The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

"While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many." (Mark 14: 22 - 24).

Sunday June 6th 2021, Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus). Today, the Church demonstrates her faith in the most precious Eucharist: the source, center and summit of her life. It is also the occasion of great thanksgiving for this immense gift and the radical faithfulness of Jesus to His Bride all these 2000 plus years.

The Church and the world needs the Eucharist desperately.
"The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease." (CCC 1380).

Jesus Christ is everyday inviting everyone to come to the Eucharist. "Come and eat bread without money." The more we respond to this invitation, the more we experience the salvation Jesus Christ won for us.

The Eucharist brings us immense peace. Do you lack peace of soul? Then go often to the Eucharist. The Prince of Peace is waiting to heal your heart and mind of fears, worries and doubts. He will heal you and immerse you in peace.  When you cannot receive Jesus physically, make a Spiritual Communion. You will be blessed. 

Are you hungry for the Eucharist? How strong is your faith in the Real Presence?
Jesus I believe in Your Real Presence in the Eucharist.
Jesus I believe in Your Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
Jesus I believe in Your Real Presence in me in the Sacrament of the Present Moment.

The mode of Christ's presence in these three forms is unique and very real. The whole of Jesus is present in each of these modes.
Thank You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

This is Jesus-Emmanuel. God is with us in the Eucharist.  Come receive him, adore him, This is Jesus, our Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

First Saturday in June is also the feast of St Boniface.

"Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.  A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents." (Mark 12: 41).

Saturday 5th June 2021, in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Boniface (680 - 754), Bishop and Martyr. The well educated English Benedictine priest was sent by Pope Gregory II to evangelize the German tribes. Boniface was consecrated the first Bishop of Germany. He organized the Church in Germany and was martyred in Friesland (present day Netherlands) when he went to preach there. St Boniface is the patron saint of Germany.

Our key Scripture for today is the contribution of the poor widow to the Temple. Jesus was sitting in a strategic location in the Temple and observed people as they came to make their offerings. When Jesus observed the poor widow make her offering, Jesus called His disciples to himself and said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury."

On the first Saturday of June, let us reflect on one widow: Mary the Mother of Jesus was a widow for most of her life. Tradition recounts that Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary did not live long enough to see the public ministry of Jesus. From what we gathered from traditional sources, Mary, Joseph and Jesus lived a modest life even when Joseph, the main bread winner was still alive. We can only guess that things did not change much after Joseph died.

What can we learn from Mary the poor widow. We know that after Jesus started His public ministry, Mary followed Her Son everywhere He went. She was at Cana for the first miracle of Jesus. When she got the malicious message that Jesus had gone mad from too much preaching and not eating for days, Mary went with some relatives to check out the story.
At the foot of the Cross, one of the last words of Jesus was to commit Mary to the care of John the Evangelist.  The poor widow Mary earned the title the "first disciple" of Jesus. She learned everything she could about the teaching of Jesus.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturdays especially on the First Saturday of each month.

"For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she [Mary], from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

What a wonderful Mother we have in Mary.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Jesus is the Son of David.

"As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David?" (Mark 12: 35).

Friday 4th June 2021, in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time is the First Friday of June. The entire month of June is dedicated to honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus with next Friday June 11th being the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

From our lead Scripture today, we ask: What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of David? Jesus posed the question as He taught in the Temple to correct the erroneous and simplistic assumptions of the teachers of the people. The "Son of David" appears in the Messianic Psalm 110: 1:

"A psalm of David.
The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand, while I make your enemies your footstool.”

While the meaning is fairly obvious to us today after 2000 years of Christianity, it was not at all evident to the Jews who heard Jesus. The evocation of "Son of David" brings a rush of patriotic fervor to their hearts. David was the master statesman of Israel who had no equal.

The Son of David simply means that Jesus Christ is 100% Man and 100% God. Who will blame the Jews for not understanding this. It took the Church centuries and multiple Church councils to settle the Christological controversies generated by the gross misunderstanding of the true nature of Christ. Pastors across denominations still patiently explain to their flock that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly Man.
It is one thing to proclaim it in the Creed, it is a different matter to understand it and use the knowledge as part of your living faith.

"I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man."

Who is the Son of David? He is Christ the Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

First Friday in June 2021, Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

June 4th, First Friday in June 2021.

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 6th month of the year 2021, we look at Promise #6.

#6.  "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy."

June is the Month the Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Friday June 11th, 2020 is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and glowing furnace of love, You are my sanctuary.  O adorable and glorious Savior, consume my heart with that burning fire that ever inflames Your Heart.
Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your Love.  Let my heart be one with, and in all things conformed to, Yours. May Your Will be the rule of both my desires and my actions. Amen."  (St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).

