Your God comes to heal you.

"Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing." (Isaiah 35 : 4.... 7).

Sunday 5th September 2021, in the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time.

The first Reading and the Gospel deals with the all important subject of healing. What are the consequences of sin for humanity broken by sin?  Bodily suffering, tortured minds and sick hearts. Jesus teaches that not everyone who is sick is responsible for his state. The illness might have been caused by family, community or the actions of the wider community like abuse of the environment.

In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man.

"And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”—that is, “Be opened!”—And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly." (Mark 7: 31.... 37).

The prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading is fulfilled in today's Gospel. Jesus Christ is still healing in the world today. He is healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Through a Benedictine mystic, Jesus tells us below:

"Let My adorers take their place before Me. Their faith, their hope, and their surrender to My merciful love will cause a great tide of healing love to pour forth from My sacred side and radiate from My Face. Thus will My adorers, without leaving My sanctuary, become also My apostles: messengers and instruments of My merciful love and of My burning desire to gather in the lost, to bind up the bruised, to tend the wounded, and to heal the broken-hearted." (IN SINU JESU page 231).

Do you sincerely want to be healed? Trust completely in the mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence of God and ask Jesus with boldness to be healed.

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First Saturday in September. Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry?" (Luke 6: 1.... 5).

Saturday 4th September 2021, First Saturday in September, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why is Saturday dedicated to honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary?
This is an ancient custom dating back to the time of Emperor Charlemagne in the 800s. Some date the custom earlier than Charlemagne.

Most great medieval Doctors of the Church endorsed the practice, viz:
Saints Bernardine of Sienna, Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux and Bonaventure.

One interesting reason for this practice:

After the Crucifixion on Friday, everyone had lost faith in Jesus and went home. On Saturday, Mary continued the Vigil alone waiting for the Resurrection of her Son. Tradition believed that Jesus appeared to His mother first after the Resurrection. Not surprising!

In the Gospel for today from Luke 6, Jesus reminded the Pharisees God’s purpose for the Sabbath.

"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy." (Exodus 20: 8). The command to set apart the Sabbath is very important as seen from the way it is treated in Sacred Scriptures. It is the exaggerated concern for the obligation and sanctity of the Sabbath Rest that gave rise to hundreds of minutiae rules concerning the basic command to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Throughout the Christian history, the Magisterium of the Church has not only expounded on the sacred character of the Sabbath but has taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the enjoyment of the People of God. It is a day of worship of God. A day of rest for the whole family from the hustle and bustle involved in making a living. It is a day to enjoy the parks, watch Christian movies. It is a day to visit the sick in the hospital.

The Sabbath Rest is Rehearsal for Eternal life. One day, there will be no work. By obeying the law of the Sabbath, you build up your faith in this promise of God. God plans to redeem man and creation from the present servitude.

It is more enjoyable to keep holy the Lord's Day than to do anything unlawful on the Sabbath Rest.

"With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God. "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath."  (CCC 2173).

Rejoice in God's generous provision of the Sunday Rest and use it to grow in spiritual and human maturity.

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
"Yes, my beloved little son, the eighth sorrow of my maternal and Immaculate Heart is that my Son is so offended in the Sacrament of His love. This sorrow of mine will endure until the end of time, when the real presence of my Son in the Most Holy Sacrament will give way to the sight of His divine majesty. Then will faith give way to vision, and hope to possession. Then will love be secure and everlasting for all who will have died in the embrace of His divine friendship." (IN SINU JESU page 183).

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The Feast of St Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.

"The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” (Luke 5: 33 - 39).

Friday 3rd September 2021, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time is the First Friday in September. We honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of every month. Today is also the feast of the Servant of the Servants of God, St Gregory the Great. (540 - 604). Pope and Doctor of the Church.  When God chose and anointed David, He exclaimed with delight: "I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be with him; my arm will make him strong." (Psalm 89: 21 - 22). This Scripture can be applied to Pope Gregory the Great. Gregory was the David of his days. 

St. Gregory the Great was called from the City Hall where he was the Mayor of Rome to be fisher of men. He left everything and followed Jesus.
He used his wealth to found six monasteries before he was elected Pope. He is noted in history for instituting liturgical reforms and initiating missionary endeavors. It was due to St Gregory that missionaries were first sent to England.

"Meditate daily on the words of your Creator.  Learn the Heart of God in the words of God, that your soul may be enkindled with greater longing for heavenly joys." One of the many wise sayings of St Gregory the Great.

The Gospel of today deals with fasting. Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving are the 3 pillars of Christian spiritual life.
Do you fast? How often? What do you fast from?

On the three pillars of the spiritual life, the Church teaches:
CCC 1434: "The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity “which covers a multitude of sins.”

Some Christians abstain from meat and alcohol on Friday and Wednesday. Others abstain also from television, movies and gambling.

"The prayer of adoration at night has the power and efficacy of that prayer made with fasting that I recommended to My apostles as the means of expelling demons from the souls whom they torture and oppress. For this reason, the demons fear and hate adoration made at night, while the angels rejoice over it, and place themselves at the service of the soul who desires to do it." (IN SINU JESU page 240).

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Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on First Friday in September 2021.

