The Feast of St James the Apostle.

Feast of St James, Apostle.

"The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

"He said to her, “What do you wish?”

"She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” 

"Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” 

"They said to him, “We can.”

"He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 

"When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.

"But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

"But it shall not be so among you. Rather, ­whoever ­wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

"Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

 (Matthew 20: 20 - 28).

Tuesday July 25th 2023 of the 16th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St James, Apostle.

James and John are sons of Zebedee, both fishermen. They left their nets and followed Jesus when He called them from their fishing occupation.

Peter, James and John belong to the inner circle of the group of Apostles.

James was known as the Elder or Greater to differentiate him from his fellow Apostle called James. 

James was one of the Apostles with Peter and John who witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mountain. 

 The Trio were in the Garden of Gethsemane for the terrible agony.

James was condemned to death under King Agrippa I and beheaded around 44 AD.

James is the patron saint of Spain, Philippines, Guatemala, etc. He is also the patron saint of pharmacists, tanners, others.

In the West of Spain is Santiago de Compostela, a worldwide pilgrimage site where St James is venerated.

In the today's Gospel, Salome, the Mother of James and John requested that Jesus makes James Prime Minister and John Foreign Minister in His Kingdom. Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” 

"They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 

Often we do not know what we ask  from God. But to the credit of James and John, they indicated that they were ready to die for Jesus. 

James was beheaded by King Aggrippa in 44 AD.

July is the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ Month.

“I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love.”  ( St Ignatius of Antioch).

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Sharbel Makhluf, Priest.

Feast of St Sharbel Makhluf, Priest. 

Do not be afraid. The Lord will fight for you. 

"When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them.

"They exclaimed, “What have we done! Why, we have released Israel from our service!”

"So Pharaoh made his chariots ready and mustered his soldiers—six hundred first-class chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with warriors on them all.

"So obstinate had the Lord made Pharaoh that he pursued the children of Israel even while they were marching away in triumph. 

"The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaoh’s whole army, his horses, chariots and charioteers, caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

"Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the Lord. 

"And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’?

"Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

"But Moses ­answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.”

"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry land.

"But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.” (Exodus 14: 5 - 18).

Monday July 24th 2023 of the 16th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Sharbel Makhluf. (1828 - 1898). Lebanese Catholic priest, monk and hermit. Sharbel is known for his great devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament and his filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was a great miracle worker during his life and after his earthly life. Sharbel died a Hermit in the ardor of sanctity in 1898.

Our key Scripture for today from Exodus 14: 5 - 18 is one of the greatest Scriptures in the Bible. 

Many years ago before my 2nd Chance of returning to Christ Jesus, I read this passage one night from the Gideon Bible in a hotel room. 

"But Moses answered the people, “Do not fear! Stand your ground and see the victory the Lord will win for you today. For these Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” (Exodus 14: 13 - 14). 

This word of God embedded in my mind and heart throughout the night. As a result, I witnessed a great miracle in my life. From the jaws of a certain defeat and great loss and humiliation, the Lord rescued me. This event is the grandfather of the SeekFirstcommunity.com ministry. 

July is the Month the Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Parable of the Weeds. 

"Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

"While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.

"The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’

"

He answered,‘An enemy has done this.’ 

"His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

"He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’

(Matthew 13: 24….43).

Sunday July 23rd in the 16th Week of Ordinary Time. 

The Master said to his servants: "Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

This decision is counter intuitive. We assume that any rational man would order the servants to deal with the weeds immediately. 

We are dealing here with Divine Providence. Divine Providence can also be termed Divine Plan, Purpose, Design. This Plan is mighty in its reach. It is merciful with regards to its application to creatures. It is unnervingly mysterious. This is how the first Reading describes the mystery of Divine Providence:

"There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned. For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all." (Cf Wisdom 12: 16 - 19).

We do well to submit ourselves completely to Divine Providence always, everywhere and in everything. 

We are still in July, the Month we honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Mary Magdalene.

Feast of St Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles. 

"On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 

"So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

"Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. 

"And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

"She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 

"When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 

"Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

"Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her. 

(John 20: 1 - 2, 11 - 18).