"Jesus has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, "is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings" without exception."  (CCC 478).

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass,  Holy Hour, Rosary, etc.

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

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

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of St Charles Lwanga and companion martyrs.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12: 30 - 31).

Thursday 3rd June 2021, in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Charles Lwanga and 22 companions. (+1886 - 1887). Ugandans. On the feast of Ascension 1886, the powerful but corrupt King Mwanga of Uganda mercilessly killed Charles Lwanga and 14 teenage companions who resisted resolutely his homosexual advances. Eight of the companions were killed later.

The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity, said the erudite theologian, Tertulian. Martyrdom is the greatest testimony/witness to faith.  The Greek word martyr actually means witness. The testimony of the absolute love of Jesus for us is that He gave His life to prove it. What is most impressive about the martyrs of Uganda is that all of them are teenagers and Catechumens. Technically, they are not yet Christians since they had not received Baptism. Yet they chose to die for the faith they had come to love.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus answered the scribe:  Do you want to know the greatest commandment? To fulfill the law perfectly, love God with all your heart and all your being and love your neighbor likewise. Genuine love for God is inseparable from genuine love of neighbor.

If we desire to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, we must love God as Jesus loves Him. How?

Embrace God's holy, gracious and mysterious will in everything, everywhere and always. We must believe and act like Jesus: "My food is to do the will of God." We must believe firmly and repeat often: "Father, in Your will is our peace."

St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church writes:
"When we will what God wills, it is our own greatest good that we will; for God desires what is for our greatest advantage. Let your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He do with you what He pleases."

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of Saints Marcellinus and Peter.

"Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?" (Mark 12: 24).

Wednesday 2nd June 2021, in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of two Roman saints: Marcellinus and Peter. (+ 304). Marcellinus was priest and Peter, a senior seminarian in the minor order of Exorcist. Both were martyred the same day under Emperor Diocletian.

We have a very interesting encounter in today's Gospel on the subject of Marriage, Death and Resurrection between the learned Sadducees and Jesus. The Sadducees wanted to embarrass Jesus over the question of marriage and afterlife. They had a reputation for being smart and experts in the Hebrew Scriptures. This is how Jesus answered them:

"Jesus said to them, “Is this not why you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures [that teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [who is able to raise the dead]?" (AMP).

We have many scholars today who read the Sacred Scriptures as the Sadducees. They read but do not understand the deeper meaning of  Scriptures which can only be grasped through the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
They do not know the power of God. Even a little child knows that God is all powerful which means that God can do all things and nothing is impossible for Him.

Are there things you find difficult to understand in Sacred Scripture like:
+ The Eucharist.
+ The nature of the Church.
+ Heaven and Hell.
+ The Mystery of Divine Providence.

All these questions have been treated comprehensively in the Catechism of the Catholic Church where the Church has displayed accumulated teaching, knowledge and insights of the past 2000 years.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of St Justin Martyr.

"Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God’. This reply took them completely by surprise." (Mark 12: 17 JB).

Tuesday 1st June 2021, in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Justin Martyr (+ 165). Born in Samaria in Palestine. An eminent philosopher and the first apologist in the Church. He defended the Christian faith in his writings in Rome where he established a school of public debate. St Justin was beheaded under Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Justin is the patron saint of apologists, philosophers, teachers and speakers.

Just as the Roman philosophers tested the philosophical and rhetorical skills of St Justin Martyr, so did the Pharisees and Herodians did to Jesus in the Gospel of today.
"Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” (Mark 12: 14).

After examining the coinage in use for transactions in Israel, the Pharisees and Herodians were caught in their own trap when Jesus asked them: "Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied him, “Caesar’s.”

"Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God’. This reply took them completely by surprise."

Caesar has a right to his taxes because he got his power from God. Do not deny God what rightly belongs to God, viz: Sunday worship, keeping His commandments, knowing, loving and serving Him.  Jesus  "reply took them completely by surprise."

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Cf Luke 1: 45 Alleluia Verse).

Monday 31st May 2021, is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.

The Church celebrates today the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her elderly pregnant cousin, Elizabeth.  Why is this feast very important?
Because of two key prophecies that were uttered in the course of the exchange between the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth:

#1  “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  (Luke 1: 42 - 44).  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth recognized Mary as Theotokos, "The Mother of my Lord."

