Rejoice always and the miracle of knowing and doing God's will.

"Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18).

Sunday 13th December 2020, 3rd Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. It means simply rejoice Sunday or Sunday of rejoicing.

Why be joyful this 3rd Sunday of Advent? The answer is in the Entrance Antiphon for this Sunday: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near." (Philippians 4: 4 - 5).

If you are one of those searching to know the will of God, we have plenty of answers this Gaudete Sunday. The Will of God is our peace and health and prosperity.  With regard to His Will, God says:
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 2).

God's Will is what is good and pleasing and perfect. How do you enjoy the very best that God can offer you in life? By doing His Will especially in the 5 steps below:

#1 Rejoice always.
#2 Pray always.
#3 Give thanks always and for everything.
#4 Do not conform yourself to the standards of the world.
#5 Read the word of God every day so that the word of God will renew your mind and transform it.

Commit yourself to these simple steps and your joy, peace and prosperity will overflow.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Saturday 12th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Church honors the Mother of the Redeemer with the title of Lady, Mother, Queen, Virgin, etc. Different titles to honor and show our love and devotion to the Holy Mother of God. Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the preeminent titles of Mary because of the significance of the event in Guadalupe, Mexico in 1531 and its continued relevance to the faith of Christians in the Americas because Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the the Americas not just Mexico. The Blessed Virgin Mary's apparition to St Juan Diego on December 12, 1531 set off a series of events, conversions, miracles and the building of a great Church which has since become a Basilica. It is estimated that annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Guadalupe is about 10 million.

In our key Scripture for today, the Archangel Gabriel gave Mary a testimony of God's marvelous miracle for Elizabeth in order to confirm Mary's faith. I love to hear stories of miracles. They build my faith. You too should cherish miracle stories. Better still, don't hide the wonderful things God is doing for you. Expect a miracle every day and share the story.

Mary said to Gabriel after she heard of Elizabeth big miracle, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 36 - 38).

If you like to learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary through her Litany, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/12/litany-of-blessed-virgin-mary.html?m=1

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Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Litany of Loreto

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Christ have mercy.

V. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.

R. Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us. 

Holy Mother of God, pray for us. 

Holy Virgin of Virgins, 

Mother of Christ, 

Mother of the Church

*MOTHER of Mercy*

Mother of divine grace,

*MOTHER of Hope*

Mother most pure,

Mother most chaste,

Mother inviolate,

Mother undefiled,

Mother most amiable,

Mother most admirable,

Mother of good Counsel,

Mother of our Creator,

Mother of our Savior,

Virgin most prudent,

Virgin most venerable,

Virgin most renowned,

Virgin most powerful,

Virgin most merciful,

Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of justice,

Seat of wisdom,

Cause of our joy,

Spiritual vessel,

Vessel of honor,

Singular vessel of devotion,

Mystical rose,

Tower of David,

Tower of ivory,

House of gold,

Ark of the covenant,

Gate of heaven,

Morning star,

Health of the sick,

Refuge of sinners,

*COMFORT of Migrants*

Comforter of the afflicted,

Help of Christians,

Queen of Angels,

Queen of Patriarchs,

Queen of Prophets,

Queen of Apostles,

Queen of Martyrs,

Queen of Confessors,

Queen of Virgins,

Queen of all Saints,

Queen conceived without original sin,

Queen assumed into heaven,

Queen of the most holy Rosary,

Queen of families,

Queen of peace,

-----

Queen of the Americas, 

Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Our Lady Undoer of knots. 

SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Can you please everybody in the world?

"Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’"

Friday 11th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent is the feast of St Damascus 1 (305 - 384). Pope. Born in Rome but of Spanish descent. Damascus presided over the See of Peter when the Church was rocked by many heresies. Arian heresy had not yet been crushed. He defended the Church against schismatics, against those who opposed the veneration of idols and so on. Damasus is the Pope who commissioned St Jerome to translate the Bible into common Latin. This translation called the Vulgate made the Latin language the official language of the Church.

When Jesus compares us to little children in the marketplace who refuse to play the game according to rules, what is He saying? If you want to be an adult Christian, you must learn one truth and abide by it. Nobody can please the world. The world has no gold standard. It has rather arbitrary rules strung together to satisfy their selfish whims. Jesus was not theoretical. He gave examples:

"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” (Matthew 11: 18 - 19).

Pope St Damasus refused to humor heretics and schismatics who refused to abide with the gold standard laid down by Jesus as the Canon of Truth in the Church. Preserving the integrity of Sacred Doctrine still remains one of the most important task of the Sacred Magisterium.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

How to seize the kingdom of God by force.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force." (Matthew 11: 12).

