This is the Day of the Easter Joy!

"For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead." (John 20: 9).

Sunday 12th April 2020, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The disciples of Jesus did not yet understand the testimony of Scripture that Jesus would be crucified, die and rise from the dead. Eye had never seen, nor ear heard nor did it ever enter their minds that such a thing is possible.

My brothers and my sisters, Happy Easter and welcome to the plan of God for our salvation and eternal life. Now what does it mean that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead?

#1 Jesus has conquered Sin.
#2 Jesus has conquered Fear.
#3 Jesus has conquered Death.
#4 Jesus is Lord and not Caesar.
#5 Abba Father has appointed Jesus the Judge of the Living and the Dead.

My brethren, this is the Good News. This is the cause of our Easter joy. To celebrate this great Feast, the Church decrees 50 days of continuous feasting till the Solemnity of Pentecost.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus Christ our Pascal Lamb is truly risen! Alleluia!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Holy Saturday, the Solemnity of Easter Vigil.

“Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16: 3).

Saturday 11 April 2020, Holy Saturday, the Solemnity of Easter Vigil.

Two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary got to the tomb of Jesus before the sun had risen. Where were the eleven Apostles? Even the two Marys who were the first to get to the tomb expected to see the dead Jesus in the tomb.

Jesus predicted His passion, death and resurrection three times before the grand events.  Yet no one of His disciples remembered. The Angel broke the news of the Resurrection to the two women.

“Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him." (Mark 16: 6).

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James became the first witnesses of the Resurrection and were commissioned to "go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

Jesus Christ our Passover has been sacrificed and has risen from the dead. He is Jesus, Emmanuel God with us. Come let us adore Him. Come let us receive Him in the Eucharist.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Good Friday 2020. This is not the execution of a criminal.

“We do not have the right to execute anyone.” (John 18: 31).

Friday 10th April 2020, Good Friday.

The Jewish leaders sees the death of Jesus on the Cross as the execution of a criminal.  “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
How do you see the death of Jesus on the Cross?

"It is love "to the end" that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died." No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all." (CCC 616).

We adore You O Christ and worship You because of Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Holy Thursday 2020, the Beginning of the Triduum.

"The Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 25)

Thursday 9th April 2020, Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) - the Beginning of Easter Triduum.

We pray to the Eternal Father that we may experience the effects of the salvation which is pledged to us by these mysteries.

"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'" (CCC 1323).

We receive new life through the gift of the Body and Blood of Jesus. May we find full contentment in this meal.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Every sin is a betrayal of trust and friendship.

“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver,  and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over." (Matthew 26: 15 - 16).

Wednesday 8th April 2020, Wednesday of Holy Week.

Our key Scripture for today deals with the tough and ugly truth of betrayal. Every sin is a betrayal. Every betrayal is a sin against trust and friendship. He who says: "I have no sin is a liar."
For Judas, his price for betraying Jesus is thirty pieces of silver. What is your price for betraying Jesus? For working on Sunday? For that cruise holiday? That plumb job? That weekend at Las Vegas? Every sin has its price. In marketing, we say: "Put the right incentive on the promotion and the fish will bite the bait." So be humble my friend.

In God's most loving and merciful Providence, our Savior has given us two great Sacraments to deal with our sins:

#1 Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Medicine for the Journey. We journey to our permanent home through vast and dangerous forests. Snake bites, serious bruises from falls are the norm. Neglect the Sacrament of Reconciliation to your peril.

#2 The Eucharist:
Eucharist (Bread of life  and Food for the Journey). When you are on a long journey, you do well to pack adequate nutritious food.

The saints, our brethren who preceded us in this Journey of Faith know the value of these two Sacraments and they urge us to use them frequently.

Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter used the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist to regain the lost ground. Judas chose suicide because of pride. We have few days to the Most Solemn Feast of Easter. Let nothing keep you from full participation in the Solemnity.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Give me the light and illumination of the Holy Spirit.

"I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49: 6).

Tuesday 7th April 2020, Tuesday of Holy Week.

Abba Father, give me the light and illumination of the Holy Spirit that I may be a light for You everywhere.
You are so true and so faithful my God. Your precious and faithful promises are my security and protection.

