Who enters the Kingdom of God first and who enters last?

“Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him." (Matthew 21: 31 - 32).

Sunday 27th September 2020, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Who enters the Kingdom of God first and why? Let us look at the list of the invited: High priests, priests, Pharisees, scribes, scholars, judges,  tax collectors, prostitutes, brigands, and all the other deplorables.
Jesus, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kingdom tells us that the "tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you." This is an incredible reversal of perking order. But why? Because John the Baptist came and preached righteousness and mercy and the great ones rejected him. The tax collectors and prostitutes heard him and embraced his message. The chief priests and elders and their friends saw what was happening and refused to change their minds. So they merited the condemnation of Christ for the hardness of heart and pride.

God who shows His almighty power in His mercy and forgiveness will welcome the chief priests, elders and Pharisees if they change their minds and accept His mercy. Mercy and forgiveness are constant in salvation history.
Ask for mercy.
Be merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs, Twins and Great Physicians.

“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” (Luke 9: 44).

Saturday 26th September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of two great physicians, twins Cosmas and Damian martyred under Emperor Diocletian +305. Cosmas and Damian combined a supernatural gift of healing with sound medical training and practice. What is extraordinary about these two doctors is that they offered their services completely free of charge. Because they did so, it pleased Christ, the Divine Physician to work through them. He crowned their life with a martyr's crown and raised them to eternal glory.

Listen to our key Scripture for today: “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” If an important person tells me: "Pay attention to this fact." I will sit upright, lean forward and listen intently. When God said to Joshua: "You must have these words constantly on your mind," Joshua recognized immediately that God was giving him a formula for success and Joshua paid great attention and succeeded greatly in his work. The disciples of Jesus did not pay attention to what Jesus told them here and it caused a huge problem for them. Frustrations and denials.

Now Jesus is telling us to pay great attention to this truth and never to forget: "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” In other words, we must understand thoroughly the significance of the Paschal Mystery, that is the mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our life, peace and success depends on it. God chose the Cross as the means of our salvation.

You shall know the truth and the truth you know shall set you free. Set you free from what? Sin, addiction, fear, worry, doubt, sickness, ignorance and poverty? You think really? It is the promise of Jesus Christ that the supernatural truth you know can set you free. Cosmas and Damian witnessed this a lot in their practice and today every honest medical doctor can attest to this truth.

“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

In the fullness of time, I make everything beautiful.

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens...... God has made everything appropriate to its time" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 11).

Friday 25th September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time.

My brethren, Victor Hugo said: "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come." I hope the power and wisdom in our key Scripture for today will be for you life changing. Let us unpack the Gift.

Everything that happens in life happens at its appointed time. Therefore no chance, no accidents, no coincidence. Period. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1).
Are you waiting for God for the fulfillment of any promise? It will happen only when the set time for it has reached. Whether it is one month, one year or ten years.

Now the sweet news: At the appointed time (fullness of time), God makes everything beautiful. (Ecclesiastes 3: 11).

Do you now understand that our God and Father is not capricious. He is a faithful and merciful God. A God of purpose who is in control of His entire creation.

What is our response to this revelation? Trust. Wait for God. See!
Those who trust in God and wait for the Lord will see His miracles. As for me, I wish to live as I believe. I believe that God is everywhere, all-powerful, all good, kind, merciful, gentle, generous and all loving. I wish to live every moment aware of God's presence surrounded by His love and all His attributes.

"In the fullness of time, I make everything beautiful."

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

How eager are you to meet Jesus?

"Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening.... But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him. [Jesus]" (Luke 9: 7 - 9).

Thursday 24th September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time.

Why was Herod anxious to see Jesus? Herod had reasons to believe that John the Baptist whom he beheaded was a mysterious and great prophet. After the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus launched His ministry in earnest and there was great excitement everywhere and people were talking. The chatter about Jesus reached the palace and Herod could not resist his curiosity to meet Jesus.

You who are reading this Blog has met Jesus. You meet Him one-to-one in prayer. You meet Him when you read His word. You meet Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. You meet Him in a substantial real way in the Most Holy Eucharist. Whenever you remember Him, Jesus is present to you.

If one of the Herod’s of our world were to ask you today: "Who is this Jesus?" Can you satisfy his curiosity to such a degree that you lead him to faith in Jesus?

It is St Jerome, Doctor of the Church and one of the greatest Scripture scholars who said: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Jesus Christ." Jerome said this over 1500 years ago. The Church has affirmed from its experience down the ages the truth of this maxim. Will you ignore it?

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Padre Pio, the Man of truth.

"Two things I ask of you, do not deny them to me before I die: Put falsehood and lying far from me."
(Proverbs 30: 7 - 8).

Wednesday 23rd September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Pio Pietrechina better known as Padre Pio. (1887 - 1968). Italian Capuchin Priest. Stigmatist. A highly gifted confessor and counseling guru. Padre Pio died and was canonized in the lifetime of many people reading this Blog.

The Bible indicts falsehood and lies more than perhaps it indicts fornication and adultery, the principal causes of abortion. Our key Scripture for today puts it starkly: "Put falsehood and lying far from me."

Why is lying so hateful to the Almighty? Because the enemy of mankind is the Father of lies. He has  been a Liar from the very beginning. It is disconcerting and most distressing to witness lies after lies told on public media. Many times by old men and women who went to Ivy League institutions and hold responsible positions in government, academia and society. They live for the moment and do not care about divine retribution or their legacy. Like King Jeroboam of Israel who sinned and led Israel to sin, they will pay dearly for their sins.

