Wake up from sleep. Christ is here.

"Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come." (Mark 13: 33).

Sunday 29th November 2020, First Sunday of Advent.

At last we are here. It is Advent. The season of waiting and preparation. Here is an Advent Scripture and rallying cry:

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5: 14).

In order to be fully awake and take full advantage of all the blessings that God has prepared for us this Advent, we need an Advent Plan. I had a plan for Advent for many years with one exception. The new pastor in the parish said: "You don't need to fast or do anything special. Just say a little more prayer and enjoy yourself." I took his advice and had a tepid Christmas. After that one year, I make sure I have an Advent Plan every year. Below is my tentative Advent 2020 Plan. I revise the plan a couple of times during the four weeks of Advent.

Grace sought:
Lord prepare my heart to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

1.  Review the commitment every day.
2.  Tuesday Mass - Grace of a good Advent and Christmas Seasons.
3. No movies Mon to Sat.
4. No news /media: Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
5.  No sugar: Mon to Sat.
6. No meat: Mon, Wed, Fri.
7. No lemon tea.
8. Yard work twice during Advent.

"Lord, strengthen the wills of your people to be more active in doing good works, and so gain from your loving-kindness more abundant healing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Remember I am coming soon.

"Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21: 36).

Saturday 28th November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time and the last day in the Liturgical Year.

This is what the Lord, the Yes and the Amen is saying to the churches in the last day of this Liturgical Year.

#1. Do not become sluggish with low energy with Christmas shopping, parties and silly worries and distractions that mark this season.
#2. Pray and pray and pray all the time. Pray everywhere and pray for everything. Your prayers will keep you vigilant and alert.
#3. Not even a single individual on earth will be spared of these tribulations. It will come without warning like a thief in the night.

Yesterday, we heard Jesus tell us that: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Luke 21: 33). We showed four reasons to prove that so far the words of Jesus have not passed away. The word that Jesus is speaking to the churches today will not pass away. Respond to this word with faith and gratitude.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

My words will never pass away.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Luke 21: 33).

Friday 27th November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time.

So far, the words of Jesus have not passed away after 2000 years. How do we prove this?
#1 Preachers still preach this word day and night in churches, on TV, Radio and Blogs.
#2 Missionaries leave their countries every day to bring this word to people who have not heard this word before.
#3 People search constantly on the Internet for this word, making the Bible one of the most searched key word.
#4 Printing presses all over the world keep rolling out millions of copies of the Bible.

Friends, do you consider this phenomenon an accident? Can you find a parallel for this in history?

Consider this question:
If Jesus Christ could be so absolutely correct in His prediction about the iteration and durability of His word, what else could He be correct about? Other prophecies of Jesus Christ:
#a. I am surely coming back.
#b. I am with you always.
#c. The gates of hell shall try very hard but cannot prevail against my Church.
#d. My Kingdom is universal. It is also everlasting.
#e. No eye has seen, no ear has heard of the eternal plan I have for you who believe in Me and follow Me.

"Be alert; stand firm in the faith; be valiant and strong, and the God of peace will be with you." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Thanksgiving and the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.

"But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” (Luke 21: 28).

Thursday 26th November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time is Thanksgiving Day in America.

The first Reading and the Gospel message today from the universal lectionary are grim messages. They deal with the last days. They may seem unpalatable for Thanksgiving celebrations but they are tonic and nourishment for the soul. Why? Because the Bible warns by example and narrative that it is during wining and dining that disaster strikes.

Which would you prefer? To be called to the wedding feast of the Lamb or sit down before a table piled high with roasted turkey, deserts and wine?

The message of the End Times whether from the Prophet Daniel, Jesus or John in the Book of Revelation is the easiest Scripture to understand. It is concise and straightforward:
ARE YOU READY TO GO?

How to be ready and fired up to go in a moment's notice:

#1 Pray all the time.
#2 Pray everywhere.
#3 Pray about everything.