#2  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed."  (Luke 1:  46 - 48).
All generations throughout the world continue to call Mary the Theotokos, the Mother of God.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

Billions of Hail Marys are said all over the world every day.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

"Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore,  and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28: 18 - 20).

Sunday 30th May is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Godhead, the adorable Blessed Trinity, One God, three co-equal Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a 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 in eternity.

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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified."

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

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of Pope St Paul VI.

"The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached Jesus and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11: 27 - 28).

Saturday 29th May 2021, 8th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the gentle Pope St Paul VI, (1897 - 1978), Pontiff. Paul's papacy spanned the period of Vatican Council II which was followed by a period of change and ferment in the Church and society.

Our key Scripture for today mirrors the experience of Pope St Paul VI, whose feast we celebrate today. When the Roman Pontiff issued the watershed and prophetic HUMANAE Vitae on 1st July 1968, high churchmen and theologians especially in North America asked mockingly: “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?”

The Encyclical warned bluntly what would follow if the world go the way of contraception and abortion.
His prophecy has been vindicated to the letter. Think about this: There is a drastic reduction in birth rate in the First World today. People here today must choose between : Contraception and Abortion or beautiful and sweet baby boy or girl. You cannot have the two.

The authority of Jesus Christ is not of human origin. The authority of Pope St Paul VI is not of human origin. "Thou at Peter. Upon this rock, I will build My Church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The battle with the powers of Hell continues. So far, the Church of Jesus Christ is holding steadfast to the Boat.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Our heroes of Faith and Prayer in the Bible.

"Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.  Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." (Mark 11: 22 - 24).

Friday 28th May 2021, in the 8th Week in Ordinary Time.

I like our key Scripture for today very much because Jesus teaches with clarity on the subject of Prayer. I consider myself a beggar and in the course of the day, I am constantly asking God for many favors: heal my nerve pain in my left foot, show me the way to get to that location quickly, how do I do this, Lord and so forth and so on.

Jesus has taught throughout His public ministry that prayer works. Not just the petty prayers like the ones I make frequently. But also big ticket items: life and death issues, vocations and jobs, marriage and divorce, elections and the economy. Everything comes under God's powerful and merciful Divine Providence. This is true.  Jesus teaches that not even a single hair will fall from our head without our Father in Heaven knowing about it and permitting it.

Who are my heroes of faith and prayer in the Bible?
Bartimaeus, Cornelius, the Syrophoenician woman and Jairus. Jesus praised the faith of these people and their prayers were answered according to their faith.

Therefore pray with faith.
Pray with persistence.
Pray for God's will and purpose in your life.
Pray for grace to forgive all your enemies.
Pray always. Pray for everything. Pray everywhere.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury.

"As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging.  On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” (Mark 10: 46 - 48).

Thursday 27th May 2021, in the 8th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine of Canterbury. (+ 604). Italian monk sent by Pope St Gregory the Great to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon who conquered England and dominated the original Celtic population who embraced Christianity centuries earlier. St Augustine baptized Ethelbert, the Anglo-Saxon king and the people followed their king into the Church. St Augustine made Canterbury his Episcopal See and became the first Primate of all England.

Our key Scripture introduces us to the lovable character Bartimaeus. He teaches us that great faith is born of great need. It reminds us of the maxim: No cross, no crown. No trial, no triumph. Bartimaeus used the liability of his blindness to climb the ladder of faith to meet the Son of David who was impressed by his determination and faith and said to Bartimaeus:

“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”  Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way." (Mark 10: 51 - 52).

What a truly beautiful story. Won't you like to have the faith and courage of Bartimaeus? Not when we shrink from the least discomfort. Our pains and trials could be the setting for the powerful and merciful Providence of God to elevate our faith and bring us the kind of healing we need.

Jesus, I trust in Your merciful love. I remain steadfast in Your love. I cling tightly to Your love come what may. I believe firmly in Your loving and powerful Providence. I do not depend on my filthy works. I surrender myself completely to You. Take care of everything Your way according to Your Plan for my life. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Feast of St Philip Neri, Super Priest.

"They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus
.... Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him.  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles." (Mark 10: 32 - 33).

Wednesday 26th May 2021, in the 8th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Philip Neri.  (1515 - 1595), Italian Priest.

St Philip Neri was an extraordinary priest filled with the Holy Spirit and ecstatic joy. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, the same religious community of St John Henry Newman. He converted thousands through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He was a great catechist and spiritual director. He was noted for his joyful and cheerful disposition which attracted thousands to him. One of my favorite quotes from Philip is:
"One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession."

