The testimony of this disciple is true.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SOURCE OF GRACE. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IS THE MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES. ON THE EVE OF PENTECOST, LET US ASK THE HUMBLE VIRGIN OF NAZARETH WHO IS FULL OF GRACE TO INTERCEDE FOR US FERVENTLY TO BE FILLED WITH THE FIRE, GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"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 4th June 2022 of the 7th Week of Easter. We honor the Blessed Virgin Mary on this First Saturday in June.

A summary of the key Scripture for today might be: The word of God, Sacred Tradition and Apostolic Magisterium.

#1. The word of God: John the Evangelist whom we believe is the author of the Gospel according to St John 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.

6. 4.  "What is meant by Devotion to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in what it consists. THE particular object of this devotion is the immense love of the Son of God, which has induced Him to die for us, and to give Himself wholly to us in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, and this, although He foresaw all the ingratitude and outrages which He was to meet with in this state of a victim immolated till the end of ages; preferring rather to expose himself daily to the insults and contempt of mankind, than to fail in showing us, by the greatest of all wonders, to what an excess He loves us."  (DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS - Fr. John Croiset, SJ).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Charles Lwanga and Companion Martyrs.

FEED MY SHEEP.
AN AFRICAN MAXIM STATES THAT LOVE ENTERS THROUGH THE STOMACH. FOOD & FEEDING ARE IMPORTANT CONCEPTS IN THE SCRIPTURES.
IN THE EUCHARIST, THE LORD JESUS FEEDS US THROUGH THE PRIESTS WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE & NOURISHES US WITH THE WORD OF GOD. FEED MY SHEEP.

"After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep." (John 21: 15.....19).

Friday 3rd June 2022, in the 7th Week of Easter is the feast of St Charles Lwanga and 22 companion martyrs. (+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 African theologian, Tertulian. Martyrdom is the greatest testimony/witness to the 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 most of them were teenagers and  some were catechumens. Yet they all chose to die for the faith they had come to love.

Our key Scripture for today recalls the triple denials of Peter.  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. "Feed my lamb."

What if Jesus asks us: Do you love me more than your family? Do you love me more than your 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 anything in the world.

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 Charles Lwanga and his companion martyrs died for the Catholic faith. As Tertulian prophesied: "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity." The Church is flourishing today in Africa, a continent of over a billion souls.  

6. 3. "Lord Jesus, I present myself before Thy Eucharistic Face today, placing myself in spirit close to that tabernacle in the world, where Thou art most forsaken, most ignored, and most forgotten. Since Thou hast asked me for it, I offer Thee my heart, the heart of a priest, to keep company with Thy priestly and Eucharistic Sacred Heart. I adore Thee in a spirit of reparation for all the priests of the Church, but especially for those who never, or hardly ever, stop in Thy presence, there to put down their burdens, and to receive from Thee new strength, new lights, new capacities to love, to pardon, and to bless. I do not want to leave this tabernacle today."  (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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

June 3rd, First Friday in June 2022.

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 by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.  In the 6th month of the year 2022, we look at Promise #6.

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

I am a sinner. You are a sinner. We all need the mercy of Jesus. Ask for mercy. Be merciful to others. Completely and confidently trust Jesus for mercy.

June is the Month the Church honors 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).

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

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:

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

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs.

"TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST MEANS TO DESIRE UNITY; TO DESIRE UNITY MEANS TO DESIRE THE CHURCH; TO DESIRE THE CHURCH MEANS TO DESIRE THE COMMUNION OF GRACE THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE FATHER’S PLAN FROM ALL ETERNITY." (POPE ST JOHN PAUL II).

"Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 20.... 26).

Thursday 2nd June 2022, of the 7th Week of Easter is the feast of two early martyrs of the Church:  St. Marcellinus, Priest and Peter, Exorcist (+ 304). In prison, they converted many of their fellow prisoners including the jailer. Both were martyred under Emperor Diocletian.

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 40,000 denominations in the world.  You may wonder: What type of answer is this to the Prayer of Jesus for unity of His disciples?
Why did God permit Christian disunity? This is surely a mystery of Divine Providence.

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

6.2. "Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection hasten to My Sacred Heart." (St Gertrude the Great).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Justin Martyr.

THE CHURCH DEDICATES THE MONTH OF JUNE TO HONORING THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS. WE WILL PROVIDE A SNIPPET OF TEACHING ON THE SACRED HEART FROM TRUSTED SOURCES EVERY DAY IN JUNE. 

"Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one....

"I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” (John 17: 11.... 19).

Wednesday 1st June 2022, of the 7th Week of Easter is the feast of St Justin Martyr (+ 165). Born in Samaria in Palestine, he is 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.

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 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.

6.1. "Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: "The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me."  He 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).

Daily Bible Verse SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

IF "THE FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS VERY POWERFUL," HOW MUCH MORE THE PRAYER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD? "SON, THEY HAVE NO WINE.... DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU." (CF JAMES 5: 16, JOHN 2: 5).

"And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name." (Luke 1: 39..... 56).

Tuesday 31st May 2022 of the 7th Week of Easter 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.

5. 31. "From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Spirit is the Source of All inspiration and power.