Thursday 10th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent.

In the Gospel for today (Matthew 11: 11 - 15), Jesus praised His cousin John as the greatest prophet. No surprise when you line up all the prophets along with their profiles. From the prophecy of the birth of John to his naming and dedication, there were many supernatural signs. His lifestyle and ministry were extraordinary.

After praising John the Baptist, Jesus said something curious and difficult to understand: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force." (Matthew 11: 12).

What does Jesus mean? The kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force?
First, we know that the Church is the seed of the kingdom of God on earth. We know that the Church suffers lots and lots of persecutions? But how are the violent taking the kingdom of God by force? The kingdom of God is the ultimate destination of all men. Men should set their hearts, minds and energy to reach it by all means. And people who understand this urgency are seizing the kingdom of God by force.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world (kingdom of man) which is temporary and limited and misses the kingdom of God which is limitless and everlasting?

John the Baptist left us an example of how to take the kingdom of God by force: Singleness of purpose, tremendous courage, radical evangelical poverty, humility and martyrdom.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Juan Diego, Apostle of Mexico.

"He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40: 29 - 31 TLB).

Wednesday 9th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent is the feast of St Juan Diego. (1474 - 1548). Mexican. Hermit and visionary. Our Blessed Mother appeared to this humble and simple Indian and used him to transform the nation of the Aztecs. "Behold the humble maid servant of the Lord. Be it done to me according to Your promise." God can use you and me to accomplish great things in the world. All He needs is humility and faith.

Our key Scripture for today is one of my 10 favorite Scriptures. Why? It deals with a theme that I think of every day. WAIT! If you can wait for God, you will accomplish your destiny. Good things come to those who can wait. "Wait for the Lord. Be stouthearted and wait for the Lord."

Why is waiting for the Lord so important? The most obvious reason is in God's plan and government, nothing happens until the fullness of time. (Ecclesiastes 3 :1). And when you are able to wait for that fullness of time, God makes everything beautiful. (Ecclesiastes 3: 11). If you want to enjoy the very best from God, you must learn to wait for the Lord.

"He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40: 29 - 31 TLB).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

"For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1: 37).

Tuesday 8th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This is the patronal feast of the United States of America.

What is the Immaculate Conception and why does it matter?  In the first Reading today from Genesis, God said to the Serpent: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel." (Genesis 3: 15). This is the promise of our Redemption after the fall of Adam and Eve. God chose Mary before the foundation of the world and prepared her to be the sinless Mother of His Son and kept Mary sinless from the first moment of her conception. Mary said Yes to God's plan to use her body for this mission. Only a pure Vessel can hold a pure God. Why does this matter? Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man. Although Mary is 100% human, it is absolute necessity that the Mother of the Redeemer be not tainted with the least sin.

Mary's generosity in giving her Yes made the Incarnation possible.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38).

The total faith and surrender that Mary displayed here is rewarded by God's special revelation to Mary:

"For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1: 37).
Let this words nourish our faith today and always. When you are afraid, when you worry, when you are tempted to doubt God's power and promises, redouble your trust in God and remember that nothing will be impossible for God.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

My friend, your sins are forgiven you.

"My friend, your sins are forgiven you." (Luke 5: 20).

Monday 7th December 2020, 2nd Week of Advent is the feast of St Ambrose of Milan (340 - 397). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Italian. Ambrose was a high civil servant in the Roman imperial government in the city of Milan when Jesus Christ tapped him to shepherd His Church.
A man of immense talent and holiness, he brought along all his gifts to his new vocation of priest and Bishop. Great preacher, he touched the cold heart of the young Augustine and converted him. He was also a great politician who dealt with emperors without fear. Last but not the least, he left the Church volumes of theological works that continue to nourish the Church.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus addressed a paralytic: "My friend, your sins are forgiven you." I call this 'straight talk'. I like the Lord to talk to me like this so that I can understand Him clearly. Once upon a time, a woman made me a gift of money after a group Rosary in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. I said to her: "I can never accept this." The Lord Jesus who was watching the whole incident from the Blessed Sacrament Altar about 6 feet away said to me: "Forget your foolish pride." This is 'straight talk'. Whenever I remember the incident, I laugh and thank the Lord for the straight talk.

Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare to meet the Lord by making sure our house is as clean as possible. How? Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Because of the Pandemics, the Eucharist and Confession are restricted. For the Eucharist, we can make a Spiritual Communion. For Confession, we can make a detailed examination of conscience and make a direct act of contrition.
To see an example of Examination of Conscience which you can use, click the link below. Permission is granted for printing anything you like on the website:

https://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-good-examination-of-conscience.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com