What type of light am I?

"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." (Matthew 5: 14 - 15).

Sunday February 9, 2020 in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time. You may call this Sunday the Light Sunday. There are 12 mentions of Light in the liturgical texts. A strong message.

Christ Jesus says to me this Sunday: Emmanuel, you are the light of the world. Jesus leaves me to figure out what this means for me as a lay person in the Church. I find that the synonyms of light are:
Illumination, brightness, brilliance, glow, dazzle, sunlight, etc.

Consider light as a means. What is the end? The glory of God. Just as the Cross is a means and the end is the glory of Jesus Christ.

How can I shine for Jesus in "my world?" How can I glorify Jesus? What words of Jesus are continually tugging at my heart?

#1 "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6: 33).
The world is in the dark about this great design and promise. I will shine this light everywhere because I know it is true.

#2 "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5: 14).
God's word  teaches that the "Will of God" is the key to our peace, success and prosperity. This is my light. I share and shine this light by urging my friends and everyone to: "Pray to accept God's gracious and mysterious will always, everywhere in everything."

Below is what the Church teaches on how lay people can fulfill their mission as the salt and the light of the world:

"They exercise the apostolate in fact by their activity directed to the evangelization and sanctification of men and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. In this way, their temporal activity openly bears witness to Christ and promotes the salvation of men. Since the laity, in accordance with their state of life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ." (Apostolate of the Laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem).

Frequent Holy Communion and Sacrament of Reconciliation are indispensable tools.
" The sacraments, especially the most Holy Eucharist, communicate and nourish that charity which is the soul of the entire apostolate." (... Apostolate of the Laity).

How do you respond to the summons of our Lord Jesus Christ to New Evangelization?

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Solomon chose wisdom.

"Whatever you ask I shall give you."
(1 Kings 3: 5).

Saturday 8th February in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Jerome Emiliani (1481 - 1537), Priest and St Josephine Bakhita (1869 - 1947). "Josephine Margaret Bakhita, F.D.C.C., was a Sudanese-Italian Canossian religious sister active in Italy for 45 years, after having been a slave in Sudan. In 2000 she was declared a saint by the Catholic Church." (Wikipedia).

God said to Solomon in a dream: "Whatever you ask I shall give you."
(1 Kings 3: 5). Solomon chose wisdom and God is very pleased.
"Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right—  I now do as you request." (1 Kings 3: 11 - 12). God granted Solomon a very wise mind and heart and topped the gift with riches and glory.
Jesus teaches us to go for the highest gift:
"The Father in heaven [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11: 13). The Holy Spirit is the mother of all gifts. He is the Abundant life promised by Jesus in John 10: 10.

Like Solomon, let us take God at His word seriously and ask Him with confident and expectant faith that we may receive all that He plans to give us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Eulogy of David.

"With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole heart he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung." (Sirach 47: 8 - 9).

Friday 7th February in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is also the First Friday in February.

The first Reading is from the Book of Sirach, written about 100 years before the birth of Jesus by a Jew of Alexandria. The Book of Sirach has been part of the the Canon of Holy Scriptures from the earliest time. The study in the profile of David reaches its crescendo today.

Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary is blessed among all the women, the author of Sirach wants to show why  David is first among all  kings.

According to the author of Sirach, 

David is compared to a choice fat selected with care for sacrifice. His victory over Goliath with a slingstone was recognized by the people as a miracle and a sign that God is with him. 

After God confirmed His choice of David with a royal crown, God supported his military campaigns by granting him victory after victory. 

David's greatness lies in the attributes below:

"With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole heart he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung." (Sirach 47: 8 - 9). 

The author of Sirach goes on to say:

"He added beauty to the feasts

and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the Altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms so that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound." (Verse 10).

At the the very center of religion is worship and sacrifice is the very essence of worship. David knew this secret of God. The high road to the heart of God is worship, praise and thanksgiving. 

No wonder God is pleased to wipe out all the sins of David. 

"The Lord forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever;

He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel." (Sirach 47: 11).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this First Friday in February.

February 7, 2020  -  First Friday in February.

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 2nd  month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #2.

#2.  "I will give peace in their families."

What is Peace? Peace is the calmness, tranquility, deep security you feel in the depth of your heart, soul and mind because you know that in spite of the apparent turbulence, All is well. You come to appreciate this peace most when civil war is raging in your family, health, finances, job, your possessions and tools. All things  fall apart and the center can no longer hold. Enters the Peace of Christ.

This is the peace that Jesus promises us today.

