RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ABUNDANT LIFE.

THE GIFT OF ABUNDANT LIFE. 

"Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.

"But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 

"The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 

"But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

"So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 

"I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 1 - 10).

Monday April 22nd 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Why was Jesus conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontus Pilate, crucified, died and buried and rose again on Easter Sunday, which we celebrate each Easter Season?

The answer is: THAT WE MAY HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE.

Humanity had lanquished in squalor since the downfall of Adam and Eve. 

What is Abundant Life? Abundant Life is the Holy Spirit. When we become baptized, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit instantly comes and dwells in us. He does not come empty handed.

The Holy Spirit comes with all His gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Reverential Fear of the Lord and Piety.

These gifts come to us as seeds to be developed by us through desire, prayer and study.

The Holy Spirit blesses us too with the fruits of His personality, for example: Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity and others.

This is the Abundant Life that Jesus speaks about in John 10: 10. He who believes enjoys Abundant Life Here and Now. St Catherine of Siena says that we continue to enjoy this Abundant Life from now all the way to eternity.

Abundant life is life in the Spirit not the indulgent life of over-eating, drinking and revelry which is the life of the unsaved. 

If you lose the joy and peace of abundant life through sin, you go to the Hospital where the Good Shepherd is waiting for you with the merciful medicine of Mercy.

The Eucharist is the food for the Journey of life provided for us by the Good Shepherd.

THE EUCHARIST IS THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. 

The Church honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

A SHEEP NEEDS A GOOD SHEPHERD.

THE LORD IS MY GOOD SHEPHERD. 

"Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

"A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.

"This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;

"and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

"I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

"This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10: 11 - 18).

Sunday 21st April 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.

My brethren, a sheep needs a shepherd. Jesus says that He is not just our shepherd but He is a Good Shepherd.

What does a shepherd do for the helpless dependent sheep?

1. He leads them to a safe and rich pasture where they can graze in safety.

2. After grazing, he leads them to a cool shade where they rest and sleep.

3. All the time, he protects them from wolves which prowl and are a constant danger to the sheep.

Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd does all the above for us.

The Holy Eucharist is the rich and safe pasture which Jesus has prepared for us. 

The Most Holy Name of Jesus is a bulwark of protection from attacks from any wolf .

When we are injured by the attacks of the wolf, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to nurse us and bring us to good health.

THE EUCHARIST IS THE IS THE PASTURE THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROVIDES FOR HIS SHEEP. 

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

THE SPIRIT GIVES ABUNDANT LIFE.

IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE. 

"Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

"Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

"It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

"Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

"As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 

"Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 60 - 69).

Saturday April 20th in 3rd Week of Easter Season.

IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE. Our flesh has nothing to offer. What a revelation we have in the Gospel of today.

The Liturgy calls the Holy Spirit "The Lord and Giver of life."

At the Epiclesis, the moment the Priest spreads His hands over the Chalice and the Ciborium, he calls down the Holy spirit to transform the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It happens at that moment.

The Spirit is the Lord and Giver of eternal life. The Eucharist is the source of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is also the Source of abundant life.

"I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10: 10).

There is a dynamic connection between the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. If you want to grow in the Holy Spirit, receive the Eucharist often. As you grow in abundant life, you grow in the knowledge and love of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus Christ.

THE CHURCH HONORS THE EUCHARIST IN APRIL. 

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

THE EUCHARIST IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR GOD!

HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? 

"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 

"Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum." (John 6: 52 - 59).

Friday April 19th 2024 in the 3rd Week in Easter Season.

The Eucharist is the medicine of immortality.  (St Ignatius of Antioch). 

We continue with the Bread of life Discourse in the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John where eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Jesus is the dominant theme of this Easter Season so far.

It has been said that the best interpretation of the Gospel is the Example of the saints who are faithful and true witnesses to Jesus and His Way. Let us read below how some of the saints bore witness to the truth of the Bread of life Discourse.

"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others."  (Pope St John Paul II).

"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven." (Pope St Pius X).

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." (St John Vianney).

"The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (CCC 1324).

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord.

THE CHURCH HONORS THE EUCHARIST IN APRIL.  

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1