Why are your hearts troubled?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" (John 14: 1 - 2).

Friday May 8th 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Our Gospel pick for today is from the Last Souper Discourses. Remember that this is the fireside tête à tête that Jesus had with the Apostles the night before He was crucified.

Today, the hearts of Christians are troubled like the Apostles before the clear and present dangers of the pandemics. For us and the Apostles, we are entering uncharted waters. Now Jesus knows about how they and us feel. He says to us:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me."

From the chattering boxes, what do we know about what Christians are afraid of today?
#1 Dying.
#2 Financial loss.
#3 Job loss.

Not much evidence about fears, worries and doubts about their eternal destiny. Yet this is a marvelous opportunity to preach the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus and what it means for us.

"In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" (John 14: 1 - 2).

Believe. Stop doubting!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it." (John 13: 16 - 17).

Thursday 7th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season. We enter one of the most consequential conversations of Jesus with His disciples: The Last Supper Discourse.

The first thing Jesus did as He gathered the disciples to celebrate the Passover in the Upper Room which became the Last Supper was to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. What is the lesson for them and for us?
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it." (John 13: 16 - 17).
Jesus the Christ came to serve and not to be served.

We become saints not by the amount of knowledge or degrees we have but by imitating Jesus. As we become little by little like Jesus every day we start to imitate his actions.  Jesus promises that this is the secret of the ultimate blessings and happiness in this world and the next.

Saints are the happiest people on earth. Why not start by desiring to be a saint?

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I am the Light of the world.

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life." (John 8: 12 Gospel Acclamation).

Wednesday 6th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Today Jesus speaks of Light and says bluntly that He is the Light of the world. In the city where I live, we have enjoyed almost three weeks of blasting sunrise since Easter Sunday, April 12. I step out in the driveway in the morning with my dark glasses to gaze on the sunrise. It reminds me of the Transfiguration. But later I came to see the only sun in the world as a strong symbol of Jesus the only Unique Son of the Father.

What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world. The contrast between light and darkness comes to mind. We also know about:
Light and the Holy Spirit.
Light and illumination.
Light and truth.
Light and knowledge.

As for darkness, we know about darkness and sin; darkness and unbelief.

When the Franciscans arrived in Aztec country in the 16th century, human sacrifice was rampant. Decades after, it was wiped out and replaced by the the Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the living God. This has been the inevitable outcome of the the light of Christ all over the world from the beginning of Christianity.
Slavery, ignorance, disease and poverty have been abolished in many parts of the world. The battle for a healthy environment is on and will succumb to the light of Christ shortly.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?" (Psalm 27: 1).

You fear nothing and nobody only if the Lord is your light and your salvation. Go for light!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

But you do not believe..

"The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.  But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep." (John 10: 25 - 26).

Tuesday 5th April 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Our key Scripture deals with the ugly and stubborn sin of Unbelief. Throughout Scripture, Unbelief has riled God. The Israelites witnessed a series of tremendous display of power that led to their deliverance  from Egypt. They were stunned and incredulous when they marched through the Red Sea. They drank clean water from the rock. They were fed of manna. Yet, they never believed or trusted God.

Jesus Christ came and performed all the miracles foretold by the prophets. The people saw all these and did not believe or trusted Jesus. We know why they did not believe. "They are not among my sheep."
Brethren, be careful so that Unbelief does not deprive you of your eternal inheritance. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul."

How do you detect the festering sin of Unbelief?

#1 Is your heart cool to the word of God? "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St Jerome).
#2 Are you scornful of the Sacraments?
#3 Do you prefer to listen to how science can extend life so that man lives for 300 years instead of the promise of Eternal life?
#4 Do you consider the Second coming of Jesus Christ a myth for fools?

"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me." (John 10: 27).

“Blessed is the man who does not lose faith in me” (Matthew 11:6).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

What is Abundant Life?

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10).

Monday 4th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

The Good Shepherd Gospel of Sunday is repeated today because of its importance. From it, we pick our daily Scripture verse:
"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10). Most people know this Scripture. They like it because we all like to enjoy abundant life. It is possible to enjoy abundant life here on earth. But it is not what you may think: great health and no sickness; flawless family and zero feuds; always financial peace and stability; great skills and top jobs; high quality and top of line tools and possessions.

What then is the Abundant life promised in John 10: 10? What is promised is 100% better than all of the above. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, the Big Gift of the Father and His special promise is what is promised. For good measure, Scripture teaches that the Father does not ration His Holy Spirit. What you receive will be in direct proportion to your desire and your capacity to receive.

Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and that door shall be opened to you.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

My Good Shepherd is my Provider and Protector.

"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me." (John 10: 14).

Sunday 3rd May 2020, 4th Sunday in the Season of Easter is the Good Shepherd Sunday.

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd?
The Church is a family, a sheepfold and Jesus is the necessary gateway into the Sanctuary. God has foretold in the Scriptures that God Himself would be the Shepherd of this flock and will appoint human beings to govern His flock. (Cf CCC 754).

What does it mean that we are the sheep of God's flock? The answer is in today's Responsorial Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit."

Psalm 23 is the personal experience of King David. If the Lord is truly your Good Shepherd, if you recognize His voice and follow Him, you can claim and own all the promises of Psalm 23. This is what Jesus means when He says: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10: 10).

Go for the full life!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Bread of life Discourse exposed unbelief and hypocrisy.

"Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (John 6: 60).