To prayer add daily nourishment from the word of God. Do not be tired of doing good to your neighbor.

For a list of good works mandated by the Church, click the link below:

https://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/11/works-of-mercy.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

The Feast of the Patron Saint of Lawyers, St Catherine of Alexandria.

"Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute." (Luke 21: 14 - 15).

Wednesday 25th November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Catherine of Alexandria. (+ 310). Virgin and Martyr. African. What can we say about Catherine or what can I say about Catherine? When I got to know St Catherine a little bit, I added her to the list of my patron saints.

Catherine was well educated and articulate.  No surprise because she was from the upper class of society in Alexandria, one of the foremost center of learning and culture at that time. She was courageous and fearless. She defended the faith before Emperor Maxentius. The Emperor was taken aback at the erudition and courage of the young girl. He flew into a rage and condemned Catherine to death. Catherine is the patron saint of philosophers, lawyers and preachers.

Where does the power, eloquence, wisdom of St Catherine of Alexandria come from? We don't have to look far. See the key Scripture in today's Liturgy:
"Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute." (Luke 21: 14 - 15). We see the same power and wisdom working in Peter and John, Stephen and Paul in Acts of the Apostles.

You can be the next Catherine if you let the word of God nourish you daily. If you trust in Jesus to lead you to your purpose in life. If you accept His unconditional love for you and embrace His gracious will for you.

Here is something I learned about Catherine today:
Before St Catherine was executed, she promised to obtain favors for all those who seek her intercession on personal problems. This reminds us of St Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower who promised to be a powerful intercessor in Heaven for any person who seeks her help.

"Even if you have to die, says the Lord, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2: 10).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions, martyrs.

"Even if you have to die, says the Lord, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2: 10).

Tuesday 24th November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions martyrs.

St Andrew, a Vietnamese priest was martyred in 1839 along with 117 others, 96 of whom were Vietnamese. The rest were foreign missionaries. Has any other religion the same experience of martyrdom in modern history as the Christian faith?  Why do Christians accept martyrdom? Christians know that death is not the end of their life. We believe in the Resurrection. Jesus Christ has promised. His word is true.

Our key Scripture from the Alleluia Verse encourages us not to fear those who kill the body and can do no more. "Even if you have to die, says the Lord, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2: 10).

What are the common obstacles to Christians to faithful walk with Jesus and persevering in the face of great trials and persecution?

#1 Lack of a solid prayer life.
#2 A life of too much ease and pleasure.
#3 Compromise with sin.

These conditions are great obstacles to a life of perseverance which looks forward to the joys of Heaven and Eternal life.

"Be faithful and I will give you the crown of life."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The lessons of the Widow's Mite.

 Jesus said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest;  for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” (Luke 21: 3 - 4). 

Monday 23rd November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time. The Church affirms and honors three saints today:

St Clement 1 (+ 99) Pope and Martyr. Italian. Clement was the third Pope after St Peter and is famous in history for his letter to the Corinthian Church where he asserted the universal jurisdiction of the Pope. Clement was martyred under Emperor Trajan. 

St Columban (545 - 615). Abbot. Irish. Columban founded monasteries in France and Italy. 

St Miguel Augustin Pro (1891 - 1927). Mexican. Priest of the Society of Jesus and Martyr during the fierce Mexican persecution of the Church in the 1920s.

Our Gospel for today is the Widow's Mite contribution. Jesus was in the Temple during the Liturgy when He "saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins."

This Gospel has many lessons for us:

#1 The widow was able to give her all because she had experienced God's faithful provisions.

#2. It is not the largeness of the gift that counts but what the gift costs you.

#3 The poor contribute more to the upkeep of the Church than the rich.

#4 "Give and there will be gifts for you." You can never outdo God in generosity.

#5 Wherever your treasure is, there lies your heart.

#6. Insecurity for tomorrow is the curse of the rich who are ignorant of the biblical blessings of giving.

