Are you ready for your opportunity to bear witness?

"They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.  It will lead to your giving testimony." (Luke 21: 12 - 13).

Sunday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time. Next Sunday will be the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It marks the end of the current Liturgical Year. Can you hear from the Scriptures the drumbeat that shift our gear to end times?

In brief, before the end comes, there will be a shakedown of the faith of everyone. Only those who have learned to be faithful from the daily practice of the faith will survive. Those who have put their faith on hold will run to their parents, siblings, children, neighbors and bang on the door and cry in panic: "Please give us some oil for our lamp!"

"By your perseverance you will secure your lives." (Luke 21: 19).

Do not postpone the practice of your faith. There will be no opportunity to go to the Church, get into your home to search for your Bible or Rosary.

"Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?"

O that you hear His voice today, harden not your hearts.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Ask and keep asking and you will receive.

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

Saturday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time. Jesus teaches on the vital necessity of Prayer. Commenting on this teaching from her historic experience with the saints in salvation history, the Church explains:

"Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." St. Paul adds, "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints." For "we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing." This tireless fervor can come only from love. Against our dullness and laziness, the battle of prayer is that of humble, trusting, and persevering love. This love opens our hearts to three enlightening and life-giving facts of faith about prayer." (CCC 2742).

The teaching on Prayer is very simple to remember:
Pray always.
Pray everywhere.
Pray about everything.

ASK, SEEK and KNOCK. Jesus promises that you will receive what you ask for. You will find what you are looking for and the door you knock on persistently will be opened to you. ALL in accordance to God's gracious and mysterious Will. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Albert the Great, Church Father and Scientist.

St Albert the Great. 

"Foolish by nature were all who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing the one who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan." (Wisdom 13: 1).

Friday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Albert the Great (1206 - 1280), Bishop, Order of Preachers (Dominican), theologian and scientist and last but not the least, Doctor of the Church. When I see a scientist who thumbs his nose at religion because he has a couple of doctorates, I ask him: "Are you more learned than St Albert the Great or St Augustine?"

Our Daily Scripture verse for today calls scientists who pretend not to know God, foolish. They investigate the heavens and the earth and discover their secrets. They never ask: How did this stuff get here? Who made them? St Paul says in Romans that such scientists suppress the truth by their wickedness. He goes on to say:

"For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them.  Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse." (Romans 1: 19 - 20).

Let us thank God the Father for the life of St Albert the Great who combined his human wisdom and divine faith to advance knowledge and science.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

ALL things serve You.

"All things serve you." (Psalm 119: 91).

Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time. Our meditation today is from the Responsorial Psalm 119.

How many famous ALL Scriptures do you know? I have three favorites:

#1. "ALL things serve You." (Psalm 119: 91).

#2. "We know that ALL things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8: 28).

#3. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of ALL comfort." (2 Corinthians 1: 3).

In the Creed, we profess our faith in the Father ALL Mighty God. It is very comforting to know that ALL things serve our Father: man, sun, moon, wind, fire, water, stars, wildlife, etc. Everything without exception. To serve means to obey God absolutely with no possibility of resistance or disobedience.

Most Christians find comfort in Romans 8: 28 which proclaims that no matter what happens, God is in control and therefore No fear. No worry. No doubt.

I like particularly 2 Corinthians 1: 3 that reminds us that none of the comforts, encouragements or consolation we enjoy in life comes from Chance. The word Chance is not in the Bible. ALL things come from the gracious ordaining of our God and Father.

"God orders ALL things for good." (Wisdom 8: 1).

"Almighty and merciful God,
graciously keep from us ALL adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son." (Collect, today).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patronness of Immigrants.

“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17: 17 - 19).

Wednesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850 - 1917), Virgin and Patroness of immigrants. Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini served well the immigrants of America in obedience to the order of Pope Leo XIII. Her anniversary is a reminder of our debt to widows, orphans and immigrants.

In two weeks, we shall be celebrating Thanksgiving. Our Gospel meditation for today is a great lesson to shape our minds and hearts for Thanksgiving 2019.

Are you postponing thanking God for anything? Health, family blessings, financial prosperity, new job or promotions, sold homes or new cars, plentiful food, peace about the future? How about the Daily Bread of the Eucharist? Do you know that the Eucharist means Thanksgiving? To him whom much is given, much will be required.

For the leper who did not postpone his Thanksgiving, Jesus said: “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17: 19). Beware: what you think is now yours may not be yours until you return to give thanks. For the Lord orders:
"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 18).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The souls of the saints are in the hand of God.

"The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace." (Wisdom 3: 1-3).

Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Josaphat (1580 - 1623), Bishop and Martyr. Born in Poland to Orthodox parents, Josaphat became a Catholic. As Bishop, he worked for the unity of the Orthodox and the Roman Church and was martyred for his efforts.

November is the month we remember in a special way the souls of the faithful departed. An Indian guru said to the disciples on his death bed: "When you remember me, I shall be present." Exactly! Is this not what we do in the Eucharist? This is why Memorial is one of the many names of the Eucharist. How do you remember your loved ones who are on the other side of life? Because our saint of the day is a canonized saint, we remember Josaphat through the Sacred Liturgy. You can remember your loved ones through offering Mass, Rosary and prayers for them.

"Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself." (Wisdom 3: 5).

After brief chastisement, that is purification, these souls will be admitted to Paradise to enjoy eternal life with Jesus.

"Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect." (Wisdom 3: 9).

Amen!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Martin of Tours, Veteran of Veterans.

“Increase our faith.”  The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." (Luke 17: 5 - 6).

Monday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Martin of Tours (316 - 397), Bishop. 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 holiday 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 One was signed on the Feast of St Martin of Tours, November 11th. Hail Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace. Happy Veterans Day!

"Increase our faith." What is the connection between Faith and Prayer. I have two favorite quotations from two great men on faith and prayer.

#1. If you pray, you are saved. If you do not pray, you are lost. (St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).
#2. I believe because I pray.  (Karl Rahner, SJ hailed as one of the greatest theologians.

The only thing Jesus called a vital necessity is Prayer. Not work. Not fasting. (CCC 2742). Therefore if you want your faith to grow, start praying.
Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray about everything. And before you know it, you too will be enjoying the fruits of the faith that moves mountain.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com