The Baptism of the Lord.

"After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Cf Matthew 3: 16 - 17).

Sunday 12 January 2020, the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast concludes the Season of Christmas.

Why is the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ a very important mystery of faith?

#1 The Holy Spirit anoints Jesus for His mission.
#2 The Father testifies that Jesus is His beloved Son.
#3 The Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit is revealed.

Why is the feast of the Baptism of Jesus important for us Christians?

#1 In our Baptism, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit for our mission. 

#2 Our Baptism is the beginning of our Christian life. 

#3 Our Baptism makes us the adopted children of God. 

#4 Our Baptism makes us brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. 

#5 We become new creation as soon as we are baptized. 

Brothers and sisters, on this day, we have the opportunity to renew our Baptismal Promises. We sweep away the old yeast so that we can truly be who we are in Jesus: a new creation.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Whatever you ask in accordance with the will of God is yours.

"And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours." (1 John 5: 14 - 15).

Saturday 11 January 2020, last day in the Season of Christmas.

We have an amazing promise in our Scripture pick for today from 1 John 5. Whatever we ask God in prayer is ours! Not so fast. That is: "If we ask anything according to his will." There should be no problem with this condition if we know and believe this truth: GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT." If you believe this and bring this to your prayers of petition, you will be surprised that what you have asked for is yours.

To further convince us that God is not playing games with His promises, remember this:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7: 7).

Ask the saints who are credited with miracles how they are able to perform miracles, they will point to the promise in Matthew 7: 7. And may add: God is always faithful to His promises.

Ask God in accordance with His will and what you ask for is yours. If you are are not sure what the will of God is, then ask your saintly intercessor like the Blessed Virgin Mary or your patron saint. The Communion of the Saints is one of the understated doctrine and truth in the Church.

Ask, seek, knock and receive what you ask for. Find what you seek. The door you knock on will be opened to you.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The joy of praising the Lord.

"O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion, praise your God!" (Psalm 147

Friday 10 January 2020 in the Season of Christmas. Two more days to the end of the beautiful Christmas Season. The word of God to live by today comes from the Responsorial Psalm. The Psalms have been forever the Prayer Book of the Church. Its treasures are inexhaustible. Today, we are urged to praise the Lord; to praise our God.

To suck out the marrow in this Psalm, we must ask: Why should I praise the Lord? Now the answer:

"He has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed the children within you." (Psalm 147: 13).
What does the bars of your gates mean? This is a military defense language. We can look at our life as  7 War Zones:
Family, health, job, finances, tools and possessions, food and future. Each of these war zone has a gate for protection against intruders. Each gate is made of hardened steel.
"He has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed the children within you." God offers impregnable protection to His children who acknowledge and praise Him.

That is not all. God promises further:
"He established peace on your borders, he feeds you with finest wheat." (Psalm 147: 14).

He promises to feed us with the finest wheat. Which wheat could possibly be finer than the Eucharist? For all this, it is fitting and right to "praise the Lord, Jerusalem! Zion, praise your God!"

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus set His face to His Mission after His Baptism.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4: 18 - 19).

Thursday 9 January 2020, post Epiphany Sunday. Sunday January 12 is the Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus the Christ.

In the Baptism of the Christ (Matthew 3: 16 - 17), Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit for a Mission:
#1 Bring the Good News to the poor.
#2 Proclaim liberty to captives.
#3 Recovery of sight to the blind.
#4 Grant freedom to the oppressed.

Our own Baptism and Mission are intertwined with the Baptism and Mission of Jesus. When we own our Baptism and accept our Mission, we blossom and become saints. In the history of mankind, the saints are the only successful people. This is why their lives are celebrated year after year. We still celebrate the memories of Peter, Paul, Jude, Stephen, Cecilia, Agatha. Catherine, etc. This is what true success means. The world has a different standard for success. The club of the saints are open every day for enrollment. The game starts with ownership of our Baptism and embracing our mission. We can never embark on our Mission without the Holy Spirit. Therefore ask for the Holy Spirit. Ask for Him again and again.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I am with you. Do not be afraid.