The annual Thanksgiving is a few days away. Read some Scriptures on the blessings of giving and rendering thanks for the blessings you have received from God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Hail Jesus! King of the Universe.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him." (Matthew 25: 31 - 32).

Sunday 22 November 2020, 34th Week in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It is also the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year.

What are we celebrating today? We celebrate the truth that Jesus is truly Lord and King. When you read the Gospel, this is not obvious. The humble kingship of Jesus is different from the pompous kingship of Herod.

Earthly kings are notorious for their love of pomp, splendor, majestic palaces, pride and cruelty.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd King. Jesus is the gentle King. He promised that His yoke is light and easy. Think of how the King Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the humblest of animals.

What are the attributes of the kingdom of Christ? It is global, eternal and humble. Our King reigns from the Cross. It was on the Cross that Jesus Christ vanquished the kingdom of Satan.

Let us hail our Lord and King Jesus!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary.

"That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;  and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (Luke 20: 37 - 38).

Saturday 21st November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary is the feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.

What are we celebrating in this feast?  This feast celebrates an event in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary that is not recorded in the Scriptures. It is nonetheless an ancient feast of the Church. This feast remembers the occasion when Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne presented the little girl in the Temple to be educated by priests.

The Church affirms that along with Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition and the authoritative Magisterium are the sources of the truth we subscribe to in the Church. The Church has this ancient sacred maxim:
"Lex credendi, lex orandi, lex vivendi." It means that the rule of prayer is the rule of faith and the rule of living. As you pray, so you believe. As you believe, so you live.

Some Protestant groups believe unfortunately that the Church is wrong in honoring Mary because they say she is dead and remains dead. Catholics honor dead people they believe. But Jesus Himself knocked out the unbiblical assertion in today's Gospel:
"That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;  and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (Luke 20: 37 - 38).

The Holy Spirit who is promised to lead the Church into the fullness of the truth of everything that Jesus taught and did will not allow the Church to teach and practice idolatry for over 2000 years.

Mary is full of grace. She is the Mother of the Son and our Mother.
Mother of Mercy, pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You have made my House a den of thieves.

"Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things,  saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." (Luke 19 - 45 - 46).

Friday 20th November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time.

Our short Gospel for today comes from Luke 19: 45 - 48. It is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus appeared visibly very angry. Why was Jesus mad at what was going on in the Temple?

Is it possible that the Church could be made into a den of robbers? Let us consider a few scenarios:

#1 Why did the Church venture into real estate business in London and who knows where else?
#2 Why does the Church use Insurance as a means of security instead of fire tried promises of God?
#3 Why are some clergy attracted to worldly lifestyle?
#4 Why is the SeekFirst Promise in Matthew 6: 33, key Scripture on security not affirmed more often?
#5 Why does the Church appear to turn a blind eye on the Commandment: "Keep holy the Lord's Day!"?

The Prophet Malachi foresaw the degradation of the sacred ministers of the Temple and prophesied:

"For he will be like a refiner’s fire,
like fullers’ lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, that they may bring offerings to the Lord in righteousness." (Malachi 3: 2 - 3).

Let us continue to lift up the Church and the clergy to the mercy of God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Is this the hour of our visitation?

“If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes... And Jesus wept over it [Jerusalem] " (Luke 19: 42, 41).

Thursday 19th November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time.

Is Jesus weeping over America?  Does America recognize that today is her time of visitation? What is it that makes for peace?

#1 Stop abortion.
#2 Stop death penalty.
#3 Stop racism.
#4 Stop molestation of refugees.
#5 Stop discrimination.

Stop these evils and the Peace of Christ will return to these shores. America will become again the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Jesus is weeping.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of the Educator, St Rose Philippine Duchesne.

"I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last, says the Lord." (John 15: 16).