"I HAVE SAID THESE THINGS TO YOU WHILE STILL WITH YOU; BUT THE ADVOCATE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL TEACH YOU EVERYTHING AND REMIND YOU OF ALL I HAVE SAID TO YOU" (John 14: 25 – 26)

“it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers? They answered, ‘No, we were never even told that there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ He asked, ‘Then how were you baptized?’ They replied, ‘With John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him – namely Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy.” (Acts 19: 1 – 17).

Monday 30th May 2022 of the 7th Week of Easter.

Our first Reading from Acts of the Apostles remind me of my encounter with the Most Awesome Spirit many years ago.

We might smile to learn that some early disciples of Jesus did not know that “there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.”

Many years ago in the midst of my desert experience, I received the message from a trustworthy friend that “all that I need is the Holy Spirit.” I wondered: “What is the relevance of the Holy Spirit to my pressing problems of unemployment, money, health and a host of other issues?” Because I considered the messenger trustworthy, I did not discard the message.

I did the Novena to the Holy Spirit before Pentecost of that year and on the final day of the Novena, following the instruction in the booklet I used, I knelt down and pleaded with all my heart for the Holy Spirit. I opened wide my mouth and took a deep breath. When I got up, I accepted in faith as instructed that the Holy Spirit was in me.

I felt two emotions immediately.  One was a deep feeling of peace and joy.  The other was an urge to read the Bible immediately.  The first words I read from the holy book were:  “All wisdom comes from the Lord and with him it remains forever.”  (Sirach 1:1). 

The Holy Spirit is Wisdom. I needed no further confirmation.  The Holy Spirit truly was within me.  I am His temple.  He is the Advocate who pleads my cause with the Father.  How great!  How wonderful!  His presence is peace and tranquility.  I knew that whenever I pray to the Holy Spirit my prayer will receive a hearing. 

My joy in the Holy Spirit continued to grow throughout the years. Then one day a  couple of years ago, I discovered this amazing truth from the Roman Missal: “God is the source of all inspiration and power.” This is the truth I have been seeking.  The Holy Spirit is all that I need. It is true! He is the source of all inspiration and power. Inspiration and source of unlimited ideas and God's power to accomplish what the Holy Spirit inspires one to do. For example:  The Holy Spirit inspired me one day to start SeekFirstcommunity.com Blog. Then He inspired me to join WhatsApp and Facebook to extend my reach in evangelization. He has taught me how to prepare some very appetizing dishes. He helps me in shopping. He points out which books to read. He helps me to prepare for the Sacrament of Penance by pointing out what He wants me to take to the priest in-persona-Christi in Reconciliation. The list is simply endless.

5.30.  “Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”  (St Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).

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The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

"TO THE EXTENT THAT EACH CHRISTIAN GROWS IN HOLINESS, HE OR SHE WILL BEAR GREATER FRUIT FOR OUR WORLD." (POPE FRANCIS, EXSULTATE ET GAUDATE - REJOICE AND BE GLAD).

"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

"Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God."  (Luke 24: 46 - 53).

Sunday 29th May 2022, in the 7th Week of Easter is the Solemnity of the Ascension.  The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter or on the 7th Sunday of Easter depending on the Diocese in the United States.

Jesus is taken up into heaven in full view of His disciples. During the forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus continued teaching, encouraging and comforting His disciples. Now the time of Departure has come. He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Gift of the Father. He then turned the work of building the Kingdom of God on earth to them with the Great Commission:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." ( Mark 16: 15).

Every epoch and people respond to the Great Commission with the peculiar gifts and infrastructure provided by God. But the universal and perennial Gift of God is the Holy Spirit. Without the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit we cannot evangelize. Nobody can undertake the onerous missionary work of evangelization without the Holy Spirit.

Two powerful and different examples of evangelization are:
#1. St Therese of the Chlld Jesus (1873 - 1897). She became the Patroness of Missionaries without stepping out of her Carmelite Convent. She offered her prayers and sufferings to support the missionary endeavors of the Church. She gave the world a spirituality of "little ways."  One can be very effective in the spiritual life by doing "little things." She is a Doctor of the Church.

#2. St Teresa of Kolkata (1910 - 1997). Her missionary endeavors all over the world earned her a Noble Peace price and more importantly sainthood.

Every saint in the Church, that includes you and me are missionaries. Our Baptism gives us the mandate of Mission and Witness.

Do what you are inspired to do. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

5. 29. "Mary is not only the bridge joining us to God; she is more. She is the road that God travelled to reach us, and the road that we must travel in order to reach him." (Pope Francis).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Rosary is one of the most powerful weapons of the Christian soldier.

GREAT THINGS IN LIFE START FROM GREAT DESIRE. ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SAYS THAT DESIRE TRANSFORMS A MAN. THEREFORE GREAT DESIRE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TRANSLATE TO THE CONDITION OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (John 16: 23 - 24).

Saturday 28th May 2022, 6th Week in the Easter Season.

What does Jesus say about prayer in the Farewell Discourse? "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

Two important things to note from the key Scripture for this Saturday.
#1. Asking Abba Father for our needs and gifts in the Name of Jesus.
#2. The joy of of answered prayer.

Do you believe that God answers prayers? We all affirm that God is true and faithful. Why then do we doubt Him when it comes to God's answer to prayer?

Psalm 91 is about God's trustworthiness: "God's faithful promises are my armor and protection." (Psalm 91: 4). Armor and protection mean the same thing. Scripture is using double equivalent words to describe God's faithfulness.