The Eight Commandment is all about dishonest Speech:

#8.    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Have you lied?  Have you gossiped?  Have you ever spoken behind someone else's back?  Are you sincere in your dealing  with what concerns others?  Are you critical, negative or uncharitable in your thoughts of others?  Do you keep secret what should be kept confidential?  Do you expose the faults of others?

Almighty Father, have mercy on us. Put falsehood and lying far from us. We ask for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

For what God thinks of lies and falsehood in the Bible, click on the link below:

http://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/09/god-hates-lies.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

God hates lies

God's word on truth and falsehood. (From the Scriptures: Psalm 12).

"The words of the Lord are words without alloy, silver from the furnace, seven times refined." 

"Help, O Lord, for good men have vanished; truth has gone from the sons of men.

Falsehood they speak one to another, with lying lips, with a false heart.

May the Lord destroy all lying lips, the tongue that speaks high-sounding words,

those who say: ‘Our tongue is our strength; our lips are our own, who is our master?’

‘For the poor who are oppressed and the needy who groan I myself will arise,’ says the Lord, ‘I will grant them the salvation for which they thirst.’

The words of the Lord are words without alloy, silver from the furnace, seven times refined.

It is you, O Lord, who will take us in your care and protect us for ever from this generation.

See how the wicked prowl on every side, while the worthless are prized highly by the sons of men." (Psalm 12)

"The words of the Lord are words without alloy, silver from the furnace, seven times refined." 

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The word of God creates new families.

“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”  Jesus said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Luke 8: 20 - 21).

Tuesday 22 September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time.

What is the word of God?
#1. The word of God is the written word of God in the Sacred Scriptures.
#2. The word of God is decrees of God through the Sacred Tradition.
#3. The living word of God comes to us through the living and Sacred Magisterium, that is the teaching authority of the Church.

In the Scriptures, the word of God is also called the promise, will, command, precepts, ordinances law and decrees of God. Psalm 119, our Responsorial Psalm for today (the longest chapter in the Bible) is a beautiful hymn to the wonders of the word of God.

In the Gospel for today, Jesus teaches that those who hear the word of God and observe it belong to a new family. It is a new family where blood is thicker than water. Jesus gives power to those who listen to His voice and accepts His teaching the power to become the children of God.

Do we have an example of where the word of God forms close  and tight families? From the beginning of the Church, this divine teaching of Jesus has been vindicated in the early Christian communities of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Today we have several religious communities, viz: Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, the Poor Clares, etc. The members of these communities love and cherish one another and are closely knit as a family more than most families in the world.

Can the word of God form a tight human family of father, mother and children? Absolutely. Last Sunday of the year, the Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus and points to this family as example for all families. This is a family created by the word of God and maintained by the word of God till the last.

"Be it done to me according Your word."

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist.

 "Jesus... saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him." (Matthew 9: 9).

Monday 21st September 2020, 25th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Matthew the Apostle. Jewish. Evangelist. Author of the Gospel according to St Matthew. Died a martyr.

A man called Matthew was called by Jesus to follow Him. The man left everything: job, money, house and property and friends and followed the stranger called Jesus. Matthew was not a saint when Jesus called him. But Jesus did not come to call saints. He called Paul who describes his calling thus:

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1: 12 - 14).

Jesus delights in sinners because sinners give Him the opportunity to show off His mercy. Why did Jesus institute the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion? The Divine Mercy Devotion? Mercy may well be the last covenant with mankind.

For Prayer to Abba Father to check out your life Purpose: the Choice, the Call and the Anointing, click on the link below:

http://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/09/abba-father.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Abba Father

ABBA FATHER 

My Father in Heaven, how good it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your child!

Especially when the skies of my soul are cloudy and my cross weighs more heavily, I feel the need to repeat to You: Father, I believe in Your love for me.

Yes, I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life, and that I am Your child!

I believe that You love me with an infinite love!

I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my head without Your permission!

I believe that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me.

I believe that, in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil.

I believe that, in your infinite goodness, You make everything to the advantage of those who love You: even under the hands of those who strike me, I kiss Your hand which heals!

I believe, but increase in me faith, hope, and love!

Teach me always to see Your love as my guide in every event in my life.

Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms.

Father, You know everything, You see everything, and You know me better than I know myself: You can do everything, and You love me! 

Give me the light, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit!

Strengthen me in this Spirit, that I may never lose Him, never sadden Him, and never allow Him to become weaker in me.

My Father, I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son! And you, Jesus, open Your Heart and place in it my own, and, together with Mary’s, offer it to our Divine Father! Obtain for me the grace that I need!

Divine Father, call all men to Yourself. Let all the world proclaim Your Fatherly Goodness and Your Divine Mercy!

Be a tender Father to me and protect me wherever I am, like the apple of Your eye. 

Make me always a worthy son/daughter, Have mercy on me!

Divine Father, sweet hope of our souls, may You be known, honored, and loved by all men!

Divine Father, infinite goodness poured out on all peoples, may You be known, honored, and loved by all men!

Divine Father, beneficent dew of humanity, may You be known, honored and loved by all men!

[Adapted from Mary’s Call]

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