Jesus will return as you see Him go.

"Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens?
This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven
will return as you saw him go, alleluia."  (Acts 1: 11).

Today is the Solemnity of the Ascension in our Archdiocese.  Some other dioceses around the world celebrated the feast on Thursday, May 10th, 2018.

The Ascension into Heaven of Jesus watched by His disciples.  This event continues to bring Christians throughout the centuries immense joy and hope.  Joy to see the exaltation of One who overcame death.  Hope in the sure expectation of His Second Coming, not as a little poor child but like a Mighty King surrounded by a sun a million times brighter than the sun we know.

"God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord."  (Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 47:6–7).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Have you experienced the pure joy of answered prayer?

"JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES: Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."  (John 16: 23).

Do you know the pure joy of answered prayer? In my experience, there is nothing as delightful as the happiness you feel when your prayer is answered.
The truth is that most often our prayers are answered but we do not pay attention.  Like children we quickly forget the cherished toy or doll and have our eyes on something different.

Pentecost 2018 is May 20th.  Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and eyes to see the answered prayers in your life and to show you how God answers your prayers.

The Holy Spirit is the Abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10: 10.  In our key Scripture today,  (John 16: 23) Jesus promises to fulfill any request made to the Father in His name.  This is a serious promise.

"Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete." (John 16: 24)

Most of our prayer involves asking for one thing or the other. God created us to be completely dependent on him for everything. Why be ashamed to ask for help in time of need?

Ask and you shall receive and your faith will grow stronger.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Have you experienced the joy of answered prayer?

"JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES: Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."  (John 16: 23).

Do you know the pure joy of answered prayer? In my experience, there is nothing as delightful as the happiness you feel when your prayer is answered.
The truth is that most often our prayers are answered but we do not pay attention.  Like children we quickly forget the cherished toy or doll and have our eyes on something different.

Pentecost 2018 is May 20th.  Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and eyes to see the answered prayers in your life and to show you how God answers your prayers.

The Holy Spirit is the Abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10: 10.  In our key Scripture today,  (John 16: 23) Jesus promises to fulfill any request made to the Father in His name.  This is a serious promise.

"Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete." (John 16: 24)

Most of our prayer involves asking for one thing or the other. God created us to be completely dependent on him for everything. Why be ashamed to ask for help in time of need?

Ask and you shall receive and your faith will grow stronger.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I tell you the truth: No Cross, No Crown.

"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."  (John 16: 20).

Do not even look at the world as they are engaged in their ecstatic show of joy. I tell you the truth, it is all show.  I promise that you will experience the true and lasting joy. He who laughs last, laughs best.

"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."  (John 16:  21).

How many times will I tell you that it is My Father's gracious will that the Cross will precede the Crown.  Let the story of pregnancy teach you this lesson.  I tell you the truth, nobody can change this order.

"Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory."  (Cf Luke 24: 46, 26)
The Cross is a divine necessity.

"No one will take your joy away from you."  (John 16: 22).
You can trust My word.

"Hear our prayers, O Lord, so that what was promised by the sanctifying power of your Word may everywhere be accomplished through the working of the Gospel and that all your adopted children may attain what the testimony of truth has foretold.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen."  (Collect Friday, May 11th, 6th Week of Easter).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Do not be afraid Bros.

Do not be afraid

“They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming towards the boat.  This frightened them, but he said, ‘It is I.  Do not be afraid.”  (John 6: 19 – 20)

Jesus is in every event in my life.  He is saying to me here:  ‘Do not be afraid.  I am present.’  How can I make this truth serve me everyday?  In the midst of the hot events of my life, how can I call to mind the sure presence of Jesus?  One way is to cultivate the presence of Jesus through the Jesus prayer.  Jesus!

Lord Jesus, I believe you are present in my life through the Holy Spirit.  I thank you for the peace and tranquility that is your gift.  Sometimes I forget about your presence and become anxious and afraid.  I feel that I am in control of events and I feel so inadequate.  Lord teach me to live in your presence every moment of my life.  “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you, in God, whose word I praise, in God I put my trust and have no fear, what power has human strength over me?”  (Psalm 56: 3-4)

In order to live constantly in the presence of Jesus, I will immerse myself in the words of Jesus and say the Jesus prayer.

“It is I.  Do not be afraid.”

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Crispus heard the message and believed.

"Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized."  (Acts 18: 8).

What does it mean that Crispus came to believe in the Lord?  "The Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized?"  What is belief? What is faith?
These people heard the core message of the Gospel from the lips of St Paul.  At this time, there was no New Testament.  No document to check and verify their statement. They must have heard something similar to this:  "Jesus who was promised through the Prophets has come. He taught us about God and His plan for universal salvation. He was crucified according to the Scriptures. He died and rose again from the dead. He will come again to judge the world.  We are witnesses to these facts."

Crispus and many Corinthians heard a similar message and believed.  They believed the message because they were predisposed to believe.  They believed because they judged Paul a credible messenger and witness.  If you are reading this, you are predisposed to faith, to believe.  You believe in the word of God. You believe in the teaching of the Church.