One of the most amazing things to discover in religion is that God is true and faithful and He answers prayers. If your nine-year old son asks you for a big Harley Davidson Superbike for a birthday gift, how do you respond? 

God our Father knows exactly what we need and when we need it. God answers prayers. Ask and keep asking. If you ask for something that would harm you, expect a No.  If you do not ask with faith and persistence, you will never know the joy of answered prayer. The intense joy of answered prayer is intended to grow your faith.

"God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"
(Numbers 23: 19 NTL).

I will trust in God's faithfulness forever and ever.

5. 28.  "Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?"
‘Oh my Lady,’ answered Saint Dominic, ‘you know far than I do because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation."
The Holy Rosary. Mary answered St Dominic, OP.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, first Archbishop of Canterbury.

CONSIDER IT ALL JOY MY FRIENDS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS, FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. (CF JAMES 1: 2).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16: 20 - 23).

Friday May 27th 2027, 6th Week of the Easter Season. 

Friday 27th May is the feast of St Augustine of Canterbury. (+ 604). Italian Benedictine monk sent by Pope St Gregory the Great to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon people 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.

Many people will be familiar with the daily Scripture verse for today. But did you know that this gem of wisdom was given by Jesus on the night before His death in an intimate monologue with the Twelve in the Cenacle? A couple of weeks before Pentecost, the Scriptures are from the Last Supper Discourse (Chapters John 13  to 17). This is to prepare us for the glorious feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church.

What does a woman do when her expected delivery date is 10 days? She prepares for the big event. She does not focus on anxiety but the joy of the outcome: "a child has been born into the world."

Are you searching for a treasure? Search no further. There are acres of diamond in your backyard.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matthew 13: 44).

5. 27. “God might have created a more beautiful world,
He might have made heaven more glorious
but it was impossible for Him, to exalt a creature,
higher than Mary, in making her His Mother.” (St Bonaventure, OFM, Doctor of the Church).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Philip Neri, Great Confessor and Apostle of Joy.

ACCEPT ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED.
ACCEPT ALL THAT IS HAPPENING.
COOPERATE WITH ALL THAT IS HAPPENING EXCEPT WHAT IS SINFUL. (JEAN-PIERRE DE CAUSSADE, SJ).

"Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
“Are you discussing with one another what I said,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me’?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” (John 16: 16 - 20).

Thursday 26th May 2022, in the 6th Week of Easter 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 that gave the Church St John Henry Newman. St Philip Neri 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."

Jesus predicted the persecutions of the disciples in the Last Supper Discourse: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." The antagonism to Jesus and His Gospel is more pronounced today than ever. If you are not prepared today to bear witness to Jesus, what is the likelihood that you will be ready tomorrow? The Scripture says: O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

Many of us have probably heard the maxim: "He who laughs last, laughs best." Jesus promises us the last laugh. This laugh will be filled with joy and will last forever. In the short time, our Savior and Redeemer is asking us to endure all the trials, deprivations and persecutions with the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.
"I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I go, but I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy." (Cf John 14: 18).

5. 26. "If, in spite of everything, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven leaves a certain taste of sadness in our souls, let us go to his Mother as the apostles did. They returned to Jerusalem…and they prayed with one mind…together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus."  (Acts 1:12-14).
(Saint Josemaría Escrivá).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor of the Church.

PREPARE TO RECEIVE ALL YOU CAN RECEIVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE BIG GIFT THAT THE FATHER DOES NOT RATION. YOU RECEIVE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE CONTAINER YOU BRING. BIG CONTAINER = BIG GIFT. SMALL CONTAINER = SMALL GIFT.
HOW MUCH YOU RECEIVE IS UPTO YOU.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16: 12 - 15).

Wednesday 25th May 2022, 6th Week of the Easter Season.

Today is the feast of:
St Bede the Venerable, OSB.
St Gregory VII, Pope.
St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin.

St Bede the Venerable (672 - 735). English Benedictine Priest and Doctor of the Church. St Bede worked hard to help the Church in England grow stronger in faith and increase in numbers. He accomplished this through his study of Scriptures and History. He was a brilliant light in England of his day.

Have you noticed that the theme of the Holy Spirit has dominated the Last Supper Discourse these past few days? No accident! The Church is telling us that the Great Feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of Holy Mother Church is very near.

Today Jesus reveals that "When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." Now what does the Spirit of truth do? The opposite of truth is falsehood, lies, deception, lack of integrity. Is there a spirit of falsehood? Absolutely. His name is Satan, Devil, Liar, Father of Lies, the Accuser of the brethren. Master of fake news. Murderer.

The greatest threat of the world today is not nuclear bomb or Corona Virus. The greatest threat to civilization is falsehood, lies and deception. Falsehood and lies are so pervasive in the world today. God gave us the Internet for work, leisure, evangelization and source of information. The Internet barely 25 years in existence has been perverted by the spirit of greed for money and immorality. Satan and his cohorts want to dominate the Internet 100 %. This is why the mission of the Holy Spirit is so important today.

The contrepoint to this threat is the Holy Spirit. We have this consolation of the Scriptures:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1: 5 NLT).

Pentecost Novena 2022 starts Thursday May 26 all over the world. Do not miss the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. Remember: The Holy Spirit is the biggest Gift of the Father. This is a Gift you ask for and you receive immediately. No delay. No rationing.