Jesus is our peace. He is the Prince of Peace.  Would you accept today His generous offer of peace in your family?

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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The Feast of St Paul Miki and Companions.

Looks like "When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to Solomon his son:  “I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong and be a man!  Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, and wherever you turn." (1 Kings 2: 1 - 3).

Thursday 6th of February in the 4th week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Paul Miki of the Society of Jesus (+ 1597), Priest and 25 Companion Martyrs. St Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit and his 25 companions faced death courageously in Nagasaki, Japan in 1597 and thus were the first Christian martyrs in East Asia. The bloody persecution of the Church in Japan wiped out the Church in Japan and seemed to have obliterated the missionary efforts of St Francis Xavier and others. The mystery of Divine Providence is inscrutable!

Our hero David, the warrior and champion is ready to go back to God.  David calls his son and successor Solomon and gave him the Last Testament. He tells him all he needs to know to succeed as king of Israel. This sounds similar to what God says to Joshua after Moses died:
"Only be strong and steadfast, being careful to observe the entire law which Moses my servant enjoined on you. Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go." (Joshua 1: 7).

Solomon and Joshua are to adhere scrupulously to God's commandments. This is the principle of success for earthly rulers and for all of us. The Bible teaches that it is God who promotes and demotes. He reveals all the questions to us. Have God's principles of success changed?
No! History continues to validate these laws for success every day.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The people at first liked the Rabbi Jesus.

"When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished." (Mark 6: 2).

Wednesday 5th February 2020 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Agatha (+250), Virgin and Martyr. St Agatha was martyred under the Emperor Decius. Agatha has been venerated from ancient times. She is the patron saint of breast cancer and other breast diseases. Jesus Christ is glorified when we honor the saints.

Teaching is the core ministry of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. So Jesus is both the Teacher and the Subject. The people listening to Jesus on this Sabbath day in His town soon noticed the simplicity, authority and power of His teaching. They moved quickly from amazement to query His credentials.

Jesus taught His disciples not to worry about credentials and long resumes. The Holy Spirit will teach you all you need to know and will remind you everything you have learned from Me.
We witnessed Jesus' words validated when Peter and John appeared before the Sanhedrin for criminal prosecution for teaching without license. (Acts 4: 1 - 22). St Stephen the first Martyr before the Sanhedrin at his trial (Acts 7)and when he debated the Jewish apologists.

Do not fear those who demean or contradict your faith. Put all your trust in the Holy Spirit in you. He is your Paraclete, Advocate and the Voice that is promised to speak in court for you.

Jesus, I trust in You. I surrender myself completely to You. Take care of everything.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

My son Absalom, ho ho ho ho!

"The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate and wept. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 19: 1).

Tuesday 4th February 2020 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time.

David was crowned in Hebron at the age 30 and reigned in Jerusalem for 33 years. For the past couple of weeks, we have been studying the profile of King David. David is a most worthy subject of study because God calls David "a man after my heart", champion and promises a dynasty to David from where Jesus Christ the everlasting King will come from. Not surprisingly, David emerges to be the most lofty personage in the Bible after Jesus the Christ. What are the qualities that catapulted David to numero #1?
Enter COMPASSION. Compassion is Mercy, the attribute that makes us divine. God is Mercy and Mercy is God.

David mourns tenderly for Absalom whom the court of public opinion says deserves to die. From the Cross, Jesus Christ prays: "Father forgive them for they know not what they have done." He goes on to forgive the repentant thief: "This day, you shall be with me in paradise."

Jesus Christ, Son of David is the Face of the Mercy of God. God made the threshold of mercy so low that it is ridiculous not to reach up and grasp it. It is the ABC of Mercy:
A: ASK FOR MERCY.
B: BE MERCIFUL.
C: COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Throat diseases and St Blaise.

"As David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went." (2 Samuel 15: 30).

Monday 3rd February 2020 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Blaise (+316), Bishop and Martyr. St Blaise is famous for the cures through his intercession of diseases of the throat. Hence the blessings of the throat in all Churches in the world during Mass today. I have taken advantage of this grace for many years.

Today is also the feast of St Ansgar (801- 865) Bishop. Born in France, Ansgar ministered in Denmark and Sweden where many miraculous cures were attributed to him.

Our key Scripture for Monday shows David in dire crisis. A coup d'etat is in progress in Jerusalem led by Absalom, David's son. David was compelled to leave Jerusalem in a hurry. An incident happened on his way to exile which demonstrates David's profound faith in God and His Divine Providence. David was verbally assaulted by Shimei from the same clan of King Saul. He hauled stones on David as he followed David and the army guarding David. The army asked permission from David to kill Shimei.
"Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?" (2 Samuel 16: 5). Again we see David resisting the suggestion by his military to shade blood even when he might have been justified in public opinion. David understands that court of public opinion is different from the judgment of God.