Our key Scripture is Jesus' third prediction of His Passion. It is unthinkable that the disciples could forget such a prediction. Even His foretelling of His Resurrection was totally forgotten. We just celebrated Pentecost after 50 days of the Season of Easter. We all remember that Jesus has risen from the dead.

In what ways is the Risen Jesus available to us. He is no longer available to us in flesh and blood. He is truly present to us in the Eucharist, in the Blessed Sacrament, in His word especially when it is proclaimed in Holy Mass. He is present in us in the Sacrament of the Present Moment when we remember Him and call upon Him.

Let us never forget all these ways Jesus is truly and uniquely present to us. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to keep this truth alive in us.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Jesus promises full provision in His service plus persecution.

"Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." (Mark 10: 28 - 30).

Tuesday 25th May 2021, in the 8th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of 3 great saints:

#1. St Bede the Venerable (672 - 735), English Benedictine Priest and Doctor of the Church. Bede was a theologian and is known as Father of English history.

#2. St Gregory VII, (+ 1085),Pope and Monk of Cluny. Gregory incurred the wrath of Emperor Henry IV by fighting against the evils of Lay Investiture. The Emperor exiled him to Salerno where he died.

#3. St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (1566 - 1607), Italian Carmelite from Florence. Great ascetic. Worked untiringly for the renewal of the Church.

Our key Scripture for today is a tremendous promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. This promise motivated His disciples to join the Jesus Revolution. It still motivates the young novice in 2021 and the missionary packing her bag today for a missionary field in a distant land. Jesus promises that anyone who leaves everything for His "sake and for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands." 

How do we know that such promise is true? Is there any proof that it has ever been fulfilled in the past? The answer is:

#1. If the promise has never been fulfilled, there will be no new missionaries or martyrs in the Church. There are new missionaries every day and people are laying down their lives for Jesus Christ every day. 

#2. Our saints of today: Magdalene de Pazzi, Pope St Gregory VII and Venerable Bede are proofs of disciples who have tested eternal life in this world and are today enjoying it in Heaven.

What is eternal life? Eternal or Abundant life is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and with His gifts and fruits. This life is compatible with the suffering that Jesus promises His disciples in our key Scripture: The great promise comes "with persecutions."

Can you take this? 

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com 

The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home." (John 19: 25 - 27).

Monday May 24th 2021, in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Our Blessed Mother has many titles:

Mother of Christ
Mother of the Church
MOTHER of Mercy
Mother of divine grace
MOTHER of Hope
Mother most pure
Mother most chaste
Mother inviolate
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good Counsel
Mother of our Creator
Mother of our Savior.

The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church was promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018 to be celebrated all over the world on the Monday after the Solemnity of the Pentecost.

At the Annunciation, the young Mary accepted to be the Mother of the Savior: "Be it done to me according to Your word."  At the foot of the Cross of Jesus, Mary nodded silently when Jesus said: "Woman, behold your son." John the Apostle represents the Church. And Mary becomes the Mother of the Church.

The Church prays in her Collect of today's feast:
"O God, Father of mercies,
whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother,
to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples...."

Mary Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Solemnity of Pentecost.

 “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.  And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning." (John 15: 26 - 27).

Sunday 23rd May 2021, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church.

My friends, the waiting is over. The promise has been fulfilled. If you thirsted for the Spirit, you are now filled. Brethren, this is Pentecost! This is the Birthday of our Mother, the Church. She is Mother and our Teacher. Very old and ever young and beautiful. Virgin and Mother of many children. Queen of Peace and Seat of Wisdom. Happy Birthday Mother Church! 🎂🎂🎂🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️

The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the Cenacle "like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were." (Acts 2: 2). The waiting and praying are over. The Father has delivered the Big Gift He promised.

"The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection." (CCC 737).

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

The Feast of St Rita of Cascia.

 "It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.  There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." (John 21: 24 - 25)

Saturday May 22nd 2021, 7th Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of the Italian mystic, St Rita of Cascia (1381 - 1457), Augustinian nun. Rita was able to stop a vendetta between the relations of her murdered husband and the murderers. That was a feat in those days. Rita subsequently entered a convent where she spent 40 years in contemplation, austerities and service to the poor and sick.

We summarize our understanding of the two verses of the key Scripture thus: The word of God, Sacred Tradition and Apostolic Magisterium.

#1. The word of God: John the Evangelist testifies to the veracity of the word of God he committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
#2. Sacred Tradition: John warns that it is an error to limit God's word to what is written. There is so much more. The Holy Spirit is promised to lead the Church into the fullness of truth.
#3. Apostolic Magisterium: Anyone who doubts that full teaching authority is given to the Apostles headed by St Peter and his successors should read the New Testament prayerfully. This authority was foreshadowed in the Old Testament by the authority given to Moses and the Prophets to teach and interpret Scripture. God is not the author of confusion.