Wednesday 18th November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Rose Philippine Duchesne. (1769 - 1852). Virgin. French. The French Revolution disrupted her religious formation. She had to wait for 11 years to join a new Congregation, The Society of the Sacred Heart. At the age of 49, St Rose undertook her missionary journey to America. She founded schools to educate girls.

Our key Scripture is from the Alleluia Verse in today's Liturgy. Jesus chose St Rose Philippine Duchesne from the world to go into the world and bear fruit that will last. Rose arrived in America from France and labored relentlessly in the mission field and bore plenty of fruits that are still enduring. Many of us are familiar with the Duchesne Academy in many places in the USA training smart young women to serve the Church and society.

Have you ever considered the truth that you too are chosen, called and anointed for a special purpose? St Rose discovered her purpose in life almost at the age of 50. Abraham discovered his at 75 and Moses at 84. An African proverb says that when a child wakes up from sleep, she can say "Good morning!" Because that is the beginning of her day.
Wake up and embrace your purpose in life.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Zacchaeus, I want to spend this night in your house.

“Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy.  (Luke 19: 5 - 6).

Tuesday 17th November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Elizabeth of Hungary. (1207 - 1231) Religious. Born Hungarian Princess. Married a German Prince. In her short life of only 23 years, Elizabeth had four children and then became a Franciscan Tertiary after the death of her husband. She spent the rest of her life bringing comfort to the poor, the sick and the aged.

Zacchaeus must have made a wave in the early Christian community because of the story of how he encountered Jesus for the first time. Because of his short stature, he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus because there was a huge crowd surrounding Jesus. Jesus, touched by this humbling gesture reciprocated with warm friendly encouragement. “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”

Who is Zacchaeus? A very wealthy tax collector. Probably living in a large estate with servants, horses and carriages. Be that as it may, Zacchaeus was despised and shunned in his community because he worked as a tax collector for the resented Roman government. Yet this man had such intense desire to meet Jesus and humbled himself to accomplish this goal.

Who is the Zacchaeus of our day? They may be:
* The abortion doctor and nurse.
* The young homeless pregnant teenage girl.
* The lady forced into prostitution in order to survive.
* The drug dealer from the ghetto.
* The refugee or immigrant scrapping a living at a night job nobody wants.

Like Zacchaeus, all the above are considered fringe elements, undesirables, etc. But Jesus who comes to seek the lost knows each one of them by name and knows where they are hiding.
St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church says that the Lord Jesus has finished His work on earth and turned over to us to complete what needs to be done. Jesus is saying: Go find these people. You are now my feet and hands, my eyes and ears. Through corporal and spiritual works of mercy, the Church points out to us how to engage this mission.

If you want to explore the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, click on the link below:

http://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/11/works-of-mercy.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Works of Mercy

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless

5. Visit the sick

6. Visit the imprisoned

7. Bury the dead

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:

1. Instruct the ignorant

2. Counsel the doubtful

3. Admonish sinners

4. Bear wrongs patiently

5. Forgive offences willingly

6. Comfort the afflicted

7. Pray for the living and the dead

SeekFirstcommunity.com 

What can I do for you, man?

"Jesus asked him [Blind man] “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18: 41).

Monday 16th November 2020, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Margaret of Scotland (1046 - 1093). Born Hungarian and married to King Malcolm of Scotland. Mother of 8 children who raised her children in the fear of the Lord. She is noted especially for her love for the poor. Margaret is the Patroness of Scotland.

Today is also the feast of St Gertrude. (1256 - 1301). Virgin. German. Known as Gertrude the Great, she was a respected scholar and mystic. Over 300 years before St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Gertrude, a mystic like Margaret Mary introduced the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pope Benedict XVI, says that St Gertrude “shows us that the heart of a happy life, of a true life, is friendship with the Lord Jesus.”

In the Gospel Reading of today, we read of the interesting encounter of Jesus with the Blind man [named Bartimaeus by the Gospel of Mark). We see here the power of persistent prayer in action. Bartimaeus had prayed and waited for the opportunity to meet Jesus. When it happened suddenly, he was prepared. Lesson: Fortune favors the prepared.