What lessons can we learn from today's Scripture:

#1 Even kings and presidents are not spared crisis. St Teresa of Avila advises us to be always prepared for trials. Trial and crisis are part of God's sovereign governance of the world.

#2 "So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5: 6 - 7).

David teaches us how to be faithful and trusting in God under an extreme crisis. May this lesson be a light for our path today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 29 - 32).

Sunday 2nd February in the 4th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is hard to believe that forty days have sped by since Christmas.

The Presentation of the Lord is a Joyful Mystery because Jesus is presented to us as Christe Lux Mundi.  Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light that enters our mind and heart and drives out darkness.

This light is first given us at our Baptism when a lighted candle is given to the parents of the child. This is a symbol of the true light that has been kindled in the new child of God. The parents promise to fan this light through Christian formation.

What does the light of Christ mean?  As Christians, we receive the light of Christ through the word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. When the Gospel is proclaimed in Church at Mass, it is Jesus Christ Himself speaking to us.  Lighted candles on both sides of the lectern indicate the presence of Jesus who is speaking to the Church through the deacon or priest.

The word that we receive from the proclamation of the Gospel and the breaking open of the proclaimed word (homily) should light up our mind with the truth we need to guide us. We carry this light to our homes, work, everywhere.

Lord help us to shine our light without fear.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You have despised Me David.

“I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12: 13).

Saturday 1st February 2020 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.

The confession of our hero, the man after God's heart whom the Father calls a champion is pithy and full of sorrow. First, let us consider what is sin from God's point of view:

#1 "You have despised me." (2 Samuel 12: 9). Sin is showing contempt to God, despising the Lord. A pretty strong language. If you report that someone has despised you, one may wonder whether a  shameless racist or sexist language was used.

#2 "You have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed [sin"] (2 Samuel 12: 14).
The dictionary defines SPURN as "Reject with disdain or contempt."
Did David decide in his heart to disdain God? Of course not. He wanted some fun. But God sees sin as disloyalty, unfaithfulness and outrage. God sees sin too as ingratitude. Consider all that He does for us as His adopted children. (Psalm 103: 1-5). Do not listen to the false teachers on television who tells us that sin doesn't matter. God loves you just as you are. Look rather to the Cross for 15 seconds and you will understand sin.

But in sin and repentance, David shows himself a true hero, a champion and the man after God's heart.

"A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me... ." (Responsorial Psalm 51).

The repentance of David is immortalized in Psalm 51. The Church prays the entire Psalm every Friday. Kings and queens, Popes and Bishops, soldiers and common man have used this penitential Psalm given to us by David down the centuries.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Champion commits a mortal sin.

"From the roof David saw a woman bathing; she was very beautiful." (2 Samuel 11: 2).

Friday 31 January 2020 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Bosco (1815 - 1888), Priest. John Bosco is called the "Apostle of Youth." He was a great educator and father to the young. He founded the Salesian School to educate boys and girls.

David our hero and man after God's heart commits a grievous sin. "From the roof he saw a woman bathing; she was very beautiful."
David saw a woman. What does woman mean here? Woman here is a type for money, luxurious car, flashy clothes, food, great paying job, etc. In short, anything that entices the eye.

"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2: 16 NLT).

The Sacred Text above implies that we shall never be totally free of concupiscence although we become children of God by our immersion in the waters of Baptism. Hence the necessity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22: 31 - 32).
Just as the sin of King David contributed in making him a humble and great King, so the terrible betrayal of the Lord by Peter helped to make him a great Apostle and Pope.
Where there is abundance of sin, be sure there is abundance of mercy. Never forget the ABC of Mercy:
A - ASK FOR MERCY.
B - BE MERCIFUL.
C - COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

To the one who has, more will be given.

"To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4: 25).

Thursday 30 January in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.

In Baptism, the baptized become the adopted children of God with gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you develop your gifts of time, talent and treasure, you receive more and grow. If you bury your gift, even the one talent you may have will be taken away from you. Every gift you possess has an expiration date on it. Use your gift and receive more or hide your gift and lose it.

It also matters a great deal how you use your gifts. In companies, only workers who are observed to consistently work extra hours without pay or observation are flagged for promotion. Listen to Jesus:
"The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you." (Mark 4: 24).

