Never give to Caesar what belongs to God.

“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22:21)

Caesar represents earthly powers and governments. Christ says that we must recognize the rights of earthly powers and governments. Scripture teaches that God installs governments. All power comes from God.  (Cf Romans 13: 1).  We are not only to obey them but we are urged to pray for them. (Cf 1 Timothy 2: 1 - 2).

What belongs to Caesar?
Work: Monday to Saturday.
taxes, civil obedience, etc.

We offer to God what is properly His. This includes:
Obedience, Worship, Prayer, Love.

Is there a conflict? When Caesar wants what belongs to God, the Christian must say no. We must obey God rather than man, St. Peter said.  (Acts 5: 29).  Jesus Christ foreseeing the conflict urges his follower not to fear the person who can destroy the body and can do nothing more. The person to fear is God, who can destroy body and soul in hell.  (Matthew 10: 28).

The martyrs of the Church never tried to deprive Caesar of what belongs to him. It was always Caesar who keeps what belongs to him and wants to deprive the creator of what belongs to Him.

Consider something that belongs to God that is very dear to His Heart.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."  (Exodus 20: 28).

This is what the Church teaches on keeping holy the Lord's Day.

"On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure - the necessity of charity accepts just work."  (CCC 2185).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Only in God can I hope against hope.

"He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be."  (Romans 4: 17 - 18).

What does it mean to hope against hope? Have you ever hoped against hope? Yes I have. A couple of times  I was in a situation where no hope or remedy could be expected. Even in such dire situation, in rear sight, I saw a tiny flicker of hope.
Hope like faith and love are theological virtues.  They are supernatural gifts.  Direct gifts of God Himself. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who builds." (Psalm 127: 1).

How can we believe that God will give us the gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity? Because when we believe and become reconciled to God, God gave us the Holy Spirit to live inside us.  The presence of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of these supernatural gifts.

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  (Romans 5: 5 NKJV).

The nature of God is to keep His promises come what may.  And "The Lord remembers his covenant for ever."Psalm 105: 8).

"May your grace, O Lord, we pray,
at all times go before us and follow after and make us always determined to carry out good works.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."  (Collect : Saturday of 28th Week).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Divine Providence is the sweetest Doctrine of our Faith.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?  Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.  Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."  (Luke 12: 6 - 7).

It amazes me every day I think of this truth of our faith:  Our God micro manages our lives. This is called Divine Providence, the sweetest doctrine of our Faith. God did not create and dump us to get on with life.  Not at all. He provides step-by-step directions and moment by moment protection. The Church Fathers and the Doctors of the Church treat the Doctrine of Divine Providence with such lavish joy.  Here is what the Church teaches today about Divine Providence:

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church :

321 Divine providence consists of the dispositions by which God guides all his creatures with wisdom and love to their ultimate end.

322 Christ invites us to filial trust in the providence of our heavenly Father (cf.Mt 6:26-34), and St. Peter the apostle repeats: "Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you" (I Peter  5:7; cf. Psalm 55:23).

323 Divine providence works also through the actions of creatures. To human beings God grants the ability to cooperate freely with his plans.

324 The fact that God permits physical and even moral evil is a mystery that God illuminates by his Son Jesus Christ who died and rose to vanquish evil. Faith gives us the certainty that God would not permit an evil if he did not cause a good to come from that very evil, by ways that we shall fully know only in eternal life.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

You are not qualified. Try again next year.

"For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3: 28 NABRE).

"For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."  (Romans 3: 28 NIV).

"So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law." (Romans 3: 28 NLT).

For clarity, 3 versions of the key Scripture for today are presented.

Scripture teaches that the just man lives by faith. (Cf Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10: 38, Habakkuk 2: 4).
It means that it is through faith that we appropriate all the promised blessings of God.  We are justified before God by faith in Jesus the Christ.  Another word for justification is qualification. Consider this scenario:

You submit an application for a "job" with God. You are filled with misgivings because you know you are just not qualified. God reviews your application.  He is about to toss it out when He notices where you wrote in the footnote: "I also believe in Jesus Christ."  He smiles and says "That is the only thing I am looking for."

You are now qualified and can ask for any favors.
Our sins disqualify our relationship with God.  We are made righteous  through faith in the death of Jesus the Christ on the cross.  His death paid the debt of Sin.
If you think this is amazingly too simplistic to be true, you are not alone. But believe the Bible, believe the Church: No Justification, No Salvation. No favors.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are still very few.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings of peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation!"  (Isaiah 52: 7).