Bartimaeus was shouting on top of his voice: "Son of David, have pity on me." He could not be stopped by the disciples of Jesus. Jesus asked him to come to Him. Lesson: Persistent prayer gets the attention of God. How can I help you, Jesus asked the Blind man.
"He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”  Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”  He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God." (Luke 18: 41 - 43). Bartimaeus became a friend and companion of Jesus.

This is not a parable but a life event in the ministry of Jesus. Jesus teaches through words (narrative/discourse) and action.
"Man does not live on bread alone. There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God." The word of God nourishes the hunger in our hearts for new life.

What do you desire most in your heart? Desire makes a man, teaches St Ignatius Loyola.
Guard as treasure the utmost/greatest desire of your life. Nourish it with prayer and the word of God. Be always prepared to jump up as Bartimaeus for you do not know when Jesus will be passing by.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Use your talents or lose them.

"For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25: 29).

Sunday 15th November, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture is from the Parable of the Talents. Here are the main points: The principal in the story distributed money for investment to three of his chief executives according to their talent. Then he left on a long journey. When he returned home, he demanded each executive to show return on investment. Two of the three showed profits on their investments and were rewarded with promotions. The third man buried his money and was severely rebuked.

The message in this parable is easy to discern. God bestowed every human being with gifts at birth. How do you use the time, talent and treasure that God has given to you?

The law of the spirit implies continuous growth. Use your muscles and they become stronger. Do not use them at all, they grow weak and weaker.

But how do we exercise our time, talent and treasure? Consider these list from the Church:

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:
1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit the imprisoned
7. Bury the dead

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:
1. Instruct the ignorant
2. Counsel the doubtful
3. Admonish sinners
4. Bear wrongs patiently
5. Forgive offences willingly
6. Comfort the afflicted
7. Pray for the living and the dead

"For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Pray with Trust, Confidence and Persistence.

"Then Jesus told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary." (Luke 18: 1).

Saturday 14th November 2020, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time.

The Lord Jesus teaches us to be persistent in prayer. When you come to our Heavenly Father to ask for your needs: restoration of health, family peace, a new job, husband or wife, how do you go about it? "Abba Father, I need a wife. This is Sunday the 15th of November. Kindly provide by Sunday the 22nd of this month." Jesus our Lord and Teacher says that there is a better way. A wife is a considerable investment in life, perhaps one of the hugest. You should pray always for it without becoming weary. Jesus promises that your faith shown by your persistence will be rewarded.

A fragile widow in the Parable of the Persistent Widow in our Gospel Reading today was able to overcome a ruthless corrupt judge through the power of persistent prayer.

Prayer is one of the greatest gift bestowed on the Christian. It is like God's own special cell phone with all His numbers handed to you free of charge. Jesus teaches that Prayer is a vital necessity. St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church teaches that he who prays is already saved. He who does not pray is lost.

Consider this maxim on Prayer a rule of life:
+ Pray always.
+ Pray everywhere.
+ Pray about everything.

Ask your Heavenly Father boldly for big things in accordance with His gracious will. Pray with trust and confidence that God will fulfill His promises to you.

The Bible teaches that the just man lives by faith. He also lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4: 4). Therefore nourish your life constantly with the word of God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants.

"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it." (Luke 17: 33).

Friday 13th November 2020, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Frances Xavier Cabrini. (1850 - 1917). Virgin. Italian. Patroness of Immigrants.

We glorify Jesus when we honor any of His saints. Each of His saints reflects an aspect of the beautiful character of Jesus as encoded in the Scriptures. What aspect of the word of God does St Frances Cabrini personify?
"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it." (Luke 17: 33).