On the eve of Pentecost, let us pray to God to restore unity of heart and mind in the Church.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Feed My sheep.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21: 15).

Friday 21st May 2021, in the 7th Week of Easter is also the feast of St Christopher Megallanes (1869 - 1927), Priest and his companions martyrs. The Mexican government was very anti-Catholic and anti clerical in the 1920s.  It massacred 21 priests and 3 lay men during the Cristeros movement.

Peter denied Jesus three times. After the Resurrection, Jesus met the Apostles on the shores of Lake Tiberius. Jesus offered Peter the opportunity for complete reconciliation. Peter confirmed three times that he loves Jesus dearly. Jesus confirmed Peter's leadership of the Church.

What if Jesus asks us: Do you love me more than your family? Do you love me more than your job, money, country? Consider carefully how you respond to the Lord. Peter was very presumptuous before the Passion of Christ to claim that he loved Jesus more than the rest of the Apostles.

Our love for Jesus may not be perfect. But this love can grow through our openness to receive the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The highest proof of love is for a man to lay down his life for his friends. This is what our saints of the day did. St Christopher Magallanes and his 21 companion martyrs laid down their lives for their faith in Jesus in Mexico.  As Tertulian prophesied: "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity."

St Peter and the other Apostles would lay down their lives to prove their love for Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Feast of St Bernardine of Siena, Franciscan Friar.

"I pray..... so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." (John 17: 21).

Thursday 20th May 2021, in the 7th Week of Easter is the feast of St Bernardine of Siena (1380 - 1444). Italian Franciscan Priest. St Bernardine had a great charism for preaching. During his relatively short life, he was able to evangelize all Italy. Below is a snippet from his biography.

"When other priests consulted him for advice, Bernardine gave them a simple rule: “In all your actions, seek in the first place the kingdom of God and his glory. Direct all you do purely to his honor. Persevere in brotherly charity, and practice first all that you desire to teach others.”

Bernardine came down to us in history for his special love for the holy name of Jesus.
Here is a great quote from St Bernardine on the name of Jesus:

“The name of Jesus, is in fact,
the great foundation of the faith
that turns people into children of God.
The Catholic Faith indeed,
consists in the news of Jesus Christ, as light of the soul, gate of life and foundation of eternal salvation.”

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus prayed for Church Unity. He wants Christians to be of one heart and one mind so that the world would look at Christians and see Jesus in us.  The standard for this unity is: "Just as you [Father] are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me."
Today there may be more than 60,000 denominations in the world.  You may wonder: What type of answer is this to prayer? This is surely mystery of Divine Providence.

One of the greatest obstacles to Unity is that a sizable number of denominations do not believe in the type of Unity that Jesus prayed for His Church. Number one obstacle without doubt is Sin. Sin exists in all churches. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit deals  with sins in the churches. We may still hope to see visible unity in our lifetime.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Lord Jesus, consecrate us in the truth.

"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth." (John 17: 17).

Wednesday 19th May 2021, in the 7th Week of Easter.

In the high priestly prayer on the night before His Passion, Jesus prayed to His Father that His disciples should be consecrated in the truth. God's word is truth. Jesus, the Word of God is truth. To consecrate means to set apart, to sanctify, to purify for holy purposes.

Have you ever seen a new Altar or Chalice consecrated by the Bishop? It is a worthwhile experience. It will help to appreciate the prayer of Jesus in our key Scripture. What will you do if you walk into your church and find gansters partying around the Altar and drinking beer with the Chalice. Calling the police will not make the Altar and Chalice pure, holy and consecrated again. The sacred objects have been desecrated. They have been made unholy through sacrilegious action. The Bishop may  order both objects to be destroyed or he may decide to reconsecrate the expensive Altar and have the Chalice destroyed and buried.

You are consecrated by your Baptism for Mission and Witness. When one fails through a serious sin, the person has become desecrated. Our Supreme High Priest, Jesus the Christ who delights in mercy has made provision for our re-consecration through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

When you live as one consecrated to the truth, you will avoid conforming yourself to the ways and habits of this world. Rather through daily renewal of your mind by the word of God the Holy Spirit will transform your mind. When being fed by the Scriptures becomes your habitual manner of living, discerning what is the will of God for you becomes a habit. The will of God is our peace and prosperity.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com