Is the word of God the light that guides your investment of your time, talent and treasure? When you make the Kingdom of God and His righteousness your top priority, then ask what you may, you will receive it.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

He who finds the word of God has found an everlasting treasure.

"But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4: 20).

Wednesday 29 January 2020 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.

Last Sunday is the Word of God Sunday. Today, we have a delicious menu of the word of God. "But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Allow yourself to be excited by the promise. To produce a sixty and a hundred fold harvest is in your hands. Nobody can make it otherwise. What can I do, you may ask.

Answer: Remain the good soil you were made in your Baptism. What if I have soiled my Baptismal garment? Ask for mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Lord promises to make you new again with sanctifying grace. God our Creator and Father knows our weaknesses and has provided adequately tools to help us remain a Good Soil. If you choose life today and choose to use the time tested tools God has given us, you will bear much fruit season out of season. Here are the 7 Daily Habits of Saints:
#1 Prayer
#2 Word of God
#3 Eucharist
#4 Penance/Reconciliation
#5 Examination of Conscience
#6 Ministry/Faith Sharing
#7 Spiritual Reading

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the grace and the perseverance to live and remain the Good Soil. Your reward will be huge and unbelievable.

"The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower; whoever finds this seed will remain for ever." (Gospel Acclamation).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The military champion becomes a priest.

"David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities. As soon as the bearers of the ark of the Lord had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon." (2 Samuel 6: 12 - 14).

Tuesday 28 January 2020 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a great Doctor of the Church, St Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274), Dominican Priest and one of the greatest theologian in the history of the Church. But the Church sees his title to fame as Thomas' holiness and faith. His master work is the Summa Theologica. The Eucharistic hymns he wrote is still in use by the Church.

We continue the profile of our hero whom God calls a Champion. David is not only a king and prophet but also a priest. He becomes a type and shadow of what all Christians are anointed to be: Prince, Prophet and Prince. It is David the priest that we see today in the 1st Reading from 2 Samuel. "David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon."
Dressed as a priest, David is not ashamed to dance before the Lord in presence of all the people.

Here is the witness of Scriptures below about people who have learned the great lesson of praise and worship:

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness." (Psalm 89:15–16).

Praise, worship, sacrifice and thanksgiving, unadulterated religion are some of the qualities we have seen that have endeared David to the Heart of God. No wonder David is so blessed and has such an unmatchable legacy among all historic figures.

"He who ponders the law of the Lord day and night will yield his fruit in due season." (Psalm 1: 2 - 3).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

If God is for us, who can be against us?

"David grew greater and greater, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, was with him." (2 Samuel 5: 10).

Monday 27 January 2020 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Angela Merici (1474 - 1540), Virgin. Born in Italy, she founded the Ursuline Order, "the first women teaching order approved by the Church... St Angela believed that the formation of Christian women is society's greatest need." (Roman Missal).

The story of the life of David in the Bible could never adequately be likened to the stories of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It is much more. Our saint of today St Angela Merici was a trail blazer. The religious order she founded in 1535 is still serving women and the Church. Jerusalem that David founded about 3000 years ago is still standing. Why is David such a powerful personality in the Bible?

"I have found David my servant
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him
and my arm shall make him strong." (Psalm 89: 21 - 22).

David had a special anointing of God for his office. In spite of his adultery and murder of Uriah, husband of Bathsheeba, David never compromised the purity of the religion of Israel.

"My faithfulness and mercy will be with him; through my name his horn will be exalted." (Psalm 89: 25).

David understood profoundly his utter dependence on God. If God is for us, who can be against us. If God is with you, it is accomplished.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The laity are the tip of the spear in the New Evangelization.

"He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people." (Matthew 4: 23).

Sunday 26 January 2020, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the Word of God Sunday. How does this affect the lay faithful? Here is how according to the teaching of the Church:

"Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."

"This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful." (CCC 905).

The 2nd Reading from 1 Corinthians 1 spells out how and with what attitude this evangelization will be carried out:

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning." (1 Corinthians 1: 17).
Lay evangelists are not clergy. Our responsibility is to be the tip of the spear for the army of Christ and carry the Word of God to the nooks and corners that are normally inaccessible to the clergy.

The essential elements of this evangelization are 4:
1. Jesus Christ died.
2. Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
3. Both truth and facts are recorded in the Sacred Scriptures.
4. The Name of Jesus is the most powerful name in the world. Amazing things happen when this Name is invoked in faith.

The above facts and truths are within the grasp of everyone. All are called to be evangelists.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord what shall I do?