Saturday 2nd May 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt (297 - 373) Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Athanasius was a key light at the Council of Nicaea (325) where he defended vigorously that Jesus Christ is true God (100%) and true Man (100%). He defended this truth all his life and suffered much persecution from the Arians including several exiles.

Our key Scripture for today shows that the disciples who witnessed many of the miracles of Jesus: feeding thousands, raising the dead, casting out demons, healing the sick, opening blind eyes and deaf ears never really believed in Jesus. It took the Bread of life Discourse to expose their unbelief and hypocrisy. Brethren, unbelief and hypocrisy are still very alive  in the Body of Christ today.
God raised up Athanasius to defend the truth of Christ's divinity. Who is the Athanasius of our day to defend the Church from unbelief and love of money?

"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." (John 6: 64).

Hundreds left Jesus and went home and never returned. But Peter spoke up for the Twelve who remained:
“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: 68 - 69).

To whom shall we go? To what shall we go? Outside Jesus, there is nothing there. Everything is emptiness without Jesus.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus the Carpenter.

“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?  Is he not the carpenter’s son?" (Matthew 13: 54 - 55).

Friday May 1st 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Joseph the Worker and Labor Day in most countries of the world. Jesus was apprentice carpenter under Joseph and later became a self-employed small businessman as a carpenter.

What is God's plan for work for man and woman?
"God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth." (Genesis 1: 28).

Through our labors, we make ourselves holy and become in a certain way co-creators with God. Look at some beautiful cities in the world like Atlanta. Through simple landscaping, man has added so much value to the city carved out of  forest.

"Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat; blessed are you, and blessed will you be." (Psalm 128: 1-2).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday, May 1, 2020.

First Friday, May 1, 2020.

Jesus promised 12 special graces and favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 5th month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #5.

#5.  "I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings."

The Sacred Heart of Jesus promises to pour abundant blessings on all the undertakings of those who honor Him especially on the First Friday of every month. Faced with unprecedented pressure to adapt our lives to the exigencies of the pandemics, who is so strong and so confident to despise extra help at this period?

Lord come to our help and prosper the work of our hands.

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

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 Eucharist is Jesus.

"I am the bread of life...... I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Cf John 6: 48 - 51).

Thursday 30th April 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Pius V, Pope, Dominican Priest (1504 - 1572). He implemented the decrees of the Council of Trent, published the Roman Catechism and revised the Missal and Breviary.

We return to the Bread of life Discourse in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. Today eternal life is promised to those who partake of the Bread of life with faith and integrity.

In the Eucharist, Jesus is our Priest. He is the Victim who is sacrificed for our sins. He invites us to consume Him as food and drink. This teaching was so radical that many of Jesus disciples abandoned Him and went home. But Jesus did not water down the teaching. Instead Jesus asked the remaining disciples: "Will you also go away?"

The Eucharist is Jesus, Emmanuel. God is with us, in this sacrament. He invites us to come receive Him and adore Him. For He is truly Jesus, our Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Patron Saint of Plagues, Patron Saint of Italy, first Woman Doctor of the Church: St Catherine of Siena.

"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

Wednesday April 29th 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of a giant of the faith: St Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380), Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

Catherine died at the age of 33 and accomplished for the Kingdom of God what most of us could never accomplish even if we live to be 90.
She brought about the renewal of the Church in a period of reckless gansterism. She was instrumental in reuniting the Church during the great Western Schism. She authored a spiritual classic, THE DIALOGUE. Catherine is the first woman to be named Doctor of the Church. She is the patron saint of plagues and Italy. There will be Masses today all over Italy to ask her intervention in the pandemics ravaging Italy. Catherine is very familiar with Plagues.

We skip the Bread of life Discourse today to draw inspiration from the Gospel from the special Mass to honor St Catherine:
"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

If you want to learn some of the mysteries of the kingdom Father God revealed to Catherine, read THE DIALOGUE, available on Amazon and elsewhere.

St Catherine of Siena pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I am the Bread of life. 2

"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6: 35).

Tuesday 28th April 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast days of two French saints: St Louis Marie de Montfort (1673 - 1716), Priest and founder of religious order. St Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr.

St Louis Marie is known in history from the best seller charismatic book he wrote: TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY. This book has been read by millions since publication over 250 years ago. Important people that have read the book included several Popes and saints. Pope St John Paul II has quoted from it. The book may deceptively appear light weight but the content must be anointed, which explains its longevity. I owe this book three favors I still enjoy today since reading it about 25 years ago: Commitment to daily Rosary, deeper devotion to Mary and making St Louis Marie de Montfort one of my patron saints.

St Peter Chanel died a martyr in the island of Futuna in the Oceania.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus continues the Bread of life Discourse. Today, Jesus stated a truth that committed Christians will testify to. The Eucharist effectively kills desires for material things: more money, bigger homes, flashy cars, upscale neighborhoods, etc.
If you receive the Eucharist regularly in the state of grace and this worldly desires are still part of your struggle, something is wrong.

I read St Louis de Montfort TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY over 10 times. He stated: "You cannot say the Rosary daily and continue sinning. Either you quit the Rosary or you quit sinning."
The same can be said about the Eucharist. Be steadfast with the Eucharist and No hunger or thirst for lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes or pride of life will torture you. This is the promise of Salvation. These are the evils we are saved through the Cross.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why is the Eucharist Jesus greatest Sign of love for us?