"In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold."
(Cf Psalm 71: 1 - 17)

Like Isaiah on this Tuesday of Holy Week, we pray with expectant faith for the grace to be a light that shines for Jesus in our homes and work.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Mary of Bethany, the unassuming star.

"Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."  (John 12: 3).

Monday 6th April 2020, Monday of Holy Week.

Six days will be the Passover; Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, His very good friends. Perhaps to enjoy one last good meal and wine in Martha's Vineyard before His Passion. The star of the story today is not the matriarch, Martha whose hospitality is proverbial nor their apparently recluse brother, Lazarus.

The star is Mary who performed an outlandish gesture to demonstrate her love for Jesus. She broke a vial of what may be considered the very equivalent of the top line of Pierre Chardin and poured the oozing aromatic liquid on the feet of Jesus and wiped the feet with her long hairs. While some guests criticized this apparent waste, Jesus was very pleased and spoke up for Mary.

Who is Mary? Mary is here a type of the follower of Jesus who is marked by the following qualities:
#1 Total and radical commitment.
#2 Total self-giving.
#3 Total consecration (set apart) to Jesus and His cause.

Let us consider an example of the above commitment. St Ignatius Loyola of the Society of Jesus is a good example. See below his heart's greatest desire and objective:

+ To know the Heart of Jesus intimately.
+ To love Him passionately.
+ To follow Jesus everywhere.

We are today in the last week of Lent 2020. Where are you in the Journey of knowing Jesus more intimately so that you can love Him more and serve Him everywhere?

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Hail to you, our King! You alone have had compassion on our sins."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Triumphant Entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.

"And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21: 10 - 11).

Sunday 5th April 2020, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Today we honor Christ Jesus our triumphant King.

From time immemorial the Church has honored her triumphant King and Savior through processions and waving of palms on Palm Sunday. This has been done in war and peace, during plagues and normal time. It is difficult to find in history a time when this is not the case. The universal Church is experiencing today what no prophet had foretold. We must place our faith and destiny in the hands of the Bishops whom Jesus committed the entire Sacraments of Salvation  and instructed us in no uncertain terms:
"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10: 16).

"The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21: 9).

"Cease striving and know that I am God." (Psalm 46: 10.)

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You must die.

"Christ was handed over, to gather into one the scattered children of God." (Communion Antiphon: Cf. John 11: 52).

Saturday 4th April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent is the feast of St Isidore (560 - 636), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Isidore was Bishop of Seville in Spain and a leading light in the Church in Spain. He initiated many local Church councils. St Isidore earned his place among the Doctors of the Church by his rigorous scholarship especially his extensive Encyclopedia (Etymologies) which was popular up to the Middle Ages.

We are on the Eve of Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. The plot to kill Jesus has thickened at this point. Who wants to kill Jesus and who will benefit most from His disappearance from the religious-political scene?
“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (John 11: 49 - 50).
This is the voice of the High Priest, Caiaphas. He provides a powerful motive for the criminal conspiracy. The fate of Jesus is sealed.

The plan of the Father for the salvation of the world has taken a definitive path to victory. Is God the Father incapable of stopping the execution of His beloved Son Jesus? Or all the evils in the world? Just one word will stop them. "In the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil."
The Cross has been ordained by the Father from eternity to be the means of our Salvation. No Cross, No Crown. No Trials. No Triumph.

As we enter the most holy Week of the year, we pray for the grace to understand the meaning of the Cross in our lives.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Open your eyes and see...

*This post from Anglican Bishop Ikeakor raises interesting questions and should engender discussion among the faifhfuls.*

....IF NOT...THEN WHY THE NOISE...?

"THEN AARON TOOK THE CENSER AS MOSES COMMANDED, AND RAN INTO THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY;AND ALREADY THE PLAGUE HAD BEGUN AMONG THE PEOPLE. SO HE PUT IN THE INCENSE AND MADE ATONEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE. 

...AND AARON THE PRIEST STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING; SO THE PLAGUE STOPPED. " ( NUMBERS 16: 47-48).

....INTELLIGENT WORSHIP OF GOD IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM INTELLECTUAL WORSHIP OF GOD. 