Before she came to the United States as a missionary to serve immigrants, Frances was terrified of water. But once she heard the call of Christ which came to her through Pope Leo XIII, she plunged into the waters and arrived at New York to start a very fruitful missionary service to immigrants in America. God in His economy of Salvation made immigration a necessity for humanity. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Mary and Jesus were all immigrants. America is populated by immigrants. The life of the immigrant is not easy. At least in the first few years. So God gave a strict order in the Scriptures not to molest these vulnerable: widows, orphans and migrants.

Our saint for today overcame the first obstacle to her vocation: fear of drowning to serve the immigrants. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to serve immigrants in schools, hospitals and parishes. Before she died in 1917, St Frances Xavier Cabrini had traversed the seas about 30 times planting missionary services to the vulnerable in many countries of the world.

Jesus Christ chose St Frances Xavier Cabrini to be a symbol of His tender care for immigrants. This is why the Church honors her today. In honoring her, we glorify Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of all immigrants.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr.

"Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17: 20 - 21).

Thursday 12th November 2020, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Josaphat. (1580 - 1623). Bishop and Martyr. Born in Poland, ministered and martyred in Ukraine. Josaphat spent his life working for the reconciliation and unity of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church. He paid the supreme price for this with his life.

The Kingdom of God is among you.
What does this mean to you?
What is the Kingdom?
Where is the Kingdom?
Why the Kingdom?
How does the Kingdom operate?
Any signs of the Kingdom here and now?

One fact is absolutely certain:  Jesus spent most of His preaching and teaching ministry talking about the Kingdom. Even after His Resurrection, Acts 1 informs us that Jesus continued to speak about the Kingdom. How do we address the questions above on the identity and operations of the Kingdom?

The Kingdom is the King Jesus. Where the King is, there is His Kingdom. The Kingdom has certain similarities with earthly kingdoms. But the differences are striking.
The Kingdom of God is the reign of God in hearts and minds of people who believe in Jesus and have committed to allow Jesus to reign in their hearts and minds. The Kingdom of Mexico for example comprise all the people who live in the geographical area that is recognized as Mexico. They obey the laws of Mexico whether they like it or not. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Mexico have officers and structures for their operations. That is where the similarities end.

The Kingdom of God is worldwide. It is eternal and indestructible. Some days ago, we saw the destruction of the Roman Empire, the mightiest in history. The Kingdom of God launched by Jesus Christ in the course of His earthly ministry would be wrapped up in His Second glorious Coming.

What does all this mean to you here and now? There are two types of people: those who are aware only of the earthly, material and fleshy kingdom. Others who belong to the the Kingdom of God whose seed is the Church. St Josaphat spent his life building up the Church, the Kingdom of God on earth which we can see and touch.

May we be inspired by the example of St Josaphat.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Martin of Tours - Veteran Day.

"I shall raise up for myself a faithful priest who will act in accord with my heart and my mind, says the Lord." (1 Samuel 2: 35 Entrance Antiphon).

Wednesday 11th November 2020, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Martin of Tours. (316 - 397). Bishop. St Martin was born of pagan parents in modern day Hungary. 

Martin was a soldier in the imperial army of Rome. After he encountered Jesus Christ, he became a Christian and a man of peace. Today is also Veteran Day in the USA, Armistice Day in other countries. November 11  served in the past as a day of memorial of signing peace treaties.  The treaty to end World War 1 was signed on the Feast of St Martin of Tours, November 11th. Hail Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace. Happy Veterans Day!

Our key Scripture for today is taken from the Entrance Antiphon on the Feast of St Martin of Tours. The Lord made Martin a faithful priest who embraced God's will in everything. Martin founded a monastery in France and was consecrated later as the Bishop of Tours. He sent missionaries to evangelize France. France is one of the earliest Christian countries in the world and is known as the Elder Daughter of the Church.

St Martin de Tours can help us appreciate the truth that God's gracious and mysterious will is our peace and prosperity. Some people have a contrary view. This is a big lie of the Devil.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com