How do we receive more of the Holy Spirit?
We receive in direct proportion to our desires and preparedness.
A student receives knowledge from a lecture in direct proportion to his desire to learn and acquire knowledge and his preparation for the lecture.

Our desire is for the Holy Spirit is enhanced by focus on the object of the desire and focused prayer and repetition.  Eg:  Novena.

5. 25.  "Always the Blessed Virgin asks me for the prayer of the Rosary, the prayer that binds all her children to her immaculate and maternal Heart. The Blessed Virgin asks all her priest sons to take up again the Rosary, to pray it often, with attention and love. It is by the humble prayer of the Rosary that priests will be delivered from the temptations that harry them." (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Spirit of Truth shall lead the Church to the Fullness of Truth.

WHAT IS OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST? WHO ARE WE IN CHRIST JESUS?
WE ARE THE BAPTIZED, THE CONFIRMED AND THE EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE. WE ARE THE SUNDAY PEOPLE, THE EASTER PEOPLE. WE ARE PRIEST, PRINCE & PROPHET.
THIS IS OUR IDENTITY. THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” (John 16: 5 - 11).

Tuesday 24th May 2022, in the 6th Week of Easter.

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Lord Jesus calls Him here The Spirit of truth.  He is "the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby)." (AMPC).

Why is the Holy Spirit sent after the Ascension of Jesus? He is sent to take up permanent residence in the disciple. As the Spirit of power, He will empower the disciple to fulfill the Mission of Jesus Christ and witness to the Lord. The Holy Spirit continues the ministry of Jesus today through the Body of Christ.

Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit "will guide you [Church] to all truth." This is a very important detail that has divided the Body of Christ. St John the Evangelist writes in the conclusion of his Gospel:

"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).

The Holy Spirit reveals to the Church through the written and oral sources the truth that concerns Jesus and the Church. All the truth necessary for salvation. The FULLNESS of TRUTH.

An example of this is the stability of doctrine that characterized the early Church up to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and continues till today 2022. Only the Holy Spirit could have guaranteed this phenomenon:
One People, One Faith, One Shepherd, Worldwide.

"I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth."

5. 24. "Each Friday take into your heart, as if for the first time, the words I uttered from the Cross. Contemplate My side pierced by the soldier’s lance; enter into the sanctuary of My open Heart and adore My precious Blood. Receive the outpouring of My Holy Spirit, and withdraw into silence and recollection, as did John with Mary, My Mother, when all is accomplished." (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You all will be My martyrs.

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
HE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE BLESSED TRINITY. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE LORD AND GIVER OF ABUNDANT LIFE. HE IS OUR ADVOCATE. THE VOICE THAT SPEAKS IN COURT FOR US. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GREAT FRIEND THAT IS CLOSER TO US THAN OUR GARMENT.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who 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....16: 4).

"And you also will testify..."
What does this mean for you and for me? Testify is another word for witness which comes from the Greek word MARTYR. Jesus is saying that in small ways and big ways, we shall be martyrs for Him every day.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

Do not be frightened of being a martyr for Jesus in your work, home, church and public places. This is why Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will help us to bear witness to Him. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can be a martyr for Jesus.

Example of those who witnessed to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost:
Peter, John, Stephen, Barnabas, James. These saints are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

In today's first Reading from Acts 16: 11 - 15, a wealthy business woman of Philippi named Lydia witnessed to Jesus after she was baptized by St Paul.

The Cross and Martyrdom are intrinsic to the very essence of Christianity. "It was ordained that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." (Luke 24: 46, 26). So must we. 

5. 22. “The Magnificat is Our Lady’s Prayer of thanks. She can help us to love Jesus best; she is the one who can show us the shortest way to Jesus. Mary was the one whose intercession led Jesus to work the first miracle. ‘They have no wine,’ she said to Jesus. ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ she said to the servants."  (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Spirit, your Friend will teach you everything.

WHAT IS ABUNDANT LIFE?
I DON'T NEED MUCH MONEY TO LIVE WELL. I DON'T NEED MANY TOOLS & POSSESSIONS TO LIVE WELL. I DON'T NEED MUCH VARIETY OF FOOD TO LIVE WELL.
WHAT I NEED IN ABUNDANCE IS MUCH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. FAITH THAT BELIEVES THAT JESUS LIVES IN ME HERE AND NOW IN THE SACRAMENT OF THE PRESENT MOMENT. THIS IS ABUNDANT LIFE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." (John 14: 23.... 29).

Sunday 22ND May 2022, 6th Week of the Easter Season.

Our Savior in the Farewell Discourse continues to reveal to His chosen friends the dynamics of the the Kingdom of God that He is entrusting to them. The Church is the seed of the Kingdom on earth.

The Holy Spirit, the Big Gift of the Father is the Spirit of truth. He will lead and guide the Church to all truth and preserve the integrity of the teachings of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will be our Advocate and constant Helper. The one condition for receiving this free Gift is: "If you love me you will keep my commandments," says Jesus.
Pentecost Sunday is June 5th. Novena to prepare to receive this special Gift starts on May 26. I am excited.

5. 22.  The perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been believed and honored by the Church from the beginning of the Apostolic Age to this day. Augustine describes it like this: Mary is virgin at birth. She remains virgin all her life. She is virgin forever.
The Church honors her in the Litany of Loretto with these words:

Virgin most prudent
Virgin most venerable
Virgin most renowned
Virgin most powerful
Virgin most merciful
Virgin most faithful

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Christopher Magallanes and Companions. Martyrs. They were prepared for persecution.