Such beautiful feet are those of St Luke the Evangelist whose feast we celebrate today. St Luke wrote:    “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."  (Luke 10: 2).  The Master of the harvest, God the Father sent Luke to preach the word and author the Gospel according to St Luke. A few words on the profile of St Luke is in order here.

According to Tradition, St Luke is a Gentile physician. When he heard the Good News, he abandoned his medical practice and attached himself to St Paul as his traveling companion. He demonstrated a thorough research and an eye to detail in his subjects.  He showed a preferential option for the poor, women and sinners. Without St Luke, our knowledge of the life and work of Jesus Christ would be poorer.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few."  (Luke 10: 2).  It was so in the beginning. It is still so today.
So many people in our communities no longer consider themselves members of any Church and live lives far removed from the Gospel of Christ. How do we reach these people? This is the challenge for you and me. Whatever answer you have, consider Prayer as the first tool.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The word of God is living and effective.

 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."  (Romans 1: 16).

The consequence of St Paul not being ashamed of the Good News is that St Paul evangelized or shared the Gospel day and night, season and out of season. (Acts 4: 2, 1 Thessalonians 2: 9).  Paul advised Timothy and us to follow his example (2 Timothy 4: 2).

Are you ashamed of sharing the Gospel?  How enthusiastic are you in sharing it at home, school, work and everywhere?

"But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven."  (Matthew 10: 33).

The Bible has more to say about people who refuse to acknowledge God and give Him honor and glory:

"For although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened.  While claiming to be wise, they became fools  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes."  (Romans 1: 21 - 23).

Lord Jesus, save us from this fate by all means.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

We remember and honor a holy Virgin of Jesus Christ.

"How beautiful you are, O Virgin of Christ, who were worthy to receive the Lord's crown 👑, the crown of perpetual virginity."  (Entrance Antiphon, feast of St Margaret Mary Alacoque. Monday, 28th Week of Ordinary Time).

Why should a young, beautiful and sane woman abandon the joys and romance of marriage and motherhood to become one of the Virgins of Jesus Christ?
Because of something more:

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."  (Matthew 19: 29).

The Church rejoices with St Margaret Mary, Virgin and Visionary on the occasion of her feast day.

"Pour out on us, we pray, O Lord, the spirit with which You so remarkably endowed St Margaret Mary, so that we may come to know that love of Christ which surpasses all understanding and be utterly filled with Your fullness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."  (Collect, Feast of St Margaret Mary).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The invited guests refused to come.

The Gospel this Sunday (Matthew 22: 1- 14) is a sad parable to read.
The President gave a wedding feast for his son. The invited guests refused to come. He sent another reminder:  "Everything is ready; come to the feast." They ignored the invitation, gave insulting excuses  and to add insult to injury abused the official messengers.

Now consider this:
"On this mountain the Lord of Hosts will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines."  (Isaiah 25: 6)

Before the Lord provided a feast of rich food and choice wine, before He gave the wedding feast for His son, He had made a provision for the Day:
"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy."  (Exodus 20: 8).

The Sabbath Day, Sunday is a Day of Rest and festivities. The biggest feast is the Eucharist. The parable in Matthew 22: 1 - 14, reflects what happens today.  The invited guests refuse to come. But why?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Yes, I believe. Let it be done for me exactly as You promised.

"While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”  (Luke 11: 27 - 28).

What did this pious woman observe in Jesus that filled her with awe and wonder in this truly awesome personality. She probably sensed in her inner spirit, an indefinable person in whom the Eternal Word became flesh. The Christus? The Messiah? Some great Prophet? We may never know. It is the response of Jesus to this lady that we shall consider briefly.

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”  (Luke 11: 28).

Who is the original target of the word?  Mary the Mother of Jesus. The Angel Gabriel brought a message to her from Abba Father. You Mary will become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to a little boy, who will be called Jesus. Mary replied:
"I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."  (Luke 1: 38).

Are you capable of such a faith?
When God told Cyrus King of Persia: "I will make you a powerful king and use you to end the Babylonian captivity of my people." Cyrus believed God. (Cf Isaiah 44: 28).
A young man not overly religious like Cyrus rose up one day and told us some ten years ago that he was destined to be the President of the United States of America. He believed this. Just like Cyrus, the rest is history.

Mary is the Ideal and Exemplar of listening to the word of God and observing it.