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John 6: 27).

Monday 27th April 2020, 3rd Monday in the Season of Easter.

Jesus begins the famous Bread of life Discourse. This is crucial for our faith and life as Christians. We see in this Bread of life Discourse the full meaning in the word of God: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4).

The Bread of life is the Flesh and Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, given for the salvation of the world. This Sacrament contains the full Body, Soul and Divinity of the Savior. It is the Medicine of life and Food for the Journey to Immortality.

Jesus Christ presents the Eucharist in the Bread of life Discourse as a Sign. For John the Evangelist, a Sign is a Miracle, a Sacrament. The crowd who ate the multiplied loaves wanted more of the same. They misunderstood completely the "Sign" language of the miracle. A bouquet of roses given to a girl is a sign. There is a problem when the girl uses the bouquet of roses as a vegetable.

The Eucharist is the greatest Sign of Jesus. How many little signs of love of Jesus do we miss daily?
Not even a single comfort you enjoy in life comes from chance or accident. They all come from God's gracious ordaining.

Rejoice always. Pray always. Give thanks always.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Something prevented them from recognizing Jesus.

"Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him." (Luke 24: 16).

Sunday 26th April 2020, 3rd Sunday in the Season of Easter.

After His Resurrection, Jesus sought after two of His discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus. What follows is very interesting. Why were the eyes of Cleopas and his companion prevented from recognizing Jesus? St Jerome, Scripture scholar and Doctor of the Church gives  us a clue: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
The same ignorance of Scripture prevented me from recognizing Jesus in the Scriptures, Blessed Sacrament, Eucharist, Sacrament of the Present Moment for a long time.

From the mighty deeds and words of Jesus, the disciples thought that Jesus might be the Messiah. Why did they not explore the Scriptures to prove the point and find out what Scripture says about the Messiah? Jesus said that they were not only foolish but slow in understanding. How? Because it is clear from the Scriptures that Salvation would come only through the Cross. (Cf CCC 272).

We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same error. The two big gifts of Easter are: the Holy Spirit and Peace. The Holy Spirit will make “our hearts burn within us while he speaks to us and opens the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32).

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of an Evangelist: St Mark.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16: 15).

Saturday 25th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist. St Mark is the writer of the second Gospel and worked with Peter and Paul.

In today's daily Scripture verse, the Holy Spirit is saying to us:
"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Why did God create the Internet and cell phone at this time? So that everyone can fulfill the mandate to communicate the Good News with family, friends, colleagues.
Not everyone is called by God to be Mark the Evangelist. Not everyone of us can write like St Augustine. Everyone receives the word of God daily from different sources. What inspires you can inspire a family member, a friend or colleague. Share it through text, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Do not be afraid.

Most of my ministry in evangelization is sharing content created by others. All I need is the help of the Holy Spirit to discern the material as the truth. It will be terrible to distribute error or untruth. The word today encourages each of us to share the Gospel. Practice makes perfect.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Gamaliel and his principle of discernment.

"If this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him." (Acts 5: 38 - 39).

Friday 24th April 2020 in the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622), Priest and Martyr. Born in Germany, he achieved fame as Evangelist and Catechist in Switzerland where he was martyred for the faith.

Our Scripture for today asks through the lips of Gamaliel, a great Pharisee and teacher:
Is this pandemic of divine or human origin? Have you been praying about this pandemic? What is it that God is saying through you? Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to discern the will of God before taking a harsh action against the Apostles or they will find themselves fighting against God.

The Sanhedrin accepted Gamaliel's advice and ordered the Apostles flogged, "warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honor of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name."

How did this story end?
"They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted." (Acts 5: 42).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit.

"For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit." (John 3: 34).

Thursday April 23rd 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St George and St Adalbert of Praque (+303; 956 - 997). George, the Dragon slayer was martyred under Emperor Diocletian. So popular was his legend that George is the patron saint of England, Portugal, Germany, etc.
St Adalbert of Prague, Bishop was martyred for protecting a woman who ran into the Sanctuary to seek protection from her accusers who  wanted her dead.

The Holy Spirit and Peace are the dominant theme of the Easter Season. We are told that God does not ration His Holy Spirit. When you ask for the Holy Spirit in faith, be sure you will receive what you ask for. God told Solomon when he asked for wisdom and not for riches and power: "Here and now I grant you what you ask for and more." Jesus promises: Ask and you shall receive. If you ask for the Holy Spirit, your Father will be so delighted that He will give you what you ask for at once. The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit. It means you receive in direct proportion to your desire and capacity to receive. The Holy Spirit is the source of abundant life.

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

When you are sent on a mission.

"But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5: 19 - 20).

Wednesday 22nd April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

The Scriptures today point to one theme today: Mission Wednesday or Purpose Wednesday. The Apostles were miraculously freed from jail for one purpose: Mission.
“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” If you died with Christ during Lent and raised with Him at Easter, take your place wherever you can and "tell the people everything about this life.”

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  (John 15: 16).

Our Response:
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Cf Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury.

 "With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all." (Acts 4: 33).

Tuesday 21st April 2020, Tuesday of the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Anselm (1033 - 1109), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Anselm became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England in 1093. A great theologian, God called Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths of His Revelation for which Anselm suffered much including exile. Other great Archbishops and Doctors of the Church who suffered exiles are:
Saints Athanasius, and John Chrysostom.