Saturday July 22nd 2023, Feast of St Mary Magdalene.  

Mary Magdalene is not your typical Jewish woman. She is one of the handfull of women who followed Jesus as He tramped everywhere preaching the Gospel. These women took care of the welfare of Jesus and His Apostles from their purses.

But Mary Magdalene was unique and exceptional even among these ladies. Jesus healed her of demonic possession and Mary could not forget this favor all her life.

Mary Magdalene trekked the Via Dolorosa with the other Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus. Both women stood under the Cross and watched Jesus die slowly. 

While the Blessed Virgin Mary did not hurry to the tomb on Easter Sunday because she heard and believed what her Son said about "rising from the dead on the third day," Mary of Magdala hurried to the tomb. 

She became the first human being to see the Risen Jesus. This is how St Mary Magdalene became the "Apostle to the Apostles."

"Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her." (John 20: 17 - 18).

Mary Magdalene loved Jesus with a pure love that comes from the depth of gratitude for what Jesus did for her. If but we know 1% of what Jesus is doing for us every day, our love for Him will astonish us. St Mary Magdalene will be delighted with the desire and prayer of St Ignatius Loyola:

+ To know the Heart of Jesus intimately.

+ To love Jesus passionately.

+ To follow Jesus everywhere.

O that this will be our prayer and desire too!

"With Me and from Me you have nothing to fear. I am here, in the Sacrament of My love, to be your comfort, your peace, your light, your refreshment, and your joy. Know this! Take it to heart. Believe it and act upon it. If souls believed this of Me, nothing would be able to keep them from seeking Me out in the Sacrament of My love and from remaining in My presence." (IN SINU JESU).

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Lawrence Brindisi OFM, Priest and Doctor of the Church.

The Feast of St Lawrence Brindisi OFM, Priest and Doctor of the Church. 

"Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 

"When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 

"He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?

"Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 

"I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. 

For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (Matthew 12: 1 - 8).

Friday July 21st 2023 is the Feast of St Lawrence Brindisi, OFM. (1559 - 1613). Priest and Doctor of the Church. Italian. 

St Lawrence belonged to the Capuchin Order of the Franciscan family. Lawrence is an extraordinary man who used well the lavish gifts God bestowed on him. 

The Church remembers him for his profound knowledge and love for Sacred Scripture, the Holy Spirit, Prayer and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Apropos Sacred Scriptures, Lawrence says:

“The Word of the Lord is a light for the mind and a fire for the will, so that man may know and love God.… It is a weapon against a heart stubbornly entrenched in vice. It is a sword against the flesh, the world, and the devil, to destroy every sin.”

Lawrence became an authority in the sacred Word and was recognized all over Europe during his time and became a Doctor of the Church.

In the Gospel for today, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of God’s purpose for the Sabbath.

"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy." (Exodus 20: 8).

The command to set apart the Sabbath is very important as seen from the way it is treated in Sacred Scriptures. It is the exaggerated concern for the obligation and sanctity of the Sabbath Rest that gave rise to hundreds of minutiae rules concerning the basic command to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Throughout the Christian history, the Magisterium of the Church has not only expounded on the sacred character of the Sabbath but has taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the enjoyment of the People of God. 

It is a day of worship of God. A day of rest for the whole family from the hustle and bustle involved in making a living. It is a day to enjoy the parks, watch Christian movies. It is a day to visit the sick in the hospital.

The Sabbath Rest is Rehearsal for Eternal life. One day, there will be no work. By obeying the law of the Sabbath, you build up your faith in this promise of God. God plans to redeem man and creation from the present servitude to work.

It is more enjoyable to keep holy the Lord's Day than to do anything unlawful on the Sabbath Rest.

"With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath."  (CCC 2173).

Rejoice in God's generous provision of the Sunday Rest and use it to grow in spiritual and human maturity.

We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr.

Feast of St Apollinaris. 

"Moses, hearing the voice of the Lord from the burning bush, said to him, “When I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”

"God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you.”

"God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.

“This is my name forever; this my title for all generations.“

“Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite Egypt by doing all kinds of wondrous deeds there. After that he will send you away.” (Exodus 3: 13 - 20).

