The Eucharist is the New Covenant ratified with the Blood of Jesus.

"While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many."  (Mark 14: 22 - 24).

Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. (CCC 1324). The Eucharist is also the new Covenant ratified with the Blood of Jesus.  (Mark 14: 24).

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord."  (John 6: 57).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The world needs authority. The world needs the Catholic Church.

“By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11:  28).

You guess right who the above question is directed to.  Of course Jesus.  Who are the questioners?
"As he [Jesus] was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him.... “ (Mark 11: 27 - 28).

This is a good opportunity to see what the Bible says about Authority:

First, all authority comes from God. (Romans 13: 1). This is all sweeping:  authority of the federal, state, local governments and everything downstream.

How about the the authority of Jesus, the Son?  “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  (Matthew 28: 18). "Power" = "Authority".

Authority of the Church: 
#1 "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them...... Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:  16 - 20).

#2  "Whoever listens to you [Apostles] listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”  (Luke 10: 16).

#3 "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16: 18 - 19).

On the question of authority, how confident will you be for a surgeon without license (authority) to operate on your only son? Or a lawyer without license to represent you on a felony case?

The world needs authority. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of Israel.  In the USA, we respect the Supreme Court.  You may not always agree with them, but you understand the wisdom of the existence of the institution.
Why should it be different with the Church?  The Church is the Seed of the Kingdom of God here on earth and Jesus provided the Church with authority.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Where can we see faith that moves mountains?

"Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God.  Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him."  (Mark 11: 22 - 23).

Do we still see faith that moves mountains?  We do indeed.  I have seen a few myself in everyday small matters and in huge international affairs.
Who could believe that apartheid in South Africa could be brought to an end in 1993 without a huge blood bath? A lot of prayers went up from all over the world to see this happy outcome.

St Peter teaches that faith is more precious than gold and silver. (Cf 1 Peter 1: 7). Whenever God plans to do a big thing in my life, first He gives me the faith and boldness to ask for it.  The rest is formality.

Jesus continues His teaching on prayer,  "Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours."  The person who doubts when he prays "must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways."  (James 1: 7 - 8).  A double-minded person may never receive anything he asks from God, says James.

Strong faith is a critical factor in all successful prayers but there is one other element without which no prayer can be answered:
"When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”  (Mark 11: 26).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June.

June 1st, 2018 First Friday in June 2018.

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.  In the 6th month of the year 2018, we look at Promise #6.

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

June is the Month the Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  If you ask me, the promise this month is the greatest.  If you are not a sinner, stand up and shout it to the world!

Let us pray together:
"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 Ligouri, Doctor of the Church).

"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).

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

The Mother of my Lord has come to visit me.

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  (Cf Luke 1: 45).

The Church celebrates today the visit of 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 have been saying to the Theotokos:  "Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus."

"Almighty ever-living God,
who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray,
that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times.
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 of the Feast of the Visitation).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

You do not know what you are asking.

“What do you wish [me] to do for you?”  They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking."  (Mark 10: 36 - 38).

Could the best practice with regards to asking God for favors lodged in these two Scripture texts?

#1 "Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" (Matthew 6: 8).

#2  "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8: 26).

I just finished reading TREASURE IN CLAY - The Autobiography of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.  When I started the book, I was overwhelmed by this man's gifts and felt like a grasshopper before this towering moral, intellectual and saintly giant of a man.  He reminds me in a number of ways of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman but Sheen was much more erudite, versatile and charismatic.  By the time I finished the book, I felt peace and came to sympathize with James and John for not knowing what they were asking.  (Mark 10: 38).  God has an excellent plan for every person. (Jeremiah 29: 11).

Never compare yourself to any person, saint or sinner.  Accept who you are.  Accept all that has happened in your life.  Accept everything that is happening now. Cooperate with everything happening around you except what is sinful.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

God's will is that we become Saints.

"Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,  for it is written, “Be holy because I [am] holy.”  (1 Peter 1: 14-16).

"Become a saint, and do so quickly,"  a quote attributed to St John Paul the Great.  If God your Creator thinks you can be a Saint, why not!
Consider these two truths:

#1 "All things are possible for God."  (Luke 1: 37; Matthew 19: 26).
#2  "Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?"  (Genesis 18: 14). For you?

Why then could I ever imagine that it is impossible for God to make me a Saint?  Clearly this is His expressed will. But how much do I desire it?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him."  (Ephesians 1: 3 - 4)

May God so confirm our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints. (Cf 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why do you refuse to follow Me?

“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  (Mark 10: 21).

The young man who asked Jesus,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  (Mark 10: 17) is too attached to the wealth he worked hard to accumulate. He had no faith and could not believe that He who asked him to follow him gave him the power to accumulate all his wealth and could do more for him.

What is your principal attachment?
Money, family, job, easy life? Do you believe Jesus when He says: Come follow Me and you will have treasure in heaven?  Or?  "At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions."  (Mark 10: 22).