TEACH ME ABBA FATHER TO SEE YOUR LOVE FOR ME AS MY GUIDE IN EVERY EVENT IN MY LIFE. YOUR MIGHTY, MERCIFUL AND MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. ALL SEASONS. ALL TRIALS & PERSECUTIONS.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, ­realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me." (John 15: 18 - 21).

Saturday 21st May 2022, in the 5th Week of Easter is also the feast of St Christopher Magallanes (1869 - 1927), Priest and his companions martyrs. The Mexican government was very anti-Catholic and anti clerical in the 1920s.  It massacred the 21 priests and 3 lay men during the Cristeros movement between 1915 and 1937. Our Gospel of today warns us to be prepared for persecution. The Cristeros members were ready for the murderous persecution unleashed by the Mexican government.

The Gospel for today shows the reality and certainty of persecution in the Christian ministry. The disciple of Christ is the bearer of the Good News. He is kind, gentle and generous in his ways. Naturally he expects to be welcomed with smiles and open arms. This does not always happen. What he may experience may be outright rejection of his person and his message. He is treated as a bearer of Bad News who deserves persecution.
This is why Jesus teaches naive disciples this basic lesson: Remember! Remember! Remember! Forget this lesson and you will be fried as a fish. I Jesus am the Lord, you are my servants. I am the Rabbi. You are my disciples. The people I am sent to, reject My message. They curse me and maltreat me. Before your eyes, they will crucify Me. Tell Me honestly: How do you think they will treat you? You bear my name. My name provokes their hatred.

Since God cursed the Ancient Serpent, the warfare between Satan and man has not abated:  "From now on you and the woman will be enemies, as will your offspring and hers. You will strike his heel, but he will crush your head.” (Genesis 3: 15).

We see in the Old Testament, the types and shadows of the persecuted Jesus Christ:
Abel persecuted by Cain, Jacob by Esau, Joseph by his brethren, David by Saul, Elijah by Ahab. These are examples to drive home the teaching of Jesus.

If the disciples of Jesus do not take special care to study the Scriptures and remember the message of Jesus, they will merit a rebuke from the Master:
“You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures!  Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?” (CF Luke 24: 25).

Never forget the words and works of the Lord. Because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Cf Revelation 19: 10).

5. 21 "While saying the joyful mysteries :
I received My human face from My Mother. When you contemplate My Face, it is her beauty that you are contemplating. I received My created beauty from My Mother. My uncreated beauty is the radiance of the glory of the Father on My humanity."  (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Bernardine of Siena, the Apostle of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS. HOW MANY TIMES A DAY DO YOU SAY: JESUS, JESUS, JESUS? JESUS I LOVE YOU. JESUS HELP ME. JESUS PROTECT ME!

"Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 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. This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 12 - 17).

Friday 20th May 2022, of the 5th 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, we reflect on the Call, the Choice and the Anointing we have from God our Father. When God wanted to start His family, He called Abraham. Through faith and obedience, Abraham became fruitful. Other examples of people in the Bible that God chose, called and anointed are:
Moses, Joseph the Prince of Egypt, David, John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle.  All of them responded to God with faith and obedience and became fruitful. 

The Call Today is loud and clear:
"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).

Today Jesus reminds us of His ringing Call: "To go and bear fruit that will remain." We know that the only fruits that remain and abide are fruits produced by the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus is looking for a generous response:
"I will be a witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers, Alleluia! " (Psalm 18:50;  22 :23.)

5. 21.  "Let Mary never be far from your Lips and from your heart.
Following her, you will never lose your way.
Praying to her, you will never sink into despair.
Contemplating her, you will never go wrong." (St Bernardine of Siena),

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Our God is the Father of mercies and God of ALL comfort.

OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE AWARENESS WE HAVE OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US.
DO YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE? COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. THE MOST INSIGNIFICANT BLESSING COMES FROM GOD.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." (John 15: 9 - 10).

Thursday 19th May 2022, in the 5th Week of Easter.

A Bible translation renders our key Scripture thus:
“I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts." (John 15: 9 TPT).

In John 15: 10, we see the condition for remaining in the love of Christ:
" keep my commands." Just as our faith contains our obedience, so love and obedience go together. You cannot love God and disobey Him constantly. Jesus gives us His supreme example: "I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love."

It is impossible for anyone to understand how much Jesus loves him until he sees how willing and anxious Jesus wants to forgive him anything and everything. Jesus is ready to provide ALL your needs that accord with the Father's will for your life. No father will give a child he loves a scorpion when he asks for a fish.

Understand and believe that "T'is not from chance our comfort springs O Lord. They are from Your gracious ordaining O Lord our God."

You can confirm from your daily experience this truth:
"What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 4 TLB).

5. 19.  "To give worthy praise to the Lord's mercy, we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because She is chosen from among men and angels. Through Her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through Her, man became pleasing to God; Through Her, streams of grace flowed down upon us." (#1746)
(St. Maria Faustina).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of Pope St John I, Martyred for standing firm for Truth.

THE SHOEMAKER MAKES SHOES. THE TAILOR MAKES CLOTHES. THE PRIEST MAKES SACRIFICES.  THE TREE MAKES ITS KIND OF FRUIT.
CHRISTIAN, MAKE & BE WHO YOU ARE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you.

"Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

"Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
(John 15: 1 - 8).

Wednesday 18th May 2022, of the 5th Week of Easter. Today 18th May, is the feast of Pope St John 1, (+ 526). Martyr. St John was martyred by the Arian King Theodoric.

The three things St Augustine urged Christians to study every day so that they may abide in Christ and produce rich harvest are:
#1. Commandments.
#2. Examples.
#3. Sacraments.

Examples or biographies or lives of the Saints are important because examples are the best teachers.

In our key Scripture for today Jesus says that if you want to bear much fruit in the Christian life, you must abide in Him. Without Him, you can do nothing. Not a little. But nothing. 

Here are 5 saints who embraced this teaching of Jesus and bore abundant fruit. All these saints are still bearing fruit today through their religious families.

#1. St Francis of Assisi.
#2. St Dominic.
#3. Mother St Teresa of Kolkata.
#4. St. Ignatius Loyola.
#5. Mother Angelica of EWTN.

What are the 7 Daily Habits of these  saints?

#1. Prayer.
#2. Word of God.
#3. Eucharist.
#4. Penance: About weekly.
#5. Examination of Conscience.
#6. Spiritual Reading.
#7. Ministry (Faith sharing).

Their lives shone with the fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.

You too can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Cf Philippians 4: 13).

5. 18. "The Mystical Body of Christ needs the gentle and perfect ministrations of the most pure hands of Mary. She is sent from heaven—without leaving her glorious heavenly throne—to nurse the ailing members of the Mystical Body and to restore health to the Church wheresoever she is weakened by sin or poisoned by evil. There cannot be—and there will not be—a full restoration of unity until the divinely appointed role of the Mother of Jesus is recognized and confessed. The same is true when it comes to the healing of broken lives and of souls." (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You need My Peace.

IF WHAT JESUS TEACHES ABOUT EATING HIS FLESH AND DRINKING HIS BODY IS TRUE, WHAT MUST YOU DO? IF YOU FIND OUT THAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES & HAS AFFIRMED THIS TRUTH FOR OVER 2000 YEARS, WHAT MUST YOU DO?
IT IS RIDICULOUS TO EXTREME TO REMAIN UNMOVED.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. " (John 1 4: 27.... 31).

Tuesday 17th May 2022, in the 5th Week of Easter.

The Gospel for today is a practical solution to the problem of fear, worry and doubt. Jesus gave this comforting message the night before His death. He was leaving His disciples a farewell Gift. Not a huge bank account or a sprawling real estate in the city center. But PEACE!

Jesus calls this Gift "My Peace." This is true because Scripture calls Jesus "our Peace." He is also the Prince of Peace. We are talking here about perfect peace. First let us see what the Peace of Christ is not. It is not Pax Romana, the peace imposed on a conquered nation by force by the conqueror. It is not the peace of a welfare state. It is not the peace you feel if you are in good health, the kids are behaving and your 401K is fantastic.

The peace that Jesus bequeaths to Christians is His own peace. Peace in the midst of crisis because you know who your Security is. The world does not know this peace and cannot know it until they bend their knees to Jesus. This peace is supreme remedy for fears, worries and doubts.

The most perfect health, marriage, finance, job, tools goes  through its periods of trial and uncertainty.  The aftermath of these Times and Seasons is a growing confidence that God is always in control. His mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence is working out all things for our good.

The Peace of Christ is real. It is for us Christians. Claim it. It banishes fear.

5. 17. "Even if the grave sins of men provoke God’s justice and merit his just punishments, we must not forget that he is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, that he has appointed Mary most holy as the generous steward of his merciful gifts."  (Saint Paul VI).

Daily Bible Verse SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Spirit, the Advocate will teach you everything.

IF "THE FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS VERY POWERFUL," HOW MUCH MORE THE PRAYER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD? "SON, THEY HAVE NO WINE.... DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU." (CF JAMES 5: 16, JOHN 2: 5).

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14: 21.... 26)

Monday of the 5th week of Easter. We are exactly three weeks to the end of the Easter Season and the Solemnity of Pentecost.

We continue with the Last Supper Discourse. We have seen the following themes in the past four days:
#1 Jesus set an example by washing the dirty feet of the Apostles.
#2 Medicine for troubled hearts: Trust in the Father and trust also in Jesus.
#3 The Father: You know Him. You have seen Him.
#4 Today, enter the Holy Spirit: the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Voice that speaks in Court.

Pentecost Sunday is June 5th. It  is a good time to meditate on the 3rd Person of the Blessed Trinity as we prepare for the Pentecost Novena.

We receive the Holy Spirit first in Baptism. He is the Big Gift. The Promise of the Father. The Lord and Giver of Abundant life. The Advocate and the Voice that speaks in Court for us.
In Confirmation, we are strengthened in this gift and become aware of the importance of His Seven Gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. We also get to know the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit through which we manifest to the world that we are Christians. They are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity. These gifts together form the character of Jesus Christ. We can all be like Jesus by receiving these gifts and fruits and nourishing them day by day through:
#1 Prayer
#2 Word of God
#3 Eucharist
#4 Penance/Reconciliation

Jesus Christ is the Way to eternal life.

5.16.  Mary is honored as:
Queen of Angels
Queen of Patriarchs
Queen of Prophets
Queen of Apostles
Queen of Martyrs
Queen of Confessors
Queen of Virgins
Queen of all Saints

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

As I love you, love one another.