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” (Mark 6: 50).

Wednesday 8th January 2020 in the Season of Christmas. It was a terrifying scene. Utter darkness. Roaring waves. Although many of the Apostles were seasoned fishermen, they had never seen anything like this before. Where is Jesus? They left Him to dismiss the crowd.

"But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out." (Mark 6: 49). When we allow fear to overcome us, our eyes can see double. We see crouching tigers in the dark ready to spring on us where there is only an empty box.

How do the Christian deal with fear? The answer is all over the Gospel.
"I am with you always."
"Do not be afraid. It is I."
"Fear is useless. All you need is trust."

Consider the Sacrament of the Present Moment. This is a technique for remembering the Presence of Jesus through for example, the invocation of His name.
"When you remember Me, I will be present."

The name of Jesus is a bulwark against demons and fears.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

A good food that comes with promises.

"They all ate and were satisfied." (Mark 6: 42).

Tuesday 7th of January 2020 is the feast of St Raymond of Peñafort, (1175 - 1275), Dominican Priest. Raymond is known in history for two key contributions: Like the Curé of Ars, he had an extraordinary charism in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Ask Jesus to lead you to such a priest. One confession is all you need to turn around your life. Raymond wrote volumes which are part of the Canon Law.

Our Scripture for today proclaims: "They all ate and were satisfied." (Mark 6: 42). What does this mean? For me, this points to the immense generosity of God. The Scripture is from the story of the multiplication of loaves where Jesus fed 5000 men and there were 12 baskets of leftover. Remember the story of the manna in the desert where a whole nation ate of the heavenly food for years. Both the manna and today's incident of the Multiplication of loaves point to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a daily food that shows the kindness and generosity of God as perhaps no other thing can show. Day after day, millions are fed all over the world. "They all ate and were satisfied." (Mark 6: 42).

Thank You Jesus for this abundant food of your Body and Blood.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Repent of your independence from God.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4: 17).

Monday 6 January 2020 in the Season of Christmas is the feast of St André Bessette (1845 - 1937). André Bessette is a Religious Brother, born near Quebec in Canada and lived out his life in the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Montreal. The life of St André Bessette confirms that holiness attracts. Although St André performed only humble tasks assigned to him, the sick and the poor flocked to his cell. He committed them to the care of St Joseph the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and through the intercession of St Joseph obtained numerous miracles for the people.

In the very first week of 2020, Jesus urged us: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4: 17).

What are we to repent of?

"First and foremost, it is a realization of who we are. We are created by God; we are creatures of God who are totally dependent on him. We are the “anawim,” the poor people of the Lord, the little people who know that they are totally dependent, who “lean” on God, ­knowing that without God they can do nothing.
This is the first step to prayer—to know who we are: saved sinners, entirely dependent on God. We are ­dependent. To the proud, this is anathema. We look at ourselves and we say, “I depend on no one.” (Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty).

We are to repent of our foolish pride and nonsensical idea of independence and self-sufficiency.

"The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen dread no foe;
We leave our fate with thee, and wait Thy bidding when to go.
‘Tis not from chance our comfort springs, Thou art our trust, O King of kings." (Liturgy of the Hours: #52 Lauds Hymn).

The comforts we enjoy are not from Chance but from God's gracious ordaining. (Cf 2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 4).

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4: 17).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The 3 Magi came. They saw. They believed.

"They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2: 10 - 11).

Sunday 5th January 2020 in the Season of Christmas is the Solemnity of the Epiphany." "The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation." (CCC 528).

The three magi from the East, rich and highly educated men entered the unassuming house and saw the child with Mary and  instantly  recognized the humble child as Christ the Lord. How is this possible? The star is the secret. The star of Bethlehem. When God leads you, He gives you signs.