With great power Saint Anselm bore witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Lord recognized this through glorifying Anselm with the cross of suffering and exile. Those whom the Lord justifies through faith, He glorifies through the Cross. For what purpose? So that they may resemble more closely their elder Brother Jesus.

Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ. When you embrace the Cross, then you can bear great testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You must be born from above.

"Jesus answered and said to him, [Nicodemus] “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (John 3: 3).

Monday 20th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

Have you been born from above? Or are you still of below, the first creation? After Easter, this question is easier for everyone to answer. The Pandemic season makes the choice facing us stark.

"Why are the nations so angry?

 Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together

against the Lord and against his anointed one." 

(Responsorial Psalm 2: 1 - 2).

Are you one of those who utter folly and have forgotten that God is Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipresent and All-knowing? 

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

"No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Being born from above means being baptized and confirmed in the Holy Spirit and living as a New Creation. Such a man or woman embraces God's word and fears nothing. 

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6: 33 - 34).

No man can live the Christian life or do the work of God without the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of Mercy.

 “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 21 - 23).

Sunday 19th April 2020, Divine Mercy Sunday.

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world." Jesus had said to St Maria Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy. ( Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska).

The Divine Mercy Rosary is one of the most powerful devotions we have in the Church today. I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for all the blessings I have received through this wonderful devotion. Once upon a time, pressed by time to choose the Divine Mercy Rosary or another devotion, the thought came to me: Jesus Himself approves the Divine Mercy Devotion. And so does the Church. 

The Divine Mercy Devotion is simple and can be summarized by the ABC of Mercy:

A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you."
The "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU" you see at the bottom of the Divine Mercy image is the direct request of Jesus.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

We must speak about what we have seen and heard.

"Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus." (Acts 4: 13).

Saturday 18th April 2020, Easter Saturday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

Why does God use the weak and unlearned people to produce the amazement that leads to faith and conversion? The answer is in the chosen Scripture of today. Imagine two rustic and uneducated men from the fishing community standing before the Supreme Court of Israel and arguing why the Church is an essential service. This is exactly what Peter and John did in the first Reading of today. Their argument before the Supreme Court was forceful enough. Now comes the checkmate.

"Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply." (Acts 4: 14). The Justices became speechless. But that wasn't the end. Peter and John drove a nail into the coffin of the proud argument of the Justices who dared to raise their voice against the Holy Spirit:

"Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4: 19-20).

My brethren, the current pandemic presents a great opportunity to bear witness to the truth we hold dear. Does the Church provide an essential service or not?

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" (Luke 24: 38).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

At the command of Jesus, we cast our net to the right and caught a large haul of fish.

“Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” (John 21: 6).

Friday 17th April 2020, Easter Friday in the Solemnity of Easter.

We have in the Gospel of today a delicately touching scene from John 21. What happened? The disciples had gone back to the their old job of fishing. But Jesus was not done with them. He sought them out. He knew they fished all night without catching a fish.
“Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” They obeyed and hauled in a massive catch of fish.
What lessons can we learn from today's event?

#1 We need the guidance of Jesus for the success of our ministry, career, marriage, life.

#2 Prayer of faith in the Name of Jesus activates  divine intervention.
"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4: 12), we hear the Apostle Peter proclaim in the first Reading today.

Brethren, it is Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! He is the Key to every human desire and success.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why are you still fearful and full of doubts?

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" (Luke 24: 38).

Thursday 16th April 2020, Easter Thursday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

The Apostles gathered in the Upper Room could still not shake off the gruesome events of Good Friday by now three days ago. Jesus had since appeared to Mary Magdalene and some women, to Peter and some Apostles, to Cleopas who was present with his companion reporting the encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. In spite of all these, the Elect were still frightened with questions and doubts arising in their minds.

In the face of the Corona Virus pandemic, we can take comfort in today's Gospel.  We confess our fears, worries and doubts to Jesus who is in control of all events.

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8). Jesus promises.

The Holy Spirit and power in the name of Jesus are the two Easter promises. We need the two today more than ever.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Trust the Dream-fixer to fix any broken dreams.

"We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel." (Luke 24: 21).

Wednesday 15th April 2020, Wednesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

Have you ever lost hope in a certain and expected outcome? Maybe something as mundane as the result of a football or soccer tournament? Maybe a job or promotion you were absolutely certain was in the bag?
Then you know how painful a dashed hope could be. We have seen on television matured men and their wives and supporters crying profusely because they lost an election they believed was theirs.

Crushed dreams and hopes are very painful. The disciples of Jesus lost hope after His body was lowered into the grave and the entrance sealed with a Roman imperial wax. He is dead. Any hope of miracle is dashed to pieces.

Now that the dream of the Kingdom and a new way of life has been shattered, Cleopas and his companion decided to go home and look for a real job. Enters the Dream-fixer:  “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!  Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24: 25 - 26).

Once upon a time, I had a big dream. In a matter of days, one brutal event after the other happened to snuff out the dream. I was heart broken. Like Hezekiah pleading for his life, I turned to Abba Father at 5 am in the morning, weeping and asking why this must happen. Abba Father spoke one word that gave me hope. In 48 hours, I was on the way to a new dream. The Dream-fixer fixed my dream with something much better.

“Was not my heart burning within me while He spoke to me on the way and opened the scriptures to me?”

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The certainty of Apostolic Teaching.

"Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2: 36).