THE WORD OF GOD IS A DIVINE COMMAND. IT ACCOMPLISHES WHATEVER IT IS SENT TO. WHEN WE RECEIVE IT IN FAITH, WHAT HAPPENS? MIRACLE!

As I have loved you, so you shall love one another.

 "My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13: 31.....35).

Sunday, 15th May 2022 of the 5th week of Easter.

A short Gospel for this Sunday but powerful message. Jesus gives us a new commandment. Actually, the only thing that is new here is: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." This is what makes it tough and very challenging. When Jesus taught in His sermons on the mountain: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," we thought this is a hyperbole. Now Jesus commands: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."

How has Jesus loved you and me? Let us search the Scriptures.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
+
"It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  
+
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
+
"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7).

In 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7, we see the attributes of love.
This is how Jesus loves you and me. Is this how you love yourself? Your neighbor?

5. 15. "The veneration of the Virgin Mary has accompanied the path of the Church from the beginning; Marian feast days began to appear already in the fourth century: in some the role of the Virgin in the history of salvation is exalted; in others the principal moments of her earthly life are celebrated."
( Pope Benedict XVI).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Matthias, the 12th Apostle.

THE EXERCISE OF FAITH INCREASES FAITH. THE EXERCISE OF CONFIDENCE CAUSES CONFIDENCE TO GROW. ONE WHO APPROACHES MY TABERNACLE IN FAITH IS GIVING EVIDENCE OF A COMPLETE RELIANCE ON MY MERCIFUL LOVE. (IN SINU JESU).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.....
"I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 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. This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 9....17).

Saturday 14th May 2022, 4th Week of the Easter Season is the feast of the Apostle Matthias. (+ 64). The story of his election into the College of Apostles to replace Judas is the first Reading today: (Cf Acts 1: 15 - 26).

Mattias who had followed Jesus since His Baptism at the Jordan became a witness to the Resurrection and saw Jesus ascend into Heaven. He was present with the disciples in the Upper Room at Pentecost. Matthias met the criteria established by the Apostles to be qualified to replace Judas Iscariot.
Ancient tradition placed his ministry in Jerusalem, Cappadocia and Ethiopia. He was martyred in Jerusalem.
Matthias is the patron saint of Alcoholics.

How did Matthias become the 12th Apostle? It was necessary to replace Judas who had perished after his betrayal of Jesus. "Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles."

Our Scripture verse is from the Last Supper Discourse. Like St Matthias, each of us is called, chosen and anointed for a specific mission in the Kingdom. This is true whether we are soldiers, teachers, accountants, lawyers or housewives. Your day job is the field for your ministry. We are called to be friend and companion of Jesus who will carry on His ministry through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthias must have been deeply surprised by his call to join the Apostolic College. This is the way of God:
"God raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with prince's, with the princes of his own people." (Psalm 113: 7 - 8).

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

5. 14.  "The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."
- (Saint Louis Marie de Montfort)

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Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

"IN THE END, MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH," SAYS OUR LADY OF FATIMA TO THE THREE VISIONARY CHILDREN.
POPE PIUS XII CONSECRATED THE WHOLE WORLD TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 1 - 6).

Friday 13th May 2022, in the 4th Week of Easter is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima celebrates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917. The message of Fatima is continued conversion to God and dedication to Mary through commitment to pray the Holy Rosary.

Our key Scripture for today takes us to the Upper Room where the Last Supper was taking place. On this night before His passion, Jesus was huddled together with His 12 Apostles in the Upper Room. He had revealed to them His departure from them through death. They were crushed. How on earth could they survive without Him with enemies everywhere? Then the Master said to them: Don’t be afraid or cowardly. As you believe in God and trust Him to protect and provide for you, you must believe in Me likewise.

What would be the impact of these words on the extremely agitated disciples? Comfort and Peace! Such is the power of the word of God. The same Jesus is speaking to us today through the Scripture:
“You must not let yourselves be distressed—you must hold on to your faith in God and to your faith in me." (John 14:1 Philips).

How can you avoid worry and surrendering yourself to fear and doubt? Saturate your mind and heart with the creative words of Jesus. One thing I found helpful is  repeating memorized verse of Scripture or an inspirational maxim for example:
"No fear. No worry. No doubt. Jesus is my Security now and always."

5. 13.  “The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world—because, thanks to her Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time." (Benedict XV1 on Fatima).

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Why do you think I washed your feet?

"GOD WILLED THAT MAN SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE HAND OF HIS OWN COUNSEL, SO THAT HE MIGHT OF HIS OWN ACCORD SEEK HIS CREATOR & FREELY ATTAIN HIS FULL & BLESSED PERFECTION BY CLEAVING TO HIM." (CCC 1743).
"THE CHURCH PROPOSES. SHE IMPOSES NOTHING." (ST JOHN PAUL II).

"When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to 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. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen." (John 13: 16...20).

Thursday 12th May 2022, 4th Week of the Easter Season.

The Church celebrates today the feast of three youthful soldier martyrs. St Pancras (+ 304). Roman. Martyred at 14 under Emperor Diocletian. Also today: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Roman soldiers. Both martyred under Emperor Trajan. The Church rejoices in saints that bore witness to Jesus at very young age: Agnes, Perpetua, Felicity, Agatha, Maria Goretti, etc.