When the magi recognized the child, they came to faith. "They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Faith is critical whenever you encounter God. "This is My Body. This is My Blood." You encounter the Risen Jesus in the Eucharist. What do you do? What will the shepherds do? What will the three magi do? Faith is seeing with the heart.

What have you seen at Christmas?
"We have seen his star in the East,
and have come with gifts to adore the Lord." (Matthew 2: 2).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

We honor today St Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“We have found the Messiah” (John 1: 41).

Saturday January 4th in the Season of Christmas is the feast of St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 - 1821), Religious. Elizabeth is blessed as wife, mother, educator and founder of a religious order. She was born in New York. Why is she significant in the Church in America? She founded the Sisters of Charity, a teaching order that has made a significant contribution to education and the American parochial school system. Secondly, she was the first person born in continental United States of America to be canonized a saint.

But more to the point is that Elizabeth Ann Seton found the fullness of Jesus Christ and His teaching in the Catholic Church. Like Andrew and John in our Scripture of today, Elizabeth must have exclaimed when she converted to Catholicism and received into the Church: "I have found the fullness of knowledge and faith in Jesus. I have found the Eucharist!"

Be that as it may, John the Baptist is great but he is not Jesus the Christ.

"Behold a wise woman who has built her house. She feared the Lord and walked in the right path." (Proverbs 14: 1 - 2).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Power of the Holy Name of Jesus.

"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1: 21).

Friday 3rd January, 2020 in the Season of Christmas is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. It is also the First Friday of January 2020. Even before the Gospels were written, the Name of Jesus has been revered and venerated. In fact, the power of the Name of Jesus is one of the four pillars of Apostolic Witness. Others are:
#1 The Death of Jesus.
#2 The Resurrection of Jesus.
#3 The Witness of Sacred Scriptures to these events.

Is there any wonder that this hymn from Philippians below is the earliest liturgical hymn recorded. This hymn is a historical testament that Liturgy (the Mass) precedes the written Gospels.

"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: 10 - 11).

Demons fear the Name of Jesus. Use it often as an armor of protection. The Jesus Prayer, "Jesus have mercy on me" is a full prayer. Use it when you need a quick prayer.

Jesus, I Trust in You.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday, 1st in 2020!

January 3, 2020  -  First Friday in January.

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 1st  month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #1.

#1.  "I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life."
 
What is your state of life?
A.  Married
B.  Single
C.  Divorced
D.   Adolescent

Each state has its strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  Jesus promises us here:  sufficient grace to cope with whatever happens.  We know that anything can happen anytime.

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

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Who are you?

“Who are you?” (John 1: 19).

Thursday, January 2, 2020 in the Season of Christmas is the feast day of two great Doctors of the Church: St Basil the Great (329 - 397) and St Gregory Nazienzen (329 - 389). Besides being contemporaries, they were great friends. God promises that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church. Whenever the Church is under great distress, God raises up great saints as bulwark against the forces of evil. Gregory and Basil were the answer God provided to deal with the scourge of the Arian heresy in the 4th century.

The Jewish leaders who were unsure of the identity of John the Baptist sent a delegation to ask him: "Who are you?" John the Baptist knew who he was: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” (John 1: 23).

Do you know who you are? I don't mean: I am a teacher, nurse, doctor, housewife, soldier, etc. Do you know who you are in Christ? Do you know your identity in Christ Jesus? Next to the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, which constitute eternal life, your true identity may be the most important knowledge you need. I struggled for a couple of decades on this question. I begin to suspect only recently that I am an evangelist and a catechist. My one desire after my metanoia is to know the Heart of Jesus intimately, to love Him passionately and to share my knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ. This has been an exciting adventure. I can report that Jesus is a great Friend and Leader full of joy, kindness, generosity and compassion.