.....INTELLECTUAL WORSHIPPERS SMARTLY AND BOLDLY DECLARE THAT IT IS NOT THE CHURCH THAT IS SHUT DOWN, BUT THE BUILDING. 

.......NOW MY MAIN WORRY AND CONCERN IS: CHURCH LEADERS ARE BOLDLY ASKING THEIR PRIESTS, AND PASTORS TO STAY INDOORS AND PRAY PRIVATELY WHEREAS THE GOVERNMENT HAS MAGNANIMOUSLY DECLARED THAT THOSE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES SHOULD GO TO WORK. 

..... MY QUESTION: DOCTORS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES..

.....BANKERS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES? 

......JOURNALISTS AND BROADCASTERS ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES?

.....THE POLICE, ARMY, ROAD SAFETY,  CIVIL DEFENCE Etc ARE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES? 

.....BUT PASTORS, PRIESTS, AND BISHOPS WHO ARE TAKING CHARGE OVER THE IMMORTAL SOULS OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE NOT ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES????

.....AARON THE PRIEST STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING TO MINISTER TO THE PEOPLE DURING THE PLAGUE. BUT WE HAVE RUN INSIDE OUR HOUSES ASKING OUR CONGREGATIONS AND PARISHIONERS TO MINISTER TO THEMSELVES DURING THE PLAGUE. 

.....AT WHAT POINT DO WE (PRIESTS)LEAD GOD'S FLOCK BY EXAMPLE OF FAITH AND SACRIFICIAL COMMITMENT TO GOD AND HIS PEOPLE? 

......SOME DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS HAVE DIED IN THE COURSE OF ATTENDING TO THE VICTIMS OF PANDEMICS, YET OTHERS DID NOT RUN AWAY FOR FEAR OF DEATH. 

......WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MESSAGE CHURCH LEADERS ARE PASSING TO THE WORLD BY KEEPING MUTE AND SHUTTING DOWN CHURCHES? 

......WHERE AND WHEN DO WE DECLARE THE POWER OF RESURRECTION OF CHRIST TO WORLD? 

.....WHERE DOES THE WORLD RUN TO NOW THAT THE CHURCH IS SHUT DOWN? 

.....WHO MINISTERS TO THE AGED, THE SICK, THE DEPRESSED, THE FEARFUL, AND THE HURTING AT SUCH A CRITICAL TIME LIKE THIS ? ....SHOULD IT NOT BE THE PRIESTS AND THE PASTORS? 

......IF IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT WE DIE IN THE COURSE OF MINISTERING TO HIS PEOPLE...

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH THAT? 

......WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW ARE CHRISTIAN MARTYRS MADE....IN THEIR ROOMS AND ABODES OF HIBERNATION? 

......WHAT IS THE IMMUNITY OF THE POLICE, ARMY, FRSC, NSCDC , AND EVEN DOCTORS AGAINST THE PANDEMIC WHY THEY  ARE NOT SHUTTING DOWN? 

......IF THE PRIESTLY WORK AND VOCATION IS NOT AMONG THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES, WE SHOULD ALL RESIGN, AND JOIN THE POLICE, ARMY, JOURNALISTS, AND STOP EXTORTING PEOPLE THROUGH OFFERINGS, TITHES AND SEEDS. 

.....IF WE CANNOT GIVE HOPE TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF DISTRESS, WHY SHOULD WE ASK FOR THEIR HELP (TITHES, DONATIONS ETC.) IN TIMES OF  PEACE AND TRANQUILITY? 

.....IF THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST CANNOT BE CHALLENGINGLY AND RISKINGLY DECLARED NOW  BY PRIESTS, PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS, WHY THE NOISE AFTER NOW??

......SCIENCE IS FAILING THE WORLD, TECHNOLOGY IS FAILING THE WORLD, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS FAILING THE WORLD. THE LAST HOPE OF THE WORLD IS JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.  

......IT IS FOOLISH WISDOM TO SHIELD PEOPLE FROM CORONAVIRUS, AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE WRATH OF GOD IN EVERLASTING HELLFIRE.  THEIR BODIES ARE MORTAL, BUT THEIR SOULS ARE IMMORTAL. 

......IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.  

.....I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND BE ASSURED THAT CHRIST JESUS IN YOU IS THE ONLY HOPE OF GLORY, SAFETY, AND ETERNITY.  

.....WHILE YOU OBSERVE AND KEEP EVERY OTHER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR SAFETY, REMEMBER THAT THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS IS A STRONG TOWER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS RUN INTO IT AND THEY ARE SAFE AND PROTECTED. 

..... NOTE: " IF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD DOES NOT SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING THIS WRITE UP AFTER READING IT, DON'T RISK THE MISTAKE OF NEGATING IT." KEEP BOTH YOUR COMMENDATION AND CRITICISMS TO YOURSELF.

+Ephraim Ikeakor

Do you believe you are god?

"Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” (John 10: 34).

Friday 3rd April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent is also First Friday in April.

Our Scripture pick for today says that we are gods. Do you believe that you are a god or can become a god? Let us see:

Our journey to becoming god started in the free grace God offered us in Baptism. Baptism makes us adopted sons and daughters of God. We become the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and the beloved children of God. Romans 8 says that those who are called through Baptism and accepts their call through faith are justified by God. That is, they are made righteous or holy. Holiness is an attribute of God. And those justified receive the Holy Spirit and are glorified by God to become like His Son Jesus. Jesus, the unique and only begotten Son of God is glorified through the Cross. We too are becoming like Jesus and before we are fully transformed will be glorified through the Cross.

What is the end game in all this? The Holy Spirit comes to us with His gifts and fruits. These gifts and fruits are the characteristics and attributes of God. Exercising these gifts and fruits make us not just godlike but gods. Those who make it to eternal life will have the properties of God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of April 2020.

April 03, 2020 First Friday in April.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 4th month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #4.

#4.  "They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death."

With the Corona Virus Pandemic, the 4th Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus cannot be more timely than now. Note that there are two promises here:
#1 The Sacred Heart will be your assured refuge in this crisis. Whatever happens, this faithful and precious promise will be your armor and protection.

#2 If the Lord decides to call you home through this pandemic, because you placed your trust in His Sacred Heart and His promises, your transition to eternal life will be filled with peace and you will experience the presence of Christ beside you.

What more can any Christian ask for? St Augustine says:  "If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by renewing your consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and if you cannot receive Jesus in physical Communion, receive Him in Spiritual Communion.

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

St Francis of Paola, Patron Saint of Plagues.

"God did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for us all;
with him, he has given us all things." (Romans 8: 32 - Communion Antiphon).

Thursday 2nd April 2020 of 5th week of Lent is the feast of St Francis of Paola (1416 - 1507), Hermit. Francis attracted followers and they formed a community of Hermits with the Rules of the St Francis of Assisi to guide them. Gifted in diplomacy, the hermit Francis was used by the Church for sensitive diplomatic missions. St Francis of Paola is patron saint of the following:

• Plague
• Sterility
• Sailors, boatmen, mariners
• Travellers
• Naval officers

Our key Scripture is from the Communion Antiphon. If Abba Father could sacrifice Jesus on the Cross because of His love for us, It is ridiculous to think that He could deny us anything good for us. Imagine what God did for our Saint of today. For his holiness and obedience, God made him patron saint of issues affecting Christians.

We believe in the Communion of the Saints. Christ Jesus our Lord is glorified when we honor His saints. Although all the saints are enjoying heavenly bliss, they are still engaged in the affairs of the Church militant on earth. They experienced our struggles and know our needs. Ask for the aide of the saints with Obedience of Faith and Obedience of humility thus:

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU COMPLETELY. THROUGH THE Intercession OF ST FRANCIS OF PAOLA, I SURRENDER MYSELF TO YOU COMPLETELY. TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING YOUR WAY. AMEN.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

If we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31 - 32).

Wednesday 1st April 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. When Jesus says that if you persevere in feeding on His word, you will come to know the truth and the divine truth you know will set you free, I can vouch that this is not April fool. It is the truth.