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. Imitation of Jesus is the key to a blessed life.

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 mannerisms: His words and 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?

5.12. “From Mary we learn to surrender to God's Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!” “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” (St John Paul II).

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Whoever believes in. Me will have light in him.

TO LIVE AS I BELIEVE IS TO LIVE NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT I SEE OR FEEL BUT TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF FAITH, THAT IS, IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD AND PROMISES OF GOD.

"Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world." (John 12: 44....50).

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus says that He came into the world as light. What does Jesus mean? The Easter Vigil Liturgy helped me to understand our key Scripture for today.

The Easter Vigil Service starts at sunset outside the Church. The congregation stand around a huge fire of burning wood. After prayers, the Priest lights the new Pascal Candle and Deacon carries the Candle and leads the congregation into the dark Church.

The Church is in darkness. The only light comes from the Pascal Candle. The Pascal Candle signifies Christ as the Light coming into a dark world. The gathered Church lights their candles from the Pascal Candle.  Soon the whole Sanctuary is lit up from hundreds of candles.

Through faith, we understand the meaning of the Easter Vigil ceremony. Without faith, the whole ceremony may appear strange.

Those who believe and trust Jesus are no longer in the dark with regard to the critical and existential questions of life: origin of life and the world, life and death, poverty and wealth, divine providence, racial diversity, eternal life, etc.
The light of Christ brought us knowledge of the Trinity, the Three Persons in One God. The meaning of the life and death of Jesus. The Sacraments, Communion of Saints, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the economy of salvation and so forth.

The carnal man with his 20/20 vision and all the scientific knowledge at his disposal does not understand 0.001% of the physical world and nothing at all of the spiritual domain. And yet, he thinks he knows everything.

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life." (Cf John 8: 12).

5. 11. "O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." (St Basil the Great).

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The Feast of St Damien of Molokai, Patron Saint of Lepers.

WHAT IS IN A NAME? THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE VERY PERSON, POWER & PRESENCE OF JESUS. THE NAME OF JESUS IS IMMENSE. IT IS CERTAINTY AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE RESOURCE & GOOD FORTUNE.

"The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and 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. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand." (John 10: 23 - 30).

Tuesday 10th May 2022, in the 4th Week of Easter is the feast of St Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai. (1840 - 1889). Priest. Belgian missionary. Father Damien requested to be sent to the leper colony in Molokai, in Hawaii where he spent the rest of his life ministering to lepers. Four of these years were lived in confinement after he contracted leprosy. St Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. He is the patron saint of people with leprosy.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus was in the Temple during the feast of the Dedication. The people accosted Him and challenged Him to tell them if He is the expected Messiah.
Jesus answered with our key Scripture verse for today:

"The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me." What does Jesus mean? His miracles: healing, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding multitudes are evidence of who He is. These "works" should be sufficient proof to anyone who is well disposed towards Him.

His sheep who are well disposed towards Him, hear His teachings and see His miracles and they believe in Him. This group do not waste time seeking for proof after proof about what should be obvious to men of good will. If you consider you are one of the sheep of Jesus, do you believe in these revealed truth about Jesus Christ below:

I believe in Jesus Christ the Only Son of God, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God.

This is our ancient Faith. The Faith of Christians who are the sheep of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus is your good Shepherd, He promises that His sheep will be fully provided for and fully protected from all dangers. Learn to trust in Jesus for all your needs.

5.10.  "[Mary] is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus and will to surrender themselves to her, body and soul, without reserve in order to belong entirely to Jesus.” (St Louis Marie de Monfort).

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Are you Ready for Abundant Life?

ABBA FATHER, REMIND ME ALWAYS THAT IN YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR ME.

"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: 10).

Monday 9th May 2022, of the 4th Week of Easter.

John 10: 10 is our Scripture verse for today:  "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly," is one of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible. Why? It has the ring of a marketing slogan. Who is not attracted to Abundant Life? Abundant wealth, abundant health, abundant peace in the family, abundant quality food, abundant possessions and so forth. Is this what Jesus was talking at about? 

What do you think of this translation of John 10: 10?
"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  (John 10: 10 MSG).

In Acts 1, Jesus talked again about the "Promise of the Father" that will soon be bestowed on the Apostles. That Promise of the Father is also called the "Big Gift" of the Father.

You know by now that we are talking about the Awesome Holy Spirit, "the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son." The Spirit that is worshipped together with the Father and the Son. He is the Giver of the Abundant life. What is this Abundant life? You remember what the Angel Gabriel said to Mary? She is "full of grace" and "the Lord is with her." Yes, Mary has abundant life while here on earth. She is full of the Gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

When you fan into flame the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit you received in Baptism and strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation, your life will be utterly transformed. Imagine if you exercise the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel and knowledge, you will be sought after by the whole world. 

St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church, who is richly endowed by the Holy Spirit says that eternal life starts here and now and continues all the way to eternity. If you do not enjoy the love, peace, joy and contentment that come from the Holy Spirit indwelling in you, what is wrong? Two possible things:
#1. Unconfessed sins.
#2. Unbelief.

5. 9   "Mary has divided the sea for us, that is the world, so that we might pass safely through it." She "has brought to us the water of grace from the rock, Christ, so that we may drink freely of this life-saving water."  (St Thomas Aquinas OP, Doctor of the Church).

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