How do you know who you are? How do you discover your ID? Each of the 7 billion people on earth has their identity in the Scriptures.
"Read some chapter of a devout book every day..... It is very easy and most necessary. For just as you speak to God when you are at prayer, God speaks to you when you read." (St Vincent de Paul; St Ambrose of Milan). Especially when you read Sacred Scripture. God is waiting to reveal things to you including who you are.

Armed with your identity, you are ready to contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

January 1, 2020 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God.

"When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." is (Galatians 4: 4 - 5).

January 1, 2020 in the Octave of Christmas is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

"Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord". In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos)." (CCC 495).

Our key Scripture says that in the fullness of time, God fulfilled the promise He made long ago. Are you waiting for the fullness of time on anything? Health, family, finances, job, tools and necessary resources?
Our Scripture today indicates that nothing happens until the fullness of time, the Kairos time. Do you have a relationship with the Mary the Mother of God? Mary who after Jesus is our greatest intercessor in Heaven by the gracious and mysterious will of God is waiting to embrace and help you.  Mary is key to our knowledge and relationship with Jesus her Son. Mary is the only human being who knew Jesus from conception to His death.

Mary Mother of God pray for us.

SeekFirstCommunity Team wishes you a 2020 full of faith, patience, prayer, peace and prosperity.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Have you seen the Antichrist?

"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour." (1 John 2: 18).

Tuesday 31st December 2019, 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas is also the feast of St Sylvester 1. Elected Pope in 314 and died about 335. Sylvester served the Church at a very turbulent period in Church history. Arian heresy and the Donatist schism threatened to destroy the Church. Then Constantine appeared and offered peace. After this, Pope Sylvester contributed a great deal in the expansion of the faith in the Roman Empire.

This is the last hour warned the Apostle John and he went further:
The "Antichrists have appeared." Have you seen any? These are some of the characteristics from the Christian Scriptures:
Lawlessness
Deceit
Temporary success
Mass seduction
Adversary
Son of perdition
Opposed Christ.
(Cf 2 Thessalonians 2: 3 - 12; Matthew 24: 23 - 26).

Pope St John Paul II warned in 1976 at the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia (before he became pontiff) that we are now facing the final confrontation between the Antichrist and the Church. Remember how King Henry VIII caught over 300 English Bishops napping in 1535? Only Bishop St John Fisher earned the crown of Martyrdom. Below is a prophetic teaching of the Church on the Antichrist:

"Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh."   (CCC 675).

Do not be asleep. Be vigilant and pray at all times so that you may not fall into severe temptation. Do not become an Anti-Witness.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Who is Anna the Widow?

"There was a prophetess, Anna... She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer." (Luke 2: 36, 37).

Monday, December 30 2019, 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas. Our Gospel today is about  Anna, the widow. Married young and lost her husband after only seven years of marriage, Anna decided not to remarry but rather to dedicate the rest of her life serving God in the Temple. She did this through worshipping, and continuous fasting and prayer. Anna is the first Evangelist mentioned in the Gospels, as she "spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2: 38).

When she was 84 years old, the Lord rewarded Anna for her long faithful service. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, she walked into the Temple when Mary and Joseph were in the Temple to present the Child Jesus to the Lord. "And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2: 38).

Brethren, the story of Anna teaches us that it is good to serve the Lord faithfully. Anna and Mary are two examples of great faithfulness in serving God not for one year or 10 years or 50 years but day after day all life long. But what is most admirable is the faithfulness of God. The Bible says that faithfulness is the essence of who God is. Both Anna, Mary and Joseph responded to the faithful love and mercies of God to them.
May we do the same.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

"The shepherds went in haste,
and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger." (Luke 2: 16).

Sunday 29 December 2019, within the Octave of Christmas is the Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

We pray with the Church:
"O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practising the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.. ."

In the fullness of time, when all was ready, God sent His Son to dwell among us in time and space and be obedient to the human and natural laws in the world.

As long as I can remember, the sacred blessing below is the gift of God to every family on Holy Family Sunday. God's gift is to be appropriated with joy and faith.
"May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home with you." (Colossians 3: 15, 16).