The antidote to attachment, hoarding and fear of poverty is total surrender of your All to Jesus.  Trust Jesus completely. He knows exactly what you need and when you need it.

"The Lord became my protector.
He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me."  (Cf. Psalm 17: 19-20).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

We celebrate today the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."  (Matthew 28: 19).

The Church celebrates today the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This is a great mystery, a great revelation and at the same time a great obstacle to faith to many people like Jews and Muslims.

But the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, One God in three Persons and Undivided Unity is not an object of idle speculation or a subject for futile doctoral thesis. The Trinity is a mystery for Credo and Adoration.

"We believe in one God, 
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, seen and unseen. 

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father.

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. 
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified."

This is the Faith of our Fathers. The Faith revealed by Jesus Christ.
We believe!

I do not understand the mystery of the Trinity.  I pray to Abba Father using the Lord's Prayer, prayer taught us by Christ our Teacher.  I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary. I experience Jesus Christ in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I experience the Holy Spirit in prayer, in His inspirations and power. This is how I know that the Trinity is real.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Behind the fervent prayer of a righteous person is a strong faith.

"The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.  Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.  Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit."  (James 5: 16 - 18).

The Apostle James reveals here that God answers with speed when a righteous man calls on Him in supplication.  But who is a just man? A just or righteous man is a man of faith.  God teaches us through biographies of the saints in the Bible and Church. In the above Scripture, the Prophet Elijah is the example of a righteous man who moved God with his prayers.  Behind the prayers of Elijah is a strong faith.

The Spirit reveals:  "See, the rash have no integrity; but the just one who is righteous because of faith shall live."  (Habakkuk 2:  4).
Who is "the rash man?" The rash man is one who has no faith.  Not only does he lack faith, but he has no integrity.

To be a man of prayer and a powerful intercessor for the needs of the Church, you must be a person of faith.  To be a person of faith, you must live in the word of God.  Because the living God speaks to you in His word and gives you the opportunity to respond. Your response is faith.

"Lord, I call to you; hasten to me;
listen to my plea when I call.
Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening offering."  (Psalm 141: 1 - 2).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why God is impatient with our grumbling.

"Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged."  (James 5: 9).

Complaining, criticizing and condemnation are severely rebuked in the Bible. When we find out why, we shall say: "No wonder!"

"Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because the Lord is compassionate and merciful."  (James 5: 10 -11).

We are urged to learn from Job and the prophets. The Bible teaches us through the power of biography:  A Bible character, a certain situation in the past. A similar situation or event repeats in the future. The message today is short and clear:  No Complain. No Criticize. No Condemn.  Was this the first time in the Bible for such an interdict against murmurings? Not at all. Read on:
"But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses,
“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)

Other examples to learn from:
"It was by faith that Abel obeyed God and brought an offering that pleased God more than Cain’s offering did. God accepted Abel and proved it by accepting his gift; and though Abel is long dead, we can still learn lessons from him about trusting God."  (Hebrews 11: 4)

If we have faith like Abel and learn to trust God, we shall never complain or grumble.

The Responsorial Psalm in today's Liturgy gives us ample reasons why God is trustworthy:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion."

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever."  (Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8-9).

It is hard to find a reason to complain against such a loving Father.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Imagine what a cup of cold water can do.

Jesus said to His disciples:"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward."  (Mark 9: 41).

Imagine what a cup of water can do! I have often been amazed at the low threshold of actions mandated by God in order to enter the Kingdom of God:
+ Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12: 31).
+ Be poor in spirit. (Matthew 5: 3).
+ Suffer persecution patiently for the sake of the Kingdom. (Matthew 5: 10).

None of the above or similar precepts in the Gospels can remotely compare with the grave hazards of the gold rush that happened in America about 150 years ago. A man packed his wife and children and transported them with all their property from New York for example to California for the promise of finding a gold mine in a desert.

Jesus, the true and faithful witness (Revelation 1: 5) promises that if you give a cup of cold water to any of His disciples, your reward will be great.  When I was a salesman knocking on doors often sweating from the summer heat, it had felt so sweet to be offered a bottle of cold water.  The cash value of the water would have been no more than 20 cents but for me, the value is inestimable.  I returned the favor by having Mass offered for the person and the company.

"O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me."  (Psalm 13: 6).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.

"Beloved: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”– you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.”  (James 4: 13 - 16).

Are you one of those who tend to overplan for tomorrow? Perhaps this has been so habitual that you attribute all your success in life to your planning, foresight, due diligence and hard work. Our first reading today calls us to pause and give due consideration to the loving and powerful providence of God.  "You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears."  (James 4: 14).

I tell you the truth: You are not even sure you will be around in the next hour.  God has given us this present Moment to repent, acknowledge and praise Him.

"O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me."  (Psalm 13: 6).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

What is Jesus teaching His disciples in secret?

"Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”  (Mark 9: 30 - 31).

We know that the public ministry of Jesus is teaching, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. We see Jesus in the above Scripture teaching His close disciples but in secret.  After three years of close fellowship, there were things the disciples were simply not ready to understand or accept.