Tuesday 14th April 2020, Easter Tuesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

What is the great Easter Proclamation? Abba Father because of the obedience of His Servant Jesus promoted Jesus as our Lord and Christ. This is the sum of the Kerygma, the great Apostolic Proclamation:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

If you believe the above truth, you must ask: “What are we to do, my brothers?” 

"Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit." (Acts 2: 38).

How do you determine whether you have truly believed and repented? The answer is simple: Have you received the Gift of the Holy Spirit?
My brethren, this is truly the Big Gift and Promise of the Father. This Gift comes with everything you have ever desired. Remember: God created you and knows exactly what you need and when you need it. And besides, you can never live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Fake news threatened the truth of the Resurrection.

"You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep." (Matthew 28: 13).

Monday 13th April 2020, Easter Monday in the Octave of Easter.

Many people today are familiar with the term "fake news." These are deliberate falsehood, misinformation and lies sown by the opposition to destroy the truth. The chief priests and elders confronted with the news of the Resurrection of Jesus, bribed the soldiers to lie and sow disinformation that the Body of Christ was stolen by His disciples.

Jesus said that the good seed was sowed by the Sower during the day but the Enemy came at night and sowed tares. Pope Benedict XVI said that one of the great threats to Christianity today is the existential threat to truth. Never before in human history has man been confronted by untruth and falsehood from every quarter in such a large scale. 

Although the Church has Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition and Magisterium which work together as deposit of faith and source of truth, the Church is still buffeted constantly by flood of disinformation and fake news  even from inside the Church. Every Christian is bound to know the faith in other to bear witness to the truth. Not just to bear witness to the truth but very importantly to protect himself from falsehood. Many Catholics leave the Church because they "discovered scripture and the truth" somewhere.

Do not believe them when you hear "His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

This is the Day of the Easter Joy!

"For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead." (John 20: 9).

Sunday 12th April 2020, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The disciples of Jesus did not yet understand the testimony of Scripture that Jesus would be crucified, die and rise from the dead. Eye had never seen, nor ear heard nor did it ever enter their minds that such a thing is possible.

My brothers and my sisters, Happy Easter and welcome to the plan of God for our salvation and eternal life. Now what does it mean that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead?

#1 Jesus has conquered Sin.
#2 Jesus has conquered Fear.
#3 Jesus has conquered Death.
#4 Jesus is Lord and not Caesar.
#5 Abba Father has appointed Jesus the Judge of the Living and the Dead.

My brethren, this is the Good News. This is the cause of our Easter joy. To celebrate this great Feast, the Church decrees 50 days of continuous feasting till the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus Christ our Pascal Lamb is truly risen! Alleluia!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Holy Saturday, the Solemnity of Easter Vigil.

“Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16: 3).

Saturday 11 April 2020, Holy Saturday, the Solemnity of Easter Vigil.

Two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary got to the tomb of Jesus before the sun had risen. Where were the eleven Apostles? Even the two Marys who were the first to get to the tomb expected to see the dead Jesus in the tomb.

Jesus predicted His passion, death and resurrection three times before the grand events.  Yet no one of His disciples remembered. The Angel broke the news of the Resurrection to the two women.

“Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him." (Mark 16: 6).

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James became the first witnesses of the Resurrection and were commissioned to "go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

Jesus Christ our Passover has been sacrificed and has risen from the dead. He is Jesus, Emmanuel God with us. Come let us adore Him. Come let us receive Him in the Eucharist.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Good Friday 2020. This is not the execution of a criminal.

“We do not have the right to execute anyone.” (John 18: 31).

Friday 10th April 2020, Good Friday.

The Jewish leaders sees the death of Jesus on the Cross as the execution of a criminal.  “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
How do you see the death of Jesus on the Cross?

"It is love "to the end" that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died." No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all." (CCC 616).

We adore You O Christ and worship You because of Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Holy Thursday 2020, the Beginning of the Triduum.

"The Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 25)

Thursday 9th April 2020, Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) - the Beginning of Easter Triduum.

We pray to the Eternal Father that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries.

"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'" (CCC 1323).

We receive new life through the gift of the Body and Blood of Jesus. May we find full contentment in this meal.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Every sin is a betrayal of trust and friendship.

“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver,  and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over." (Matthew 26: 15 - 16).

Wednesday 8th April 2020, Wednesday of Holy Week.

Our key Scripture for today deals with the tough and ugly truth of betrayal. Every sin is a betrayal. Every betrayal is a sin against trust and friendship. He who says: "I have no sin is a liar."
For Judas, his price for betraying Jesus is thirty pieces of silver. What is your price for betraying Jesus? For working on Sunday? For that cruise holiday? That plumb job? That weekend at Las Vegas? Every sin has its price. In marketing, we say: "Put the right incentive on the promotion and the fish will bite the bait." So be humble my friend.

In God's most loving and merciful Providence, our Savior has given us two great Sacraments to deal with our sins:

#1 Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Medicine for the Journey. We journey to our permanent home through vast and dangerous forests. Snake bites, serious bruises from falls are the norm. Neglect the Sacrament of Reconciliation to your peril.

#2 The Eucharist:
Eucharist (Bread of life  and Food for the Journey). When you are on a long journey, you do well to pack adequate nutritious food.

The saints, our brethren who preceded us in this Journey of Faith know the value of these two Sacraments and they urge us to use them frequently.

Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter used the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist to regain the lost ground. Judas chose suicide because of pride. We have few days to the Most Solemn Feast of Easter. Let nothing keep you from full participation in the Solemnity.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Give me the light and illumination of the Holy Spirit.

"I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49: 6).

Tuesday 7th April 2020, Tuesday of Holy Week.

Abba Father, give me the light and illumination of the Holy Spirit that I may be a light for You everywhere.
You are so true and so faithful my God. Your precious and faithful promises are my security and protection.

"In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold."
(Cf Psalm 71: 1 - 17)

Like Isaiah on this Tuesday of Holy Week, we pray with expectant faith for the grace to be a light that shines for Jesus in our homes and work.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Mary of Bethany, the unassuming star.

"Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."  (John 12: 3).

Monday 6th April 2020, Monday of Holy Week.

Six days will be the Passover; Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, His very good friends. Perhaps to enjoy one last good meal and wine in Martha's Vineyard before His Passion. The star of the story today is not the matriarch, Martha whose hospitality is proverbial nor their apparently recluse brother, Lazarus.

The star is Mary who performed an outlandish gesture to demonstrate her love for Jesus. She broke a vial of what may be considered the very equivalent of the top line of Pierre Chardin and poured the oozing aromatic liquid on the feet of Jesus and wiped the feet with her long hairs. While some guests criticized this apparent waste, Jesus was very pleased and spoke up for Mary.

Who is Mary? Mary is here a type of the follower of Jesus who is marked by the following qualities:
#1 Total and radical commitment.
#2 Total self-giving.
#3 Total consecration (set apart) to Jesus and His cause.

Let us consider an example of the above commitment. St Ignatius Loyola of the Society of Jesus is a good example. See below his heart's greatest desire and objective:

+ To know the Heart of Jesus intimately.
+ To love Him passionately.
+ To follow Jesus everywhere.

We are today in the last week of Lent 2020. Where are you in the Journey of knowing Jesus more intimately so that you can love Him more and serve Him everywhere?

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Hail to you, our King! You alone have had compassion on our sins."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Triumphant Entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.

"And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21: 10 - 11).

Sunday 5th April 2020, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Today we honor Christ Jesus our triumphant King.

From time immemorial the Church has honored her triumphant King and Savior through processions and waving of palms on Palm Sunday. This has been done in war and peace, during plagues and normal time. It is difficult to find in history a time when this is not the case. The universal Church is experiencing today what no prophet had foretold. We must place our faith and destiny in the hands of the Bishops whom Jesus committed the entire Sacraments of Salvation  and instructed us in no uncertain terms:
"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10: 16).

"The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21: 9).

"Cease striving and know that I am God." (Psalm 46: 10.)

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You must die.

"Christ was handed over, to gather into one the scattered children of God." (Communion Antiphon: Cf. John 11: 52).

Saturday 4th April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent is the feast of St Isidore (560 - 636), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Isidore was Bishop of Seville in Spain and a leading light in the Church in Spain. He initiated many local Church councils. St Isidore earned his place among the Doctors of the Church by his rigorous scholarship especially his extensive Encyclopedia (Etymologies) which was popular up to the Middle Ages.

We are on the Eve of Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. The plot to kill Jesus has thickened at this point. Who wants to kill Jesus and who will benefit most from His disappearance from the religious-political scene?
“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (John 11: 49 - 50).
This is the voice of the High Priest, Caiaphas. He provides a powerful motive for the criminal conspiracy. The fate of Jesus is sealed.

The plan of the Father for the salvation of the world has taken a definitive path to victory. Is God the Father incapable of stopping the execution of His beloved Son Jesus? Or all the evils in the world? Just one word will stop them. "In the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil."
The Cross has been ordained by the Father from eternity to be the means of our Salvation. No Cross, No Crown. No Trials. No Triumph.

As we enter the most holy Week of the year, we pray for the grace to understand the meaning of the Cross in our lives.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Open your eyes and see...

*This post from Anglican Bishop Ikeakor raises interesting questions and should engender discussion among the faifhfuls.*

....IF NOT...THEN WHY THE NOISE...?

"THEN AARON TOOK THE CENSER AS MOSES COMMANDED, AND RAN INTO THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY;AND ALREADY THE PLAGUE HAD BEGUN AMONG THE PEOPLE. SO HE PUT IN THE INCENSE AND MADE ATONEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE. 

...AND AARON THE PRIEST STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING; SO THE PLAGUE STOPPED. " ( NUMBERS 16: 47-48).

....INTELLIGENT WORSHIP OF GOD IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM INTELLECTUAL WORSHIP OF GOD. 

.....INTELLECTUAL WORSHIPPERS SMARTLY AND BOLDLY DECLARE THAT IT IS NOT THE CHURCH THAT IS SHUT DOWN, BUT THE BUILDING. 

.......NOW MY MAIN WORRY AND CONCERN IS: CHURCH LEADERS ARE BOLDLY ASKING THEIR PRIESTS, AND PASTORS TO STAY INDOORS AND PRAY PRIVATELY WHEREAS THE GOVERNMENT HAS MAGNANIMOUSLY DECLARED THAT THOSE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES SHOULD GO TO WORK. 

..... MY QUESTION: DOCTORS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES..

.....BANKERS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES? 

......JOURNALISTS AND BROADCASTERS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES?

.....THE POLICE, ARMY, ROAD SAFETY,  CIVIL DEFENCE Etc ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES? 