We are 10 days to the great feast of Pentecost, Sunday, May 10th. How is your faith?
"Behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 20).
Do you believe this?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Spirit of truth will guide us to all truth.

"But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth......and will declare to you the things that are coming."  (John 16: 13).

The Spirit of Jesus will guide us to all truth.  All truth pertaining to salvation. Let us consider for a moment some of these awesome and mysterious truths that Jesus Christ revealed during His ministry:
+ The Trinity
+ The Holy Spirit
+ Sacraments
+ The Cross
+  The Church
+  Mystery of Mary

The Holy Spirit has led the Church to all these truths.  Most of the Church Councils in the past 2000 years have produced dogmatic definitions on these truths.  The teachings are constant and unalterable.

The Holy Spirit "will declare to you the things that are coming."  (John 16: 13).  What constitutes this revelation?  One thing that comes to mind is the appearance of the Man of Lawlessness, sometimes called the Anti-Christ.  He is a prince in the Kingdom of the Father of lies. (Cf 2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 12). Through the spirit of discernment, the Church will be able to grasp the Signs of the Times and expose him.

"Graciously be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways to newness of life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen."  (Prayer after Communion).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Spirit of light and love, come and fill us with Yourself.

"I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. (Cf John 16: 7, 13).

What does the Church mean when she confesses: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”?
"To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess faith in the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity who proceeds from the Father and the Son and “is worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son”. The Spirit is “sent into our hearts” (Galatians 4:6) so that we might receive new life as sons of God."  (CCC 136)

"O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, to You I consecrate my mind, heart and will, for time and eternity. May I be ever docile to Your divine inspirations and to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church whose infallible Guide You are.  May my heart be ever inflamed with the love of God and love of neighbor; may my will be ever in harmony with Your divine will. May my life faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him with the Father and You, Divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen."  (Consecration to the Holy Spirit by Pope St Pius X).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord prosper the work of our hands.

Prosper the Work of our Hands

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours,
Prosper the work of our hands!
Prosper the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90: 17)

As mentioned once in this Blog, many years ago I read from time to time Christian Science literature for the sheer beauty of the language in expressing of faith. Here is something I culled from their literature in.

“God’s plan for man includes full employment. Employment is meaningful and fruitful activity. The disciple who is preparing for his life’s work is fully employed. God is omni-active. And so should man who reflects God’s image. He is employed in the business of expressing love and reflecting the divine understanding which are always fruitful. We can begin to prove this right now and bring healing to every aspect of our work.

Our understanding of and trust in these truths result in tangible provision for our needs, and enable us to help others as well. Our prayers and proofs of God’s healing care bless us, our Church and everyone.”

To summarize: There is no unemployment in God's Vineyard. Not every meaningful employment is paid employment.  The student and the volunteer are meaningfully employed.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Advocate whom I will send you will help you testify to Me.

"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 - 27).

To testify to Christ or not testify, that is the question. That is the existential choice we have to make.  Those who belong to the Truth will testify to Jesus. (Cf John 8: 47).  "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  (John 10: 27).

There are certain risks to fully committing to Jesus.  Hear them from the Master's lips.

“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."  (John 16:  1-2).

Be prepared to lose your job, club membership, etc. They will assassinate your character, ruin your business and finances, etc. Are you prepared for this for the sake of Jesus?  Will you stay or run?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Where is My Mother?

Mother and Son - 2 Hearts: One Heartbeat!

"The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”  (Luke 8: 19 - 21).

In the new Jesus Christ Superstar Live Concert 2018, I was speechless with amazement when Jesus cried out from the cross:
"Where is My Mother?"  Even Jesus needed the closeness of a mother at such a desperate moment.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Love is patient and kind.

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."  (John 15: 12).

Still on the subject of love:
"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God." (1 John 4: 7).

And again:
"In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins."  (1 John 4: 10).

St. John the Evangelist is our Catechist this Sunday. The dominant theme in the Second Reading and the Gospel for today is from the Apostle of Love, LOVE.  I am not sure I fully understand what Love is and how to do love until I go to St Paul to help me.  St Paul nails it down for me in a cut and dry manner:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,  it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,  it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  (1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7).

So Jesus is patient and kind to me. He is not rude to me and does not rejoice when I fail but jumps for joy when I succeed. Jesus believes in spite of my sins and faults that I will make it to Heaven.

This is how Jesus wants us to love one another.  I am beginning to understand.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I will bless you if you honor the Lord's Day of Rest.

Blessed are those who honor My Sabbath Day of rest.

"If you refrain from trampling the Sabbath, from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the Sabbath a delight,
the LORD’s holy day glorious;
If you glorify it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs—
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  (Isaiah 58: 13 - 14).

The Sabbath/Sunday Rest is a very important institution in Judaism and Christianity. 
The Sunday Rest is a rehearsal for eternal rest which if you think of it is the main promise of Salvation.
"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"  (Matthew 16: 26).

"Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong."  (Isaiah 56: 2 NLT)

Sunday Rest comes once a week and reminds us of creation and the Resurrection of Jesus in a weekly rhythm that forces us to pause our hectic addiction to activity. 

He who keeps holy the Lord's Day is blessed in accordance with the promises. 

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work."  (Exodus 20:8-10 NLT)

"That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes]." (Exodus 20:11 AMP)

SeekFirstcommunity.com

If the world laughed at Me, they will laugh at you.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first..... If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."  (John 15: 18, 20).

If the world laughed at Me, they will laugh at you.
If they derided Me, they will deride you.
If the world called me mad and worthless, they will do exactly the same to you.  Make no mistake about it because no slave is greater than his master.

"Be who you are created to be and you will set the world on fire."  (St Catherine of Siena).

No testing, no testimony.
Every Saint is tested:
Augustine, Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa of Kolkata, Therese of the Child Jesus, Patrick, Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier, Vincent de Paul, etc.
What makes you think that you will be a different type of Saint?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

May is the Month of Mary.

May is the Month of Mary:

The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary
1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things.  Oh, that soul would sanctify themselves by this means!
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred Mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune.  God will not chastise him in His justice; he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I chose you to go and bear fruit.

"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).

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

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord, bless and prosper the work of our hands.

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

Lord, prosper the work of our hands.
From the dawn of religion, when primitive man first noticed the existence of a mysterious force influencing the course of his life, Cave man offered prayers and sacrifices to this Being to bless his planting, harvesting and hunting.  You remember all the goddesses of fertility in the ancient world?  Aphrodite, Adonis, etc.

Jesus is promising in the 5th Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to bless and prosper the work of our hands.  I have made this prayer long before I became aware of the Sacred Heart Promises.   Has the Lord Jesus always blessed and prospered the work of my hands?  Yes! It took the gifts of spiritual understanding to see how this works.
God knows exactly what I need and when I need it.  Certain jobs and enterprises could lead me to "too much money."  Opposite of my destiny.... He blocks them. I am grateful Jesus.

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

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

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

Seekfirstcommunity.com

Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.

“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  (John 14: 8).

What do you want most from the Father here and now? What is the greatest desire of your heart? When I asked myself this question, I could not pick one desire.  As I struggled to land on the mother of all desires, I remembered the promise of Jesus coming at the end of today's Gospel:

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."  (John 14: 13 -14).

Then I decided. I will ask for the mother of All Gifts.  "Lord Jesus, fill me to the brim with Your Holy Spirit and through Your Holy Spirit fill me with His gifts and His fruits."

Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Have you not seen that all you need has been provided by God's gracious Providence.

 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you." (John 15: 7).

Let us be honest.  Do you believe that if you ask for whatever you want, it will be given to you? If you do not believe this, you call Jesus a Liar.  A Liar with a big "L" since He is God.

The truth that God provides all our needs in a timely manner is an idea that is found throughout  sacred scripture.  Amazingly, this is also the constant teaching of the Church from time immemorial.  Yet, ask any man on the street whether he believes that God is supplying everything he needs in a timely manner and you may notice some doubts and hesitations.

God's gracious and loving providence is expressed in this line in a song used frequently by the Church:

"Have you not seen All you have needed has been met by His gracious ordaining?"

"Gracious ordaining" means of course God's providence.  The first time I became aware of this song in a worship service, I said to myself, "Wait a minute.  This isn't my experience."
I thought about it at the time and decided that this question like many questions about faith and religion is simply too mysterious.  I now realize that this attitude was an error born of unbelief.  What I should have done was to challenge God in prayer to show me how He met all my needs by His gracious ordaining.

But recently, as I read and reflect more on the subject of Prayer, I begin to get some insight.  The key to understanding the question is this important teaching of Jesus:

"What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?  Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”  (Luke 11: 11 -13)

Yes indeed.  God provides all our necessities according to His gracious and loving Providence.  Trust that the Father knows exactly what you need and when you need it.

"By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."  (John 15: 7).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Let not this heart be troubled.

"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."  (John 14: 27).

How does the world give peace?
Is your family beautiful in every way? Is your health superb all round? No financial headaches whatsoever. Great job. Big home. Big cars. Great food.  If all the above is excellent for you, then you deserve to join the peace club.
Alas, since none of the above is guaranteed to last, you may never be able to join the peace club on earth.  An example:  You may have all the money in the world.  You may stock the best food and wine. What if you are too sick to eat anything.  Nobody can cheat Divine Providence.  The only thing we are guaranteed is the present moment. Everyone can learn to trust the promises of God.

"Let not this heart be troubled,
But let it rest in you.
For with you,
Every sorrow will be washed away,
Let not my mind be burdened,
But set it free with truth,
For every care is lost in understanding grace.  (Sarah Hart).

Here is what the peace of Christ looks like.  Peace above all worldly circumstances and temporary setbacks:
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7).

"O God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ,
grant your people constancy in faith and hope, that we may never doubt the promises of which we have learned from you.
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, Tuesday, 5th Week of Easter).

SeekFirstcommunity.com