Saturday, June 23, 2018

Who is John the Baptist?

“John is his name.”  (Luke 1: 63).

June 24th is the Solemnity of St John the Baptist. The feast fell on a Sunday this year.  Because of the stature of St John the Baptist in God's plan of salvation, the Church all over the world gives the feast precedence over the Sunday Liturgy which is very unusual.

We know that his name John was revealed to the parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth before his birth. But what does John mean? It means "the Lord is gracious." But who is John?  For answer we dive into the Old Testament, the first Reading today from Isaiah:

"The Lord called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword, concealed me, shielded by his hand. He made me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he hid me. He said to me, You are my servant, in you, Israel, I show my glory." (Isaiah 49: 1 - 3).

Not many people were called from their mother's womb for special mission.  To be called, named and given a mission before you were born makes you pretty very special.  As the son of a priest, John was born into the upper class.  He forsook all the privileges for the sake of his calling. Scripture tells us:  "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel." (Luke 1: 80).

"And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins."  (Luke 1: 76 - 77).

There is great need today to prepare our brothers and sisters for the Second Coming of Jesus.  People's ignorance of God is the chief reason for all moral deviations according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (CCC 2087).  Are you willing to be an evangelist or a catechist?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Friday, June 22, 2018

Why do pagans worry a lot?

"Do not worry about your life."  (Matthew 6: 25).
"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?" (Matthew 6: 31).
"Do not worry about tomorrow."  (Matthew 6: 34).

Jesus has one remedy for worries. All worries: family, health, money, job, all types of possessions and tools.  He first tells us that those who do not know the Scriptures and the power of God are consumed by such foolish and unnecessary worries. (Cf Matthew 22: 29).  Pagans think of nothing else but these things.

But for you:  "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33).
So what is the Kingdom of God? It is here and now the reign, rule or control of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of Christians. His righteousness means His manner of life and doing things. When you embrace the reign of the King and His teachings, you have a singleness of purpose in everything in life.  Examples:  St John the Baptist, St Paul, St Ignatius Loyola, etc. Then you experience abundance or affluence in your life.

Is this utopian? Maybe for those who do not know the Scriptures and the power and promises of God.  (Cf Matthew 22: 29)
"For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29: 11).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Two men who invested their treasure in different places.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.... But store up treasures in heaven...... For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  (Matthew 6: 19 - 21).

Where do you hide your treasure? What does prosperity mean to you?
The Gospel differentiates genuine riches and filthy lucre.  Genuine wealth is one you can  keep and enjoy always and everywhere.  It is faith, hope, love, patience, wisdom, peace, courage, contentment, humility, etc.  He who has God has everything.  He who hoards the wealth of this world has nothing.

Two men illustrate the difference between genuine riches and filthy lucre:  St Thomas More and Cardinal Thomas Wosley.  Both men were in the inner circle of the government of King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century.  St Thomas More put God first in his life and work. Cardinal Thomas Wosley put the king first.  Henry VIII beheaded St Thomas More because he refused to put the king first.  Cardinal Thomas Wosley continued in power for a little longer.  Cardinal Wosley said while he laid dying in disgrace:  "But if I had served God as diligently as I have done the King, he [God] would not ..."
Surely God would never forsake His own.

Today is the feast of St Thomas More.  Among many patronages that he enjoys is the patron saint of lawyers.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

O God from whom all good things come!

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  (Matthew 6: 8).

Behold one of the most beautiful revelations of Jesus!
Lord Jesus, You give us the consolation of Scriptures.  Praise and honor and glory be to You.

Other truths of Scripture to warm your heart:
1.  All things are possible for God.
2.  There is nothing too marvelous for God to do for you.
3.  O God from whom all good things come.
4.  Have you not seen how God has provided all our needs?
5.  God knows exactly what you need and when you need it.
6.  "Ignorance of God is the principle and explanation of moral deviations." ( CCC 2087).
7.   In Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than us what is good for us. In Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil.  

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

I want a double portion of your spirit.

"Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”  (2 Kings 2: 9).

Elijah the great prophet knowing that his time has come to leave this earth, wanted to bestow on Elisha his disciple a memorable gift.  He asked Elisha the above question. Elisha gave a great answer that reminds us of Solomon when God asked him a similar question:
"That  night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."  (2 Chronicles 1: 7).

Solomon asked for wisdom. If you have a similar opportunity like Solomon and Elisha, what will you ask for?
Jesus Himself suggests to us what to ask for:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11: 13).

Do you believe the word of Jesus?  Then open your heart and mind to the promise of God who cannot lie:
"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).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Monday, June 18, 2018

Have you found me out, my enemy?

“Have you found me out, my enemy?” (1 Kings 21: 21). 

These are the words of King Ahab to the Prophet Elijah when the prophet came to confront Ahab with the murder and loot of Naboth's land. Remember King David, Bethsheba and her husband?  No matter how secret your sin is, God knows the details.  King David left us Psalm 51, a masterpiece of penitential prayer.

After God imposed the severest punishment on Ahab and Queen Jezebel, husband and wife infamous for holding the Guinness Book of Records for wickedness in the Bible, you can't believe what King Ahab did.

"When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued."  (1 Kings 21: 27).

Even more incredible is God's response to Ahab's act of repentance:
"Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s time."  (1 Kings 21:  29).

We learn from this Bible incident that to err is human. To be merciful and forgiving is God.
The ABC OF MERCY:
A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

6-19

“Have you found me out, my enemy?” (1 Kings 21: 21). 

These are the words of King Ahab to the Prophet Elijah when the prophet came to confront Ahab with the murder and loot of Naboth's land. Remember King David, Bethsheba and her husband?  No matter how secret your sin is, God knows the details.  King David left us Psalm 51, a masterpiece of penitential prayer.

After God imposed the severest punishment on Ahab and Queen Jezebel, husband and wife infamous for holding the Guinness Book of Records for wickedness in the Bible, you can't believe what King Ahab did.

"When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued."  (1 Kings 21: 27).

Even more incredible is God's response to Ahab's act of repentance:
"Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s time."  (1 Kings 21:  29).

We learn from this Bible incident that to err is human. To be merciful and forgiving is God.
The ABC OF MERCY:
A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Sunday, June 17, 2018

The source of power for Christian testimony.

"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."  (Matthew 5: 42).

In Matthew Chapter 5,  starting with the Beatitudes, our Teacher Jesus gave challenging instructions which defined Christian saintly conduct in every age.  These evangelical precepts challenge our human nature to the core.  This is why they are so powerful.  If you act on them, they change not just your life but they become the strongest tool for evangelization.  The Roman society in the first decades of Christianity was evangelized by the application of the Teachings of Jesus Christ in Matthew Chapter 5.

"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."  (Matthew 5: 42).

You cannot observe any of these divine commands without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Father, fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may live abundantly.

SeekFirstcommunity.com