"What shall I do, sir?" (Acts 22: 10).

Saturday 25 January 2020 is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. The Church has recognized it as a major feast since the 6th century. In the 12th century, it was made a universal feast. Below is how the Church reflects on this feast.

"As St. Paul affirms, "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." But to do its work grace must uncover sin so as to convert our hearts and bestow on us "righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Like a physician who probes the wound before treating it, God, by his Word and by his Spirit, casts a living light on sin:

Conversion requires convincing of sin; it includes the interior judgment of conscience, and this, being a proof of the action of the Spirit of truth in man's inmost being, becomes at the same time the start of a new grant of grace and love... " (CCC 1848).

Paul asked the Lord Jesus who appeared to Him on the road to Damascus: "What shall I do, sir?" Jesus answered: "Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do." (Acts 10: 10).
Do you know all the Lord has appointed you to do for Him?

"I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
says the Lord." (John 15: 16).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Gentleman Saint - Francis de Sales.

"I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed." (1 Samuel 24: 10).

Friday 24 January 2020 in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Born in France, he was the Bishop of Geneva where he combatted Calvinism. He founded with St Jane Frances de Chantal the Order of the Visitation Nuns. St Francis de Sales is an accomplished author and the patron saint of authors and journalists.

Our Scripture to live by today gives us another insight into the character of David, the man after the heart of God: "I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed." King Saul had been hunting for David like a quarry. By an act of Providence, David found Saul asleep and alone in a cave. David was urged to kill Saul by his personal security guards. Nobody would know. David said: "I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed."

We celebrate today the feast of a giant of the Faith, St Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists and writers. We know that our Bishop is also the Lord's anointed. Do you know that it could be a very grave sin to criticize your Bishop publicly. See Canon Law: 212, 227 & 1373. The Bishop is not a president, governor, senator or mayor. He is a successor to the Apostles, the Lord's anointed and guardian to the doctrine and morals of the Faithful. Unguarded criticism could undermine the faith of many. For the same reason, be careful how you criticize your pastor publicly.

Be like David the man after God's heart and respect the "Lord's anointed."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Who is your security?

"In God I trust; I shall not fear." (Psalm 56: 5).

Thursday 23 January 2020 in the 2nd Week of Ordinary Time.

Our Scripture today is from the Responsorial Psalm 56: "In God I trust; I shall not fear." What do you do when your foundations are shaken and are collapsing before your eyes. Consider for a moment the following areas the foundations of your life:
Family, health, money, job, tools and possessions, food and future.

Who is your security? If your security is not God, you will not be unable to fall sleep. I have been there. I know the Before and After experience. When I made the Lord Jesus Christ my Security, after a couple of years, I came to understand what true peace is. Peace that passes all understanding. It passes all understanding because all your foundations may have collapsed but it doesn't matter because you know your Security is in firm control of the situation. Your calm and peace is how you know that God is on your side.

The measure of true peace and security is not a feeling of "peace" when everything is rosy in all your boundaries: Family, health, money, job, tools and possessions, food and future. Jesus promises that in the world, we shall have trouble. But Jesus also promises that because He has overcome the world, we can experience a new type of peace. A peace that exists in the depth of our soul irrespective of external circumstances. This type of peace is one of the sweetest experiences in life. When you experience it, your faith and love for Jesus will grow deeply.

The Lord is my security, I shall not fear.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The fight is not yours but the Lord's.

“The same Lord who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17: 37).

Wednesday 22 January 2020 in the 2nd Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Vincent the Deacon (+304). Vincent was born in Spain and earned his martyr's crown in Valencia under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Vincent showed great courage and endurance under torture.

January 22 is observed as a day of prayer and penance for all prolife causes.

The Church continues teaching us today the profile of David in the 1st Reading. One great attribute of this man is that he never forgets anything God does for him. He knows that sooner or later, he will meet the same challenge again. This is one characteristics of very successful people. They remember favors.

"All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves. For the battle belongs to the Lord, who shall deliver you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17: 47).

God favored David at such an early age with wisdom. There are people today in their 70's and 80's who believe that life's battles are won by big tanks and armies and billions of dollars. Not David. The Bible teaches that wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord. It is His gift to those who honor Him and respect His laws.

"Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine dead, and did it without a sword in his hand." (1 Samuel 17: 50)

How did David overcome Goliath?
With sling and stone. The victory of Christians will come through faith in the name of Jesus. Not through $$ dollars and hard work. The Holy Spirit gives us this Scripture to inspire us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com