.....BUT PASTORS, PRIESTS, AND BISHOPS WHO ARE TAKING CHARGE OVER THE IMMORTAL SOULS OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE NOT ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES????

.....AARON THE PRIEST STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING TO MINISTER TO THE PEOPLE DURING THE PLAGUE. BUT WE HAVE RUN INSIDE OUR HOUSES ASKING OUR CONGREGATIONS AND PARISHIONERS TO MINISTER TO THEMSELVES DURING THE PLAGUE. 

.....AT WHAT POINT DO WE (PRIESTS)LEAD GOD'S FLOCK BY EXAMPLE OF FAITH AND SACRIFICIAL COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS PEOPLE? 

......SOME DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS HAVE DIED IN THE COURSE OF ATTENDING TO THE VICTIMS OF PANDEMICS, YET OTHERS DID NOT RUN AWAY FOR FEAR OF DEATH. 

......WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MESSAGE CHURCH LEADERS ARE PASSING TO THE WORLD BY KEEPING MUTE AND SHUTTING DOWN CHURCHES? 

......WHERE AND WHEN DO WE DECLARE THE POWER OF RESURRECTION OF CHRIST TO WORLD? 

.....WHERE DOES THE WORLD RUN TO NOW THAT THE CHURCH IS SHUT DOWN? 

.....WHO MINISTERS TO THE AGED, THE SICK, THE DEPRESSED, THE FEARFUL, AND THE HURTING AT SUCH A CRITICAL TIME LIKE THIS ? ....SHOULD IT NOT BE THE PRIESTS AND THE PASTORS? 

......IF IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT WE DIE IN THE COURSE OF MINISTERING TO HIS PEOPLE...

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH THAT? 

......WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW ARE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS MADE....IN THEIR ROOMS AND ABODES OF HIBERNATION? 

......WHAT IS THE IMMUNITY OF THE POLICE, ARMY, FRSC, NSCDC , AND EVEN DOCTORS AGAINST THE PANDEMIC WHY THEY  ARE NOT SHUTTING DOWN? 

......IF THE PRIESTLY WORK AND VOCATION IS NOT AMONG THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES, WE SHOULD ALL RESIGN, AND JOIN THE POLICE, ARMY, JOURNALISTS, AND STOP EXTORTING PEOPLE THROUGH OFFERINGS, TITHES AND SEEDS. 

.....IF WE CANNOT GIVE HOPE TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF DISTRESS, WHY SHOULD WE ASK FOR THEIR HELP (TITHES, DONATIONS ETC.) IN TIMES OF  PEACE AND TRANQUILITY? 

.....IF THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST CANNOT BE CHALLENGINGLY AND RISKINGLY DECLARED NOW  BY PRIESTS, PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS, WHY THE NOISE AFTER NOW??

......SCIENCE IS FAILING THE WORLD, TECHNOLOGY IS FAILING THE WORLD, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS FAILING THE WORLD. THE LAST HOPE OF THE WORLD IS JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.  

......IT IS FOOLISH WISDOM TO SHIELD PEOPLE FROM CORONAVIRUS, AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE WRATH OF GOD IN EVERLASTING HELLFIRE.  THEIR BODIES ARE MORTAL, BUT THEIR SOULS ARE IMMORTAL. 

......IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.  

.....I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND BE ASSURED THAT CHRIST JESUS IN YOU IS THE ONLY HOPE OF GLORY, SAFETY, AND ETERNITY.  

.....WHILE YOU OBSERVE AND KEEP EVERY OTHER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR SAFETY, REMEMBER THAT THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS IS A STRONG TOWER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS RUN INTO IT AND THEY ARE SAFE AND PROTECTED. 

..... NOTE: " IF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD DOES NOT SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING THIS WRITE UP AFTER READING IT, DON'T RISK THE MISTAKE OF NEGATING IT." KEEP BOTH YOUR COMMENDATION AND CRITICISMS TO YOURSELF.

+Ephraim Ikeakor

Do you believe you are god?

"Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” (John 10: 34).

Friday 3rd April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent is also First Friday in April.

Our Scripture pick for today says that we are gods. Do you believe that you are a god or can become a god? Let us see:

Our journey to becoming god started in the free grace God offered us in Baptism. Baptism makes us adopted sons and daughters of God. We become the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and the beloved children of God. Romans 8 says that those who are called through Baptism and accepts their call through faith are justified by God. That is, they are made righteous or holy. Holiness is an attribute of God. And those justified receive the Holy Spirit and are glorified by God to become like His Son Jesus. Jesus, the unique and only begotten Son of God is glorified through the Cross. We too are becoming like Jesus and before we are fully transformed will be glorified through the Cross.

What is the end game in all this? The Holy Spirit comes to us with His gifts and fruits. These gifts and fruits are the characteristics and attributes of God. Exercising these gifts and fruits make us not just godlike but gods. Those who make it to eternal life will have the properties of God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of April 2020.

April 03, 2020 First Friday in April.

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 2020, we look at Promise #4.

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

With the Corona Virus Pandemic, the 4th Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus cannot be more timely than now. Note that there are two promises here:
#1 The Sacred Heart will be your assured refuge in this crisis. Whatever happens, this faithful and precious promise will be your armor and protection.

#2 If the Lord decides to call you home through this pandemic, because you placed your trust in His Sacred Heart and His promises, your transition to eternal life will be filled with peace and you will experience the presence of Christ beside you.