The truth (divine reality) frees us from the fear, worry and doubt 

and dread that falsehood imposes on us. Pope Benedict when he visited the oil rich country of Angola was shocked to see how the population was shackled by fears of evil spirits, disease and death. He remarked that Angola received Christian missionaries about 500 years ago. At that time, Europe was still shackled with similar fears and superstitions. But the light and truth of Christ has since dispelled those fears in Europe.

Today, Europe needs a fresh light of Christ because the continent is in darkness because of materialism, atheism and hedonism. The consequences are dire. Most European countries have today minus zero birth rate. They welcome Moslems with open arms to work and maintain their standards of living. Islam will be the majority religion in Europe in about 50 years.

In the 1st Reading from the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar asked the three Jewish boys: "Who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" We hear the same threat today everywhere from supervisors and bosses: "Is it true you will not work on Sunday? Who is the God who can deliver you out of unemployment?"

If you have not dwelt in the word of God for a long time, how can you ever know the truth that can set you free? I enjoy freedom in a number of areas in my life and I am profoundly grateful. 

Hear the bold answer of the three Jewish boys to their tormentor who believed he had supreme power: Oh Nebuchadnezzar, if we live, we live. If we perish, we perish.

The boys know the Scriptures and they know the truth that set them free from fear of death. How did the story end? Read on below:

"Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I live to please My Father.

"The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” (John 8: 29).

Tuesday 31st March 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. Can you believe this is the end of March, end of the 1st quarter of 2020? The ides of March may have come but has not passed.

In the Gospel of today, the Jews asked Jesus a point blank question: "Who are you?" Jesus ties Himself to the Father in the answers He gave them. The one I like most is this: "I always do what is pleasing to him. [Abba Father]” How about you my friend? Whom do you always want to please? Your wife, husband, child, boss, the president? Who do you fear most to displease?

"I believe in the Communion of the Saints." Who are the saints? The saints are our brothers and sisters who have ran the race we are running and experienced the abundant life [life in the Spirit] here on earth by imitating Jesus in pleasing the Father in everything. Now they are enjoying their reward in the fullness of the Kingdom of God where they continue pleasing the Father by continuous praise and worship.

Lent is the time to pray for grace to realize that the Kingdom of God is already here among us. If you are not enjoying it now says St Catherine of Siena, it is wishful thinking to believe that when your eyes are closed in death, you will.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Woman you are set free.

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8: 7).

Monday 30th March 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. The sacred texts present us with the story of two women. One is Susanna, beautiful and wife of a very wealthy man. The other is a simple woman caught in the act of adultery. Both women were accused of adultery, a sin punishable by death in those days and still so in Moslem countries. There are a number of lessons in the two narratives.

#1 Satan is the Father of lies and the Book of Revelation calls him the Accuser of the brethren. Do you know anyone who delights in pointing fingers and quick to accuse? Unjust accusations against Jesus and Stephen led to their deaths.

#2 Corruption of power. Susanna was accused by two elderly judges whose advances she spurned. The woman caught in adultery was accused by those who caught her and judges who wanted her dead. Judges and lawyers face continuous temptations to bribery and corruption, crimes that are still rampant everywhere.

#3 The stories ended well in the marvelous timely Divine Interventions. God used Daniel in the case of Susanna and Jesus the Divine Mercy in the case of the woman caught in the act of adultery.

What do we take away from the two stories? "The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him." (Daniel 13: 60). The reaction of the people shows that they understood that a miracle happened. They glorified God and their faith became strengthened. This is also the takeaway for us because every Bible narrative is there to build up our faith in a loving and merciful God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Where do we celebrate Easter?

"Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live." (John 11: 25).

Sunday 29th March 2020 of the 5th week of Lent. Two weeks to the Most Solemn Feast of Easter.

The Hierarchy of the Church is faced with the greatest crisis in its over 2000 years history. Will the Churches be shuttered for the Easter celebrations? Jesus told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live." (John 11: 25).
The question is: Will the Church today live after it dies?

Why does the Church pander to the governments in shuttering all the Churches instead of negotiating a workable and practical solution as befits a vital and indispensable institution? What if for the first time, the world thinks that the Church no longer believes what it teaches and preaches?  Can you imagine early Christians in Rome faced with execution by the Roman authorities recanting and saying: YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. JESUS IS NOT LORD. CAESAR IS LORD.

