Something prevented them from recognizing Jesus.

"Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him." (Luke 24: 16).

Sunday 26th April 2020, 3rd Sunday in the Season of Easter.

After His Resurrection, Jesus sought after two of His discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus. What follows is very interesting. Why were the eyes of Cleopas and his companion prevented from recognizing Jesus? St Jerome, Scripture scholar and Doctor of the Church gives  us a clue: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
The same ignorance of Scripture prevented me from recognizing Jesus in the Scriptures, Blessed Sacrament, Eucharist, Sacrament of the Present Moment for a long time.

From the mighty deeds and words of Jesus, the disciples thought that Jesus might be the Messiah. Why did they not explore the Scriptures to prove the point and find out what Scripture says about the Messiah? Jesus said that they were not only foolish but slow in understanding. How? Because it is clear from the Scriptures that Salvation would come only through the Cross. (Cf CCC 272).

We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same error. The two big gifts of Easter are: the Holy Spirit and Peace. The Holy Spirit will make “our hearts burn within us while he speaks to us and opens the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32).

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of an Evangelist: St Mark.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16: 15).

Saturday 25th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist. St Mark is the writer of the second Gospel and worked with Peter and Paul.

In today's daily Scripture verse, the Holy Spirit is saying to us:
"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Why did God create the Internet and cell phone at this time? So that everyone can fulfill the mandate to communicate the Good News with family, friends, colleagues.
Not everyone is called by God to be Mark the Evangelist. Not everyone of us can write like St Augustine. Everyone receives the word of God daily from different sources. What inspires you can inspire a family member, a friend or colleague. Share it through text, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Do not be afraid.

Most of my ministry in evangelization is sharing content created by others. All I need is the help of the Holy Spirit to discern the material as the truth. It will be terrible to distribute error or untruth. The word today encourages each of us to share the Gospel. Practice makes perfect.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Gamaliel and his principle of discernment.

"If this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him." (Acts 5: 38 - 39).

Friday 24th April 2020 in the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622), Priest and Martyr. Born in Germany, he achieved fame as Evangelist and Catechist in Switzerland where he was martyred for the faith.

Our Scripture for today asks through the lips of Gamaliel, a great Pharisee and teacher:
Is this pandemic of divine or human origin? Have you been praying about this pandemic? What is it that God is saying through you? Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to discern the will of God before taking a harsh action against the Apostles or they will find themselves fighting against God.

The Sanhedrin accepted Gamaliel's advice and ordered the Apostles flogged, "warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honor of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name."

How did this story end?
"They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted." (Acts 5: 42).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit.

"For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit." (John 3: 34).

Thursday April 23rd 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St George and St Adalbert of Praque (+303; 956 - 997). George, the Dragon slayer was martyred under Emperor Diocletian. So popular was his legend that George is the patron saint of England, Portugal, Germany, etc.
St Adalbert of Prague, Bishop was martyred for protecting a woman who ran into the Sanctuary to seek protection from her accusers who  wanted her dead.

The Holy Spirit and Peace are the dominant theme of the Easter Season. We are told that God does not ration His Holy Spirit. When you ask for the Holy Spirit in faith, be sure you will receive what you ask for. God told Solomon when he asked for wisdom and not for riches and power: "Here and now I grant you what you ask for and more." Jesus promises: Ask and you shall receive. If you ask for the Holy Spirit, your Father will be so delighted that He will give you what you ask for at once. The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit. It means you receive in direct proportion to your desire and capacity to receive. The Holy Spirit is the source of abundant life.

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

When you are sent on a mission.

"But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5: 19 - 20).

Wednesday 22nd April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

The Scriptures today point to one theme today: Mission Wednesday or Purpose Wednesday. The Apostles were miraculously freed from jail for one purpose: Mission.
“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” If you died with Christ during Lent and raised with Him at Easter, take your place wherever you can and "tell the people everything about this life.”

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  (John 15: 16).

Our Response:
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Cf Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury.

 "With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all." (Acts 4: 33).

Tuesday 21st April 2020, Tuesday of the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Anselm (1033 - 1109), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Anselm became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England in 1093. A great theologian, God called Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths of His Revelation for which Anselm suffered much including exile. Other great Archbishops and Doctors of the Church who suffered exiles are:
Saints Athanasius, and John Chrysostom.

With great power Saint Anselm bore witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Lord recognized this through glorifying Anselm with the cross of suffering and exile. Those whom the Lord justifies through faith, He glorifies through the Cross. For what purpose? So that they may resemble more closely their elder Brother Jesus.

Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ. When you embrace the Cross, then you can bear great testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You must be born from above.

"Jesus answered and said to him, [Nicodemus] “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (John 3: 3).

Monday 20th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

Have you been born from above? Or are you still of below, the first creation? After Easter, this question is easier for everyone to answer. The Pandemic season makes the choice facing us stark.

"Why are the nations so angry?

 Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together

against the Lord and against his anointed one." 

(Responsorial Psalm 2: 1 - 2).

Are you one of those who utter folly and have forgotten that God is Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipresent and All-knowing? 

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

"No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Being born from above means being baptized and confirmed in the Holy Spirit and living as a New Creation. Such a man or woman embraces God's word and fears nothing. 

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6: 33 - 34).

No man can live the Christian life or do the work of God without the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com