Thursday July 20th in the 15th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Apollinaris. 

St Apollinaris. (Bishop and Martyr). Syrian. Died 79 AD in Ravenna, Italy where he was Bishop. Two things are fascinating about our saint:

#1 The Apostle Peter himself ordained him a Bishop.

#2 St Apollinaris had an extraordinary gift of healing. The pagan Roman priests were so jealous of him that they persuaded Emperor Claudius to put him to death.

Our key Scripture from Exodus is a very important Scripture in the entire Bible. God reveals His Name. 

What is in the Name of God? The Name of God contains His Presence, Person and Power. 

GOD IS "I AM". 

GOD IS NOW! GOD IS NOT "I WAS". 

GOD IS "I AM". GOD IS NOT "I WILL BE". 

GOD IS "I AM". GOD IS ETERNAL PRESENCE. 

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God who is here and now. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and us are eternally present in Him. 

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why and how God chose Moses.

The Choice, the Call and the Anointing of Moses. 

"Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 

"There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.”

"When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

"I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.

"The cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. 

"Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

"But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 

"He answered, “I will be with you; 

"And this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain.”(Exodus 3: 1 - 6, 9 - 12).

Wednesday 19th July 2023 in 15th Week of Ordinary Time. 

Moses the humble shepherd of the priest of Madian is chosen, called and anointed as the man who will lead Israel out of Egypt, receive the Ten Commandments from God and deliver it to the People. 

God choose the people the world considers absurd to serve Him in high office. 

Consider the profile of Moses at this point:

• 80 years humble Shepherd. 

• Probable speech impediment. 

• Fugitive from the criminal justice system of powerful Egypt. 

Why did God choose such a man? Because this is who God is and how He works. God chooses people despised by this world and promote them to do great things. 

In the Magnificat, Mary reveals the divine template when it comes to the Choice, the Call and the Anointing of His collaborators:

“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.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1: 46 - 49).

This template of Choice, Call and Anointing applies to the Patriarchs, David, Mary, John the Baptist, etc. 

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Camillus de Lellis.

Feast of St Camillus de Lellis. 

His name shall be Moses. 

"A certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, who conceived and bore a son. Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took a papyrus basket, daubed it with bitumen and pitch, and putting the child in it, placed it among the reeds on the river bank. His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him.

"Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe, while her maids walked along the river bank. Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her handmaid to fetch it. On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying! She was moved with pity for him and said, “It is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 

p style =color: red ;">Red Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” “Yes, do so,” she answered.

"So the maiden went and called the child’s own mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will repay you.” The woman therefore took the child and nursed it. 

"When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her son and called him Moses; for she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

"On one occasion, after Moses had grown up, when he visited his kinsmen and witnessed their forced labor, he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own kinsmen. Looking about and seeing no one, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 

"The next day he went out again, and now two Hebrews were fighting! So he asked the culprit, “Why are you striking your fellow Hebrew?” But the culprit replied, “Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?”

"Then Moses became afraid and thought, “The affair must certainly be known.”

"Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put him to death. But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian." (Exodus 2: 1 - 15 a). 

Tuesday 18th July of the 15th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Camillus de Lellis. 

St Camillus de Lellis. (1550 -1614). Italian. Priest. Camillus gave his life to Jesus after a troubled youth. He worked in Giacomo Hospital. While working here, he heard the call from God to found an order dedicated to the care of the sick. God gave St Camillus a special love for the sick. He founded the Order of the Camellians and improved the treatment and care of hospital patients.

Our key Scripture for this Tuesday is from Exodus 2.

There are a number of beautiful points in this narrative. Let us note first that Moses is the greatest prophet and teacher in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

We have noted how God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence confound us. Let us note the surprising elements in the background of Moses and his early manhood. 

• Moses' father and mother were not named. 

• Moses was raised by Pharaoh's daughter but apparently Moses knew he was a Hebrew. 

• Moses had political and tribal instincts

As we have seen from the Book of Genesis in the lives of the Patriarchs, God governs the world through His Divine Providence. 

All things are possible for God. All things are Easy for God. 

We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com