The question is: After this, will the Church ever recover the high spiritual and moral grounds? The Church has exposed its weakness and perhaps hypocrisy.

The Church is the People of God but in this crisis, we are seeing that it appears as if the Church is the Hierarchy, no longer the People of God. No longer the Body of Christ.

Jesus says: "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THE REST WILL COME TO YOU." He also teaches: "THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD."

The Hierarchy is leading us today from a position of extreme weakness, fear, doubt and worry. The first principle of Discernment of Spirits is that God is not in Fear, Worry or Doubt. Where you find Fear, Worry or Doubt, you find the Spirit of Evil. Stop calling fear and doubt "Abundance of Caution."

"The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation." (CCC 2181).

"This is Jesus, Emmanuel. God is with us, in this sacrament, come receive him, adore him, This is Jesus, our Lord."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You need perseverance to enter the Kingdom of God.

"Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance." (Luke 8: 15).

Saturday 28th March 2020 of the 4th week of Lent. Our key Scripture is from the Gospel Acclamation. It has a very important message. Perseverance is the key to sustainable growth in the spiritual life. Perseverance now and all the way to Heaven.

How do you rate yourself on the virtue of perseverance? What percentage of new projects do you complete? 50%, 80%, 90%, 99%?
You may be surprised to learn that Jesus teaches in the Gospels that only 100% is the pass grade. Some dioceses require 100% attendance for young adults Confirmation classes. It is true. I have taught it for a number of years.

If you have a problem with finishing what you start, do not despair. Once upon a time, I became sad that I could never complete whatever I started: Bible Study, New Year resolutions, walkout programs, etc. Then it occurred to me that I could take this to Jesus in prayer. I prayed. Not one quick Hail Mary. I wrestled with Jesus over the issue possibly for a couple of years. I am happy to say that today my completion rate is close to 100%. One thing I must add is that I take counsel of the Holy Spirit before I embark on a new project.

As Jesus teaches, weigh carefully the cost of discipleship before you commit yourself. Once you put your hands on the plough and look back, you disqualify yourself.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

In the fullness of time, I will be glorified.

"So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come." (John 7: 30).

Friday 27th March 2020 of the 4th week of Lent. Why did the enemies of Christ tried to arrest Him during the Jewish festival of Tabernacles? The answer is laid out clearly in the first Reading from the 2nd Chapter of Wisdom:

The enemies of Jesus could not stand His probity and integrity. They considered Him a reproach to their transgressions. Like the high court judge who takes bribes, their conscience would give them no peace especially when they come in contact with Jesus. Therefore, Jesus must die. But Jesus' antagonists were ignorant of the prophecies about the Messiah. They said: "For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes."

In the fullness of time, Jesus would hand over Himself to be glorified on the Cross. For the Cross is the appointed means of the glorification of the Son of Man. Before that hour, nothing can happen to Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, our lives are hemmed in by God's loving and powerful Providence. If we make the Kingdom of God and His holiness the top priority of our life. God's promise of provision and protection for us is unbreakable.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

My works testify that I Am.

"But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me." (John 5: 36).

Thursday 26th March 2020 of the 4th week of Lent. Today we look at the "testimony" of Jesus. We ask: What are the credentials of Jesus? How do we know that this man is who he claims to be?

In His trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus affirms that the purpose He came into the world is to bear witness to the truth. Jesus according to His own testimony is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
To validate that Jesus is who He claims to be, we match His claims with His works. If a person claims to be a surgeon and happens to be in a Trauma Center when the Trauma doctor cannot be found, if he is able to handle an urgent and critical case, he becomes believable. If not, he is considered an impostor, a fraud.

Jesus is genuine and authentic in every sense. He healed every type of sickness. He raised the dead. He cast out demons. He fed thousands from a few loaves and fish. He taught people the message of eternal life. Jesus fulfilled every profile of the Messiah prophesied by Isaiah and other prophets.
Finally, He was crucified and rose from the dead and appeared to those He chose to see Him.

The Church Jesus founded which shall never be destroyed by forces of evil is alive and following the Way of her Lord all over the world. The lives of the Saints continue to be irrefutable advertisements for the authenticity that the Church is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com