Who are the losers? Those who listen to the word of man (TV, News, Gossips) more than they listen to the word of God.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Remember the Four Last Things.

"The Lord will judge the world with justice.

"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.

"You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.

"But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has set up his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with justice;
he governs the peoples with equity.

The Lord will judge the world with justice."  (Psalm 9: 2 - 3, 6, 8 - 9)

Today's Responsorial Psalm reminds us of the Four Last Things:
Death, Judgment, Heaven or Hell.

While nobody can escape these, the Scriptures comfort us by reminding us that God tempers justice with mercy.  Remember therefore the ABC of Mercy:

Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

God is yearning and waiting for you to ask Him small and big favors.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."  (Luke 11: 9 - 10).

The above Scripture, the greatest encouragement to prayer is well known. But do you believe it?  Or do you think that answers to prayer is reserved for a lucky few?
Please note that in Luke 11: 9 - 10, it is God Himself who makes the promise without pressure or any showmanship. God is not running for election to claim what He could never do. In brief, God never lies.
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"  (Numbers 23: 19).

God wants us to ask Him for everything we need.  He knows that there is no better way to grow in faith than to experience the pure joy of answered prayer.  Saints append Luke 11: 9 - 10 at the end of their petitions. The Church prays in like manner.  Call this: the ground for confidence in prayer. God Never Fails! Period!!!

Let us thank God for the gift of Prayer. Without this gift, we will all be Unbelievers.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Simple rules of Prayer

“Lord, teach us to pray...... When you pray, say:"  Then Jesus gave His disciples the Lord's Prayer, "the most perfect of prayers" (CCC 2763). Let us consider a few points about Prayer.

#1.  Nowhere in Scriptures did Jesus teach that work is a  necessity. He taught that Prayer is a vital necessity:  "Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary."  (Luke 18: 1).

#2.  The experience of saints confirm the ancient axiom that a spiritual warrior advances on his knees.  "With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication.." (Ephesians 6: 18).

#3.  The fruit of prayer is peace.
"The fruit of Silence is prayer.The fruit of Prayer is faith.The fruit of Faith is love.The fruit of Love is service.The fruit of Service is peace." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata). Everything in fact starts with Prayer.

Now let us consider the environment of Prayer.  We may call it the 4 S of Prayer. All begin with S for sacred. Sacred means set apart for a holy purpose.

1. Sacred Time:  Do you have a specific and fixed time set aside for prayer? If you don't, it will be hard to form the habit of Prayer.
2. Sacred Place:  Where do you pray? Whenever I come to a new place like a hotel room, I consecrate a part of the room for Prayer by spreading what the Moslems call the prayer mat.  In my case, I place a Bible, candle 🕯, crucifix, Rosary and a spiritual book on the table.
3. Sacred Intention: Prayer time is communion with God and my mind must be cleared of all distractions. 
4.  Sacred Posture: There is a posture for prayer and a posture for watching television or chatting with your buddy.  If you have the privilege of being in the Oval Office, how do you stand or sit?  Kings David and Solomon knelt and prostrated before Almighty God. Jesus adopted a posture of filial humility before His heavenly Father.
Cause no harm when you pray.

Saints teach us that if we understand the meaning of the Lord's Prayer and say it with faith and humility, that is the only prayer we will ever need.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Be still and know that I am God.

"Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”  (Luke 10: 40 - 42).

Jesus lays down this judgment: Between Martha and Mary, it is Mary who is smarter.  You may argue, but this is the word of God. Remember too that God says:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55: 8 - 9).

Martha was so anxious to offer Jesus her renowned gift of hospitality that she missed the gift of the word of God which Jesus brought to her home. 🌿.
Allow God to bless you with His gifts.

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength.
But this you did not will."  (Isaiah 30: 15)

“Lord, Lord, King and Ruler of all, everything is in your power, and there is no one to oppose you when it is your will to save Israel.  You made heaven and earth and every wonderful thing under heaven.  You are Lord of all, and there is no one who can resist you, the Lord.  You know all things."  (Esther 4: 2 - 5)

SeekFirstcommunity.com

In my distress, I cried for help, the Lord heard me.

"Out of my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me;
From the midst of the nether world I cried for help, and you heard my voice."  (Jonah 2: 3).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

O Israel, what does your God require of you today?