Are there things about our faith and life in Christ that we simply refuse to understand and accept?  Is our relationship with God filled with such outbursts like:
Why cancer? Why me?
Why poverty? Why homelessness?
Why child abuse? Why this divorce?

“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  (Luke 24: 25 - 26).

All these things are normal in the Journey of Faith.

No Cross. No Crown.
No Trials. No Testimony.

"I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message."  (John 13: 16).

Lord, I cast all my troubles on You. Sustain me according to Your promises for they are my only hope.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.

"The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus."  (Acts 1: 14).

Today is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.  A brand new feast of Mary mandated by the Church to be celebrated Monday after the Feast of Pentecost from now till the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

"Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise,
for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia!" (Gospel Acclamation, Monday, May 21, Memorial of Mary Mother of the Church).

It is a constant teaching of the Church that the Mission of Jesus is deeply interconnected with that of Mary. Remember that Mary is Theotokos, God bearer and the Proto Evangelion foresaw her mission in Genesis 3: 15.

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.(Genesis 3: 15).

On the Cross, Jesus Christ gave His Mother to you and myself in the person of John the Apostle, the representative of mankind during the Sacrifice of Calvary.

"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home."  (John 19: 25 - 27).

"O God, Father of mercies,
whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross,
chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also;
grant, we pray,  that with her loving help,  your Church may be more fruitful day by day, and exulting in the holiness of her children,  may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "  (Collect, Monday, May 21, Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

It is Pentecost!

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said...... “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  (Cf John 20: 19 - 23).

Today is the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church.  Happy Birthday Mother Church, ever young and yet ancient.  A Virgin and yet have given birth to billions of children.  Your journey to the heavenly Jerusalem will be crowned with success.

"It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

"For, bringing your Paschal Mystery to completion, you bestowed the Holy Spirit today on those you made your adopted children by uniting them to your Only Begotten Son....

"Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory.... "(Preface of the Feast of Pentecost).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Paul evangelized Rome as a prisoner.

"He [Paul] remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him,  and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  (Acts 28: 30 - 31).

The above scripture text is the remarkable end of the Acts of the Apostles.  Tomorrow is Sunday, May 20th, Pentecost Sunday. We started reading Acts of the Apostles 50 days ago from Easter Sunday. Let us recap a few salient points with regard to the mission of Paul:

1.  Acts 1: 8, Jesus predicted: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth.”  Paul has fulfilled this prophecy on behalf of the Church.
2.  "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." (Acts 23: 11).

The remarkable thing about Paul's ministry in Rome is how it came about.  Paul was in house arrest and could not move from place to place. Yet he was able to evangelize Rome thanks to Divine Providence.

Never diminish the force and power of Divine Providence.

"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).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord You know that I love You.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he [Jesus] 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.”  (John 21:  17).

Why did Jesus ask Simon Peter three times if he loved him.  Peter denied Jesus three times on the night of His trial.  It is clear that Peter has come a full circle with his awareness of his sin and repentance.  Jesus wanted to let Peter put this misfortune once and for all behind him. Jesus wants a new beginning for the Prince of the Apostles.

What if Jesus asks you the same question:  "Do you love Me?" How would you answer?  I may answer thus:  "Yes Lord Jesus, I love You. Please take my weak and compromised love and make it strong."  Then Jesus says to me:  "Bring Me all your heart, all your mind, all your will. Bring Me all your time, talent and treasure. Bring Me all your weaknesses. Then come and follow Me."
Thank You Jesus.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Father, imbue powerfully with spiritual gifts.

"With boldness let us approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace as a timely help, alleluia." (Hebrews 4: 16).

This is Pentecost.  Three days to go! The Liturgy is filled with sounds and smells of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is the Birthday 🎂 of the Church. A glorious day!  Are you ready? All you need to get the action is great Desire and ability to Ask.  Everybody can say:  "Give me. Help me."  Come with boldness and ask for that Promise of the Father which He cannot refuse.

"May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray,
imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will.
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 Thursday, May 17th, 7th Week of Easter).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Beware of false prophets.

"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them."  (Acts 20: 29 - 30).

Paul the Apostle spoke of savage wolves whose only objective is to destroy Church unity.  Throughout Church history, we have seen a string of these wolves that inflicted deep wounds in the the Body of Christ. I will mention just one: the Arian Heresy.  Arius was a wily Egyptian priest who lived in the 4th century. He denied that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man. It took the Church probably over 200 years to overcome this heresy.  Today this heresy is recycled in groups like Jehovah Witness.

What is the solution to these demonic attacks on the truth? Paul advices:  "So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears."  (Acts 20: 31). Jesus prays:  "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are."  (John 17: 11).  And He warned:  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves."  (Matthew 7: 15).

Lord Jesus, consecrate us in the truth. "Your word is truth."  (John 17:  17).

SeekFirstcommunity.com