What more can any Christian ask for? St Augustine says:  "If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by renewing your consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and if you cannot receive Jesus in physical Communion, receive Him in Spiritual Communion.

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

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

Seekfirstcommunity.com

St Francis of Paola, Patron Saint of Plagues.

"God did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for us all;
with him, he has given us all things." (Romans 8: 32 - Communion Antiphon).

Thursday 2nd April 2020 of 5th week of Lent is the feast of St Francis of Paola (1416 - 1507), Hermit. Francis attracted followers and they formed a community of Hermits with the Rules of the St Francis of Assisi to guide them. Gifted in diplomacy, the hermit Francis was used by the Church for sensitive diplomatic missions. St Francis of Paola is patron saint of the following:

• Plague
• Sterility
• Sailors, boatmen, mariners
• Travellers
• Naval officers

Our key Scripture is from the Communion Antiphon. If Abba Father could sacrifice Jesus on the Cross because of His love for us, It is ridiculous to think that He could deny us anything good for us. Imagine what God did for our Saint of today. For his holiness and obedience, God made him patron saint of issues affecting Christians.

We believe in the Communion of the Saints. Christ Jesus our Lord is glorified when we honor His saints. Although all the saints are enjoying heavenly bliss, they are still engaged in the affairs of the Church militant on earth. They experienced our struggles and know our needs. Ask for the aide of the saints with Obedience of Faith and Obedience of humility thus:

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU COMPLETELY. THROUGH THE Intercession OF ST FRANCIS OF PAOLA, I SURRENDER MYSELF TO YOU COMPLETELY. TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING YOUR WAY. AMEN.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

If we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31 - 32).

Wednesday 1st April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. When Jesus says that if you persevere in feeding on His word, you will come to know the truth and the divine truth you know will set you free, I can vouch that this is not April fool. It is the truth.

The truth (divine reality) frees us from the fear, worry and doubt 

and dread that falsehood imposes on us. Pope Benedict when he visited the oil rich country of Angola was shocked to see how the population was shackled by fears of evil spirits, disease and death. He remarked that Angola received Christian missionaries about 500 years ago. At that time, Europe was still shackled with similar fears and superstitions. But the light and truth of Christ has since dispelled those fears in Europe.

Today, Europe needs a fresh light of Christ because the continent is in darkness because of materialism, atheism and hedonism. The consequences are dire. Most European countries have today minus zero birth rate. They welcome Moslems with open arms to work and maintain their standards of living. Islam will be the majority religion in Europe in about 50 years.

In the 1st Reading from the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar asked the three Jewish boys: "Who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" We hear the same threat today everywhere from supervisors and bosses: "Is it true you will not work on Sunday? Who is the God who can deliver you out of unemployment?"

If you have not dwelt in the word of God for a long time, how can you ever know the truth that can set you free? I enjoy freedom in a number of areas in my life and I am profoundly grateful. 

Hear the bold answer of the three Jewish boys to their tormentor who believed he had supreme power: Oh Nebuchadnezzar, if we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

The boys know the Scriptures and they know the truth that set them free from fear of death. How did the story end? Read on below:

"Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I live to please My Father.

"The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” (John 8: 29).

Tuesday 31st March 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. Can you believe this is the end of March, end of the 1st quarter of 2020? The ides of March may have come but has not passed.

In the Gospel of today, the Jews asked Jesus a point blank question: "Who are you?" Jesus ties Himself to the Father in the answers He gave them. The one I like most is this: "I always do what is pleasing to him. [Abba Father]” How about you my friend? Whom do you always want to please? Your wife, husband, child, boss, the president? Who do you fear most to displease?

"I believe in the Communion of the Saints." Who are the saints? The saints are our brothers and sisters who have ran the race we are running and experienced the abundant life [life in the Spirit] here on earth by imitating Jesus in pleasing the Father in everything. Now they are enjoying their reward in the fullness of the Kingdom of God where they continue pleasing the Father by continuous praise and worship.

Lent is the time to pray for grace to realize that the Kingdom of God is already here among us. If you are not enjoying it now says St Catherine of Siena, it is wishful thinking to believe that when your eyes are closed in death, you will.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Woman you are set free.

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8: 7).

Monday 30th March 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. The sacred texts present us with the story of two women. One is Susanna, beautiful and wife of a very wealthy man. The other is a simple woman caught in the act of adultery. Both women were accused of adultery, a sin punishable by death in those days and still so in Moslem countries. There are a number of lessons in the two narratives.

#1 Satan is the Father of lies and the Book of Revelation calls him the Accuser of the brethren. Do you know anyone who delights in pointing fingers and quick to accuse? Unjust accusations against Jesus and Stephen led to their deaths.

#2 Corruption of power. Susanna was accused by two elderly judges whose advances she spurned. The woman caught in adultery was accused by those who caught her and judges who wanted her dead. Judges and lawyers face continuous temptations to bribery and corruption, crimes that are still rampant everywhere.

#3 The stories ended well in the marvelous timely Divine Interventions. God used Daniel in the case of Susanna and Jesus the Divine Mercy in the case of the woman caught in the act of adultery.

What do we take away from the two stories? "The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him." (Daniel 13: 60). The reaction of the people shows that they understood that a miracle happened. They glorified God and their faith became strengthened. This is also the takeaway for us because every Bible narrative is there to build up our faith in a loving and merciful God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com