Do not be dismayed by the trials that you face.

"Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10: 28).

Sunday 28th June 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time.

Jesus so faithful and true did not over promise the rewards and privileges of discipleship. He did not under estimate the cost. The cost of discipleship may entail severe trials in health, family, finances, job and even death. Buyer beware. No need to be terrified. The Holy Spirit who is in you and always with you will help. He is the Helper, Paraclete, Friend, the Voice that speaks for you in court.

How do you activate this awesome power of the Holy Spirit? God has ordained Prayer as the Activator of Power. Use it as needed.
Pray always.
Pray everywhere.
Pray about everything.

"Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will come to free you." (Psalm 50: 15).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Cyril of Alexandria.

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." (Matthew 8: 8).

Saturday 27th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Cyril of Alexandria in Egypt. (376 - 444). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Cyril played a crucial role in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to defend the oneness of the person in Jesus Christ, true God and true Man and the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Theotokos (God bearer). As the Patriarch of Alexandria, he was a capable administrator and theologian.

The centurion said to Jesus in the Gospel of today: "Only say the word and my servant will be healed."
The centurion believed what he heard about Jesus and jumped to the conclusion that just as his word of authority is important in his army command, the word of God is infinitely more powerful.

Mary said to God at the Annunciation: "Be it done to me according to your word." Immediately the word became flesh. What happened when God said in Genesis "Let there be light?" There was light immediately. Or when Peter in the company of John said to the man born lame, "Stand up and walk?" It happened at once.

The Jews wondered: What is there in this man's word? The creative power of God is in His word. God created man in His image and likeness and gave him the power of life and death through his tongue.
In His ordinary Providence, God has ordained that prayer is the activator of power in man. The man who prays draws down divine power. The man who does not pray is insignificant.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei.

"A leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8: 2).

Friday 26th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Josemaria Escriva (1902 - 1976). Founder of the Opus Dei, a society whose members include men and women, married and single and priests. Unique in many ways among the community of consecrated men and women. Opus Dei believes that it is God's will that people find their path to holiness no matter what your occupation is, viz: doctor, garbage collector, senator, office cleaner, professor, student, etc. The impact of Opus Dei and its spirituality in the modern Church can never be exaggerated. They operate in some 80 countries in the world.
Josemaria is a saint of our time. Died in 1976 and canonized in 2002.

We note the bold prayer of the leper in our lead Scripture for today:
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Do not miss the homage the leper paid to Jesus. The Dictionary defines homage as "special honor or respect shown publicly." Homage can be seen as worship. We know that at the heart of Religion is Worship. This man may be a leper but he knows one or two things about how to treat God.

It is therefore no surprise to anyone that Jesus "stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately."

Jesus Christ is still the same yesterday and today. He is still very much in the healing business. Healing broken hearts and minds, broken homes and careers, broken social order. Healing cancers and diabetes, etc.

Opus Dei helps people become holy in their daily work and activities. Holiness produces wholesomeness of soul, mind and body. The healed leper is now wholesome and can go back to his community to contribute his time, talent and treasure.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

He built his house on a shaky foundation.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock." (Matthew 7: 24 - 25).

Thursday 25th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time.

How is the foundation of your house? Set on reinforced concrete or rock? Or on quickly baked sand and cement? In today's teaching, which is part of the Sermon on Mount Discourse, Jesus teaches us the importance of wisdom in living a life that is solid, safe and secure.

Wisdom deals with Choice - this or that? Build on rock or save money and compromise the foundation. UT Austin or Notre Dame? Marry Sharon or Mary? Do an annual retreat or take a vacation?

Scripture promises:
#1. "If anyone fears the Lord he will show him the path he should choose." (Psalm 25).

#2. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding/ Intelligence/Experience.
Seek/ (Submit/Embrace ) his will in all you do, and he will show/direct you which path to take." (Cf Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 ).

Jesus continues His teaching. Let us re-imagine the text below:

"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell [pandemics], the floods came [pandemics], and the winds blew [pandemics] and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” (Matthew 7: 26 - 27).

True wisdom lies in hearing and doing the word of God. How do we become wise? We have seen that the reverential fear of God brings wisdom. If your children love you and respect you, they will "fear" to do anything that will offend you. You do likewise to friends and people you value.

How do you make good and godly choices become a habit?
#1. Pray for Wisdom every day. You will surely get it.
#2. Read and ponder the word of God daily. It is the source and foundation of Wisdom.
#3. Practice daily examination of conscience. You will see where you have been wise and foolish in the course of the day. You resolve to act appropriately in the future.

Wisdom is listed as the first of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the Promise of the Father. Ask and you receive Him immediately.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist.

"A man was sent from God, whose name was John. He came to testify to the light, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." (John 1: 6 - 7; Luke 1: 17).

Wednesday 24th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Apart from the nativities of Jesus and Mary, John is the only other Nativity celebrated by the Church.

Who is John the Baptist?
The destiny of the great oak tree is contained in the tiny acorn seed.
"Before birth the Lord called me,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name." (Isaiah 49: 1).
John, whose name means "the Lord is gracious" or "God remembers" is the greatest in the line of powerful prophets that include Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

What is the mission of John? To prepare the Way for Jesus. John prepared for his life's mission with singleness of purpose. At a young age, he withdrew into the desert where he lived the solitary life of a hermit till God told him that the time was right for his manifestation to Israel.

John baptized Jesus the Christ in the River Jordan and introduced two of his disciples to Jesus. During his few years of ministry, he stirred consciences with the themes of righteousness and social justice.

John the Baptist paid the price with his life for witnessing to God's law to Herod Antipas.
John is noted for his profound humility. He was praised by Jesus as the greatest prophet.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Narrow Way. The Narrow Way!

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Matthew 7: 13 - 14).

Tuesday 23rd June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time.

Show me O Lord the way to take. Man, take the Narrow Way. It is My Way. It is the Way of My Mother. It is the Way of the saints: Peter, Paul, Mary Magdalene, Francis of Assisi, Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Kolkata, John Paul II. They all took My Way: the Narrow Way.

What is the Narrow Way?
#1 Daily Prayer
#2 Daily Word of God
#3 Daily Communion
#4 Daily works of Charity.

Now that you know this, blessed are you if you do them. You will enjoy a life of peace, wisdom, security and contentment.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Saints Thomas More, John Fisher and Paulinus of Nola - Great saints for our time.

"The word of God is something alive and active: it can judge secret emotions and thoughts." (Hebrews 4: 12).

Monday 22nd June 2020 is the feast day of three saints, all of them scholars who fed regularly on the word of God. St Paulinus of Nola (355 - 431). French Bishop. Over a thousand years separated him from the two English saints we honor today. St John Fisher (1469 - 1535). Bishop. And his friend, St Thomas More (1477 - 1535). Statesman and Chancellor of King Henry VIII.
John and Thomas were martyred under Henry VIII for not bending the knee to Caesar.

Our Scripture verse for today is from the Gospel Acclamation of today's Mass. They fit the lives of the three scholar saints we honor today. The Church is richer today from their scholarship and teaching. They all drank deeply from the word of God, the fountain of salvation. This word of truth is still alive and active today judging the secret emotions and thoughts of men good and bad.

O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com