"The Christian family is a Communion of persons. It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ. Daily prayer and the reading of the Word of God strengthen it in charity. The Christian family has an evangelizing and missionary task." (CCC 2205).

A family that prays together stays together.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The blood of the Holy Innocents.

"If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 5 : 9 - 10).

Saturday 28th December 2019 is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. It is surprising how fast we transitioned from the joyful birth of Jesus to the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt and to the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. This is perhaps a rude reminder to all of us that the Mission of Jesus is to be Savior and a Redeemer. Salvation from Sin and Redemption from the debt of Sin.

Our Scripture pick for today lays down clearly the part we must play for the Salvation and Redemption that Jesus Christ accomplished for us.
"If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 5 : 9 - 10).

We must acknowledge our sins. We do in every Mass. How about other occasions? Remember the ABC of Mercy?

Ask for Mercy.

Be Merciful.

Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And You forgave the guilt of my sin." (Psalm 32: 5).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is also the beginning of redemption and salvation.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

What I have seen and heard this week.

"What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1: 3).

Friday 27th December 2019 is the Feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist. John wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. John is an eye witness and a credible witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the will of God that we learn the truth of the Gospel from credible witnesses. The Church is the credible witness for over 2000 years. Countless crowds of witnesses.

Our Scripture text for today challenges me to ask: What have I seen?
+ I have seen the Church gathered for the Eucharist on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ.
+ I have seen people come up to receive the Eucharist with great reverence.
+ Today, I saw the majestic Cathedral, the Seat of the Bishop, a successor to St John the Evangelist, whose feast we celebrate today.
+ I have seen Jesus Christ in the person of the priest at the Altar.
+ I have seen Jesus in a homeless woman in the train station.

What have I heard?
+ I have heard the Good News proclaimed from the Altar.
+ I have heard it proclaimed on television, radio and music.

Father, we pray that with St John the Evangelist we may share in the hidden wisdom of your eternal Word which You reveal to us at the Eucharistic table. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Stephen, the first Martyr.

"Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people." (Acts 6: 8).

Thursday 26 December 2019 is the feast of Saint Stephen, the first Martyr. "St Stephen was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles (Acts 6: 1 - 6) and was filled with faith and the Holy Spirit," and was "full of fortitude" (Acts 6: 5, 8). Stephen died praying for his executioners. The similarities between Stephen's martyrdom and the crucifixion of Our Lord emphasize his imitation of Christ even up to the complete gift of self." (Roman Missal).

We learn from the brief summary of the life of St Stephen from the Roman Missal that Stephen must have been a very important witness in the early Church. Consider why:

#1 Stephen's life and experience shows that the promises of Jesus are true. "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say." (Matthew 10: 19).

#2 Stephen died like Jesus forgiving his executioners.

This vindication of the promises of Jesus and fearless embrace of martyrdom made a deep impression on the Church. The Church included the name of St Stephen in the Canon of the Mass to intercede for the Church.

"As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7: 58).
The prayer and blood of martyrs are very powerful. God works through prayers. Especially of saints.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of the Nativity of Christ the Lord.

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both now and forever." (Isaiah 9: 5 - 6).

Wednesday December 25th, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Christ the Lord. Listen to Isaiah's joyous proclamation: "For a child is born to us!"

Who is this Child that is born to us?
He is Jesus the Savior!
He is Emmanuel, God with us.
But why is He born to us?
He became man that we may become God. The process of our becoming God starts in Baptism when we receive the Holy Spirit who makes us the adopted children of the Father. This process of becoming continues all our life. What is the end game? Eternal life. Everlasting life. Endless life of bliss with God. Where there is no more death or sorrow. No anger or war. Endless Liturgy, music and feasting.

Thank You Jesus. We love You. We welcome You.

SeekFirstCommunity Team wish all of you the best Christmas ever! Peace and joy!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com