. Observe the Law. Teach the Law.

"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

On Wednesday in the 3rd week of Lent, we hear one dominant theme from the Mass Readings: Teach the Law [the word]. The message comes strongly from the first Reading from Deuteronomy 4 and Matthew 5. Below are the Scriptures:

#1 "Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe." (Deuteronomy 4: 1).

#2 "See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me." (Deuteronomy 4: 5).

#3 However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children." (Deuteronomy 4: 9).

From the Gospel:

#4 "But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

#5 "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

The Church is in dire need of teachers of the word of God: catechists and evangelists. Without teaching and knowledge, a people perishes. (Cf Hosea 4: 6).

Therefore,
Believe what you read.
Practice what you believe.
Teach what you practice.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. John 6: 63, 68).

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I forgave you everything because you begged Me.

"You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.  Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?" (Matthew 18: 32 - 33).

On Tuesday of the 3rd week of Lent, we have a practical lesson on mercy and forgiveness. Yesterday we learned that the Lord is kind and merciful. Today we see how God applied loving kindness and mercy to an unworthy steward who squandered his master's wealth and now could not repay a penny. "I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to." This wicked servant showed from his subsequent actions that he did not truly appreciate the magnimous forgiveness of his entire debt by his master.

Forgiveness is a key lesson in the plan of salvation. Hence Jesus taught "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6: 12). What is your attitude to forgiveness? Do you forgive offences easily and at once no matter what? This is what the Lord Jesus did from the Cross. This is what He commands every follower of His to do. The way to keep this lesson always in mind is the ABC of Mercy:
Ask for mercy. [I forgave you because you begged me].
Be merciful. ["Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?"].
Completely trust Jesus for mercy. [The Lord is always kind and merciful].

"Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!" (Luke 8: 15).

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The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

"Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38).

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. A feast day in Lent: No fasting. No abstinence. What does the Annunciation of the Lord celebrate?
"The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates "the fullness of time", the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell "bodily". The divine response to her question, "How can this be, since I know not man?", was given by the power of the Spirit: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you." (CCC 484).

Mary heard the word of God from the Archangel Gabriel and believed what she heard. In the first Reading today, King Ahaz heard the word of God from the Prophet Isaiah (7: 10 - 14) and did not believe. Mary believed and became Mother of Christ and our exemplar in faith. Ahaz exhibited unbelief and became a nonentity in history.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (John 1: 14).

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Do you know that the Lord is kind and merciful?

"The Lord is kind and merciful." (Cf Psalm 103: 8).

On the 3rd Sunday of Lent 2019, we chant 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 you know of God's mercies and kindnesses to you, the more you 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 is kind and merciful to you. When you want to remember key facts like doctor's appointment, birth days, court dates, interview dates etc, what do you do? You write it down and place the note where you can see it easily and often.

You do exactly the same with sacred facts like our key Scripture for today. 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. (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.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. Matthew 4: 17).

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The happy return of the prodigal.

"Coming to his senses he [the Prodigal] thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger." (Luke 15: 17).

We are served with the Parable of the Prodigal Son today, Saturday in the second week of Lent. The great lesson of this parable is the Father's unfailing love and mercy towards us. St Ignatius says that it is impossible to repent from sin unless we feel strongly that the Savior is standing by us and beckoning us to approach the throne of grace and mercy with confidence. When the prodigal felt this pull in his heart, he says:

"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers." (Luke 15: 18 - 19).

We all want to be in the same place as the prodigal son at the end of Lent 2019.

"Glory and praise to you, O Christ!
I will leave this place and go to my father and say:
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.’
Glory and praise to you, O Christ!" (Cf. Luke 15: 18).

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Did God make a terrible mistake?

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes"? (Matthew 21: 42).

On Friday in the second week of Lent, Jesus gave us the Parable of the Wicked Tenants and God's Terrible Mistake. In the story, the landlord (God) sent his servants to collect rent. The wicked tenants quickly assaulted and killed some of the messengers. The landlord sent more servants to collect the money due to him. Not surprisingly the wicked tenants did not waste time in killing all. The landlord who had no one else to send decided to send his only son and heir. "They will respect my son", he thought. Anybody following this drama would predict the outcome and call the decision foolish and terrible.

Listen to the Prophet Isaiah on God's ways:
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 8 - 9).

"God loved us, and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10).

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!
God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son: everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!" (John  3:16). 

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Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings.

"Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings.... Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust." (Jeremiah 17: 5, 7).

What is the word of God saying to us this Thursday of the second week of Lent? God is the primary cause of every good thing in life: health and medicine, family, money and possessions, job and social status. All the gold, silver and diamond belong to God. He provides food to all living things. Your future, destiny and security lie in His mighty hands.
How foolish it is to place your trust in mortal man who cannot save himself. Nobody gives that which has not says an old Roman proverb. 

In the Gospel of today, we see the rich man who did not see Lazarus day after day lying at his door tormented by hunger. The rich man trusted his wealth but unknown to him is the fact that his enjoyment is for a short season. Then one day, he died suddenly. Lazarus died too and the table was turned. Lazarus who trusted in God went to heaven. The rich man was gnashing his teeth in hell.

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (Cf. Luke 8:15).

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Your words are spirit and they are life.

"The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said "Come,” they said, “let us devise a plot against Jeremiah, for instruction will not perish from the priests, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. Come, let us destroy him by his own tongue. Let us pay careful attention to his every word.” (Jeremiah 18: 18).

On Wednesday of the second week of Lent, I listened hard to the Beloved Son and heard the cry of the Prophet Jeremiah. A Prophet has nothing but words. The word of God. This is his merchandise. He must speak God's word to the people, season out of season. A Prophet must find his comfort and sustenance from the word of God.

Do you find in you a stirring of the gift of prophecy?
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33), says the Lord.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. John 6 :63,68).

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