"During the Babylonian captivity, the exiles prayed:
“Justice is with the Lord, our God;
and we today are flushed with shame, we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem, that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our ancestors, have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him.
We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God, nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.
From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt
until the present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard his voice."  (Baruch 1: 15 - 19).

What is going on here? The Israelites had lived outside the Law for a long time.  The prophets and priests sent to them by the Lord Yahweh spoke and screamed but to deaf ears.
A wise proverb says: "Everyday for the thief but one day for the owner of the house."  When God decided to strike, it was by the way of a very long and painful exile. Consider our country here and now.

Weeks after the 9/11 event, the significance and message of the historic event was accurately discerned by many people. Then the empire struck back by means of the powerful Media. The Church was tongue-tied and could not fight back. The opportunity of a Revival riding on the back of 9/11 was lost. But our God is a God of a Second Chance.

O Israel, what does Your God require of you?
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Joy of the Lord is your strength.

"Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8: 10).

The power of joy is unbelievable.  Do you know that you can have a powerful ministry of joy or cheerfulness?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"  (Philippians 4: 4).  Joy is contagious. Spread it freely.

St Philip Neri, gifted evangelizer, also known as Apostle of Rome, founder of the the Oratorians was noted for his ministry of cheerfulness. Just by being joyful and cheerful, he attracted many souls to Christ. Joyfulness or cheerfulness is so easy to notice in people. This is why many spiritual writers have identified it as the sure mark of the Holy Spirit in a soul.

"This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength."  (Isaiah 30: 15)

So in quietness, confidence, joy and cheerfulness shall lie your strength.
Do you want to try the Joy Therapy?

"The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." (Psalm 19: 9).
If you want Joy to permeate your personality, immerse yourself in the word of God. The Holy Spirit will notice and come with other gifts.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Francis, repair My Church.

“Why do you look sad? If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.” (Nehemiah 2: 2).

King Artexerxes asked his page, Nehemiah the above question?
Who is Nehemiah? Nehemiah is one of the men God raised up in the Babylonian captivity to shepherd His people in their transition from slavery to freedom. Unlike Ezra the priest, Nehemiah's gift is administration or governance.

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!" (Psalm 42 :11 NLT).

"But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!"  (Psalm 42: 11 TLB).

"If it please the king, send me to the city of my ancestors and I will rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2: 5).
This is Nehemiah's answer to King Artexerxes.

"How could we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten!"  (Psalm 137: 4).

Today, October 4th is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.  Jesus said to him: "Francis, repair My Church."

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus instructed them on what to take for the Journey.

"When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him."  (Luke 9: 51 - 52).

Where there is a Journey, there is a Destination. Biblical narratives are filled with Journeys.  Consider a few:

"Leave your country, your kindred and your father's house for a country which I shall show you." (Genesis 12: 1).

"With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses."  (Numbers 21: 4).

"But the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat or the journey will be too much for you!"  (1 Kings 19: 7).

"He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts."  (Mark 6: 8)

Our life by divine providence is a Journey. A Journey where the destination is Heaven and the Way is Jesus Himself. It is a long and hazardous Journey where the sick and feeble die on the road.  The Lord Himself has provided food for the Journey, His own Body and Blood.  "The Eucharist is food for the Journey."  (St Ignatius of Antioch).

Where are you today in your life cycle? Quo vadis?

“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!” (Numbers  21: 4 -  5 RM)

"Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.  Through your goodness we have this delay, disappointment, obstacle to offer, let it become for me like a spiritual drink for the Journey." 

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The angels of the little ones behold the Face of God continually.

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me."  (Matthew 18: 3 - 5)

Jesus praises the humility of a little child.  What is humility?
Just like love, humility is patient and kind.  Humility is not jealous, conceited or proud. It does not keep a record of wrongs. In short, humility is love. 💟.

St Augustine says that Humility is the queen of virtues. He added that you can still get into Heaven by breaking every Commandment in the Book. But you can never get into Heaven without Humility.

Today is the Memorial of Our Guardian Angels.

"O God, who in your unfathomable Providence are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us,
hear our supplication as we cry to you, that we may always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."  (Collect - Feast of the Guardian Angels).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Remember Your promises and Your mercies O Lord!

"Never forget your promises to me your servant, for they are my only hope. They give me strength in all my troubles; how they refresh and revive me!" (Psalm 119: 49 - 50).

"For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory." (2 Corinthians 1: 20).

Jesus is the reason for our hope.

"At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2: 11).

Jesus I trust in You.

SeekFirstcommunity.com