THE HOLY FAMILY DEVOTION.

DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FAMILY. 

FEBRUARY - THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. 

"Christ chose to be born and grow up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and Mary. The Church is nothing other than "the family of God." From the beginning, the core of the Church was often constituted by those who had become believers "together with all [their] household." When they were converted, they desired that "their whole household" should also be saved. These families who became believers were islands of Christian life in an unbelieving world." (1655 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH). 

Consecration of the Family to the Holy FAMILY PRAYER. 

"Joseph, hallowed domestic life by Your ineffable virtues; grant that, with the assistance of both, may be taught by the example of Your holy Family and may attain to its everlasting fellowship; Who lives and reigns world without end. AMEN. "— Roman Missal.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

THE FEAST OF ST JOHN BOSCO, FOUNDER OF THE SALESIANS.

 

"Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished.

They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?

"And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

"Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

"So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith." (Mark 6: 1 - 6).

Where did the son of Mary, the village carpenter get all this learning?

"Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary."  (Mark 6:  3).

Wednesday 31 January 2024 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Bosco (1815 - 1888), Italian Priest.

John Bosco is called the "Apostle of Youth." He was a great educator and father to the young. He founded the Salesian School to educate boys and girls.

St John Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, young people and Catholic publishers and editors. 

Let us consider for a moment how the home crowd see their homeboy, Jesus:

#1 Of course, he is the son of Mary, now a widow.

#2  He is the carpenter, the small business man with little success.

#3  The young man who refused to leave home and establish a family after his age group had become parents of grown children.

#4  The handsome young man who had no fiancee or girlfriend.

“Where did this man get all this?

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!"  (Mark 6: 2).

The town's people were astonished that after less than a year Jesus disappeared from their town, he returned as a superstar.

But they could not reconcile themselves to this new reality.  And Jesus said to them:

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”  (Mark 6: 4).

God promises that he who is in Christ is a New Creation. (2 Corinthians 5: 17).  St Irenaeus, a second century Church Father said that "The handsome man/woman is the glory of God."  

Jesus came to make us beautiful but many reject Him.  Whatever you do, never allow familiarity to breed contempt.

"So he [Jesus] was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them."  (Mark 6:  5).

Very sad.  What a missed opportunity!

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.... " (Blessed Henry Suso - 1290 to 1365).

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

FEAR IS USELESS. ALL YOU NEED IS FAITH.

Fear is useless. All you need is Faith. 

"When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 

"One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”

"Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 

“Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it.

"The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

"While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 

"Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

"He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

"When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him.

"Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. 

“He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat." (Mark 5: 21 - 43).

Tuesday January 30th of the 4th Week of Ordinary Time.

The Gospel today from Mark 5: 21 - 43 confirms our our belief in the power of faith to heal and move the mountains of human illness, ignorance and poverty. 

Do you believe this? 

The woman afflicted with By faith the woman afflicted with hemorrhage, had squandered her money on specialist physicians without getting better. At last, a friend suggested she seeks out a Jewish Rabbi who is reputed to be a healer. The lady heard this recommendations and accepted the message. She traveled to Israel where she caught up with Jesus. She sneaked behind Jesus, touched the hem of the garment of Jesus and was healed instantly. Jesus was so impressed that He praised her faith. 

By faith, Jairus the synagogue official sought out Jesus to heal his daughter who was at the point of death. By faith Jairus believed Jesus when he was told:“Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Jesus followed Jairus to his house and uttered Talitha Kumi over the little girl and raised her from the dead. 

It is by faith that all heroes of Israel listed in Hebrews 11, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Judith, Esther, etc were able to perform incredible exploits. 

You too can heal yourself and others through faith. Faith comes from hearing. Hearing the word of God which is truth. Read and meditate on God's word every day. 

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.... " (Blessed Henry Suso - 1290 to 1365).

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

JESUS HEALS THE SAVAGE DEMONIAC.

JESUS ENCOUNTERS THE DEMONIAC FACE TO FACE. 

"Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes.

"When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.

"The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.

"Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.

"Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!”

"(He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

"Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.”

"And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned.

"The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened.

As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear.

"Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district.

"As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” 

"Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed." (Mark 5: 1 - 20).

Monday 29th January of the 4th Week of Ordinary Time. 

In the dramatic encounter of Jesus with the Demoniac, we see how the healed and transformed man became an effective evangelist. 

 “Go home to your family and ­announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” This is the divine command of Jesus. What is the result?

"Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed." 

The former Demoniac did not go to school or seminary before he started evangelizing.

He "began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed." 

Testimonies convert people and strengthen the faith of many. 

“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.... " (Blessed Henry Suso - 1290 to 1365).

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com