September 3, 2021 - First Friday in September.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which Jesus made through St Margaret Mary Alacoque to all who honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month. In the 9th month of the year 2021, we look at Promise #9.

#9.  "I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."

Do you have an image or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent place in your home?
The 9th Promise is a very easy condition to fulfill.  Buy the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture or statue from a Catholic Bookstore or Amazon and place it in a prominent place in your home.  "Bless my home as You promised, Jesus".

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday.

Holy Aspirations you can repeat throughout any day:

"O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity."

"HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee."

"O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory."

For the Sacred Heart of Jesus Promises, Prayers, Prayer intentions, click the link below:

http://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

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Peter exercised obedience of faith and received his calling from Jesus.

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing." (Luke 5: 1... 11).

Thursday 2nd September 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

Our Scripture today is one of my favorites. It deals with all the themes that build me up: Faith, Obedience of Faith, Inspiration and power.

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter obeyed the command which seemingly did not make sense to an experienced fisherman. Do you remember Mary's counsel to the stewards in the Marriage Feast at Cana? "Do whatever He tells you." They did what Jesus told them and water was made into high quality wine.

Our faith is expressed in obedience. Peter exercised obedience of faith and a big miracle took place.
When God speaks His word to you through the Scriptures, locution, inspiration, prophetic individual and you do not respond with obedient action, what is wrong? You did not believe the word of God. Recognize this. God will increase your faith if you ask Him. How about using the aspirational prayer below.

"O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in me faith, hope and charity."
The key to the effectiveness of this type of prayer is critical mass. That is, say it as often as possible and continue with it until you get result. God wants us to persevere in prayer.

When Peter responded in faith, he received his calling.
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him."

Jesus is calling everyone of us to intimate friendship with Him.

"Priests and religious who are tempted to follow a false philosophy of activism, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, or who waste their time on entertainments and distractions, will suffer God’s loving judgments. He will make bitter their false delights, destroy their enterprises, and weaken the efficacy of their work in order to wake them up to their calling of intimate friendship with Him as the source of happiness and the condition for all fruitfulness." (IN SINU JESU page 266).

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What is the missionary purpose of Jesus?

“To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea." (Luke 4: 38...44).

Wednesday 1st September 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

At the end of the Gospel for today, Jesus declares His missionary purpose. “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” In another statement of His purpose, Jesus declares: "For this I was sent: to bear witness to the truth."

We too must bear witness to the truth in the other towns. 

The Kingdom of God is here and now. The Kingdom of God is the reign and sovereignty of the King over His subjects. Jesus is the King. We are His subjects. To His subjects, Jesus says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).

Our King is gentle and humble of heart. This is the Good News that must be proclaimed to everyone. Do not be an outsider. Be involved. Be catechized and sacramentalized. Be an evangelist.

"I am Jesus. Mine it is to save, to heal, to vivify, and to make lovely in the sight of My Father the souls that consent to the operations of My mercy and to the secret action of the Holy Spirit. When you speak to My priests, remind them of the power and efficacy of a single act of confidence in My merciful love. Confidence opens the door to all the treasures of My kingdom. To one who has confidence in My merciful love, I can refuse nothing." (IN SINU JESU page 105).

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Jesus spoke and acted with authority and power.

"Jesus went down to Caper­naum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority."
(Luke 4:31-37).

Tuesday 31st August 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

In today's Gospel, people were amazed that Jesus spoke with authority. Authority means power. Jesus quotes no teacher or scholar to back His teaching. Unlike the rabbis or their modern cousins who constantly quote doctors and experts. Jesus simply says: "I Jesus tell you..."

What is authority? Authority means power. The word dynamite is derived from power. Listen to Jesus in the promise of the Gift of the Father in Acts 1: 8. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes." Only then can you bear witness to Me and do My work. The Holy Spirit power is critical to witnessing and evangelization.

The Holy Spirit is therefore the Spirit of power above every other attribute. The miracles of Jesus which are the works of Jesus like in the Gospel of today are works of authority or power. The words of Jesus in the Gospel are words of authority or power. The words or sayings of Jesus are authoritative. That means they produce at once what they say. The miracle itself or works of wonders clarify the words of Jesus. In Jesus, words and actions form a mysterious unity.  "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19: 10). Whatever Jesus says must happen!

We the Baptized do not have the spirit of fear. Many of us act in fear as if possessed by the spirit of fear. In Baptism, we receive the Spirit of power. This is the Spirit that marks the children of God the Father and not the spirit of cowardice, which is evil and impure spirit.

How then do we activate the Holy Spirit in our lives? Faith acting through Prayer is the Activator of the Holy Spirit. Mary says: "I believe what you have told me. Now let it be done to me according to your promise." (Cf Luke 1: 37 - 38).
Following this declaration of Mary, Jesus became instantly incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus says in IN SINU JESU:
"Be faithful to her Rosary. It is the shield and sword of spiritual combat. It assures your victory over the powers of darkness. Why? Because it is a humble prayer, a prayer that binds the soul who prays it to the victory of My Mother over the ancient serpent." (IN SINU JESU page 59).

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His town's folk became envious of Jesus.

"Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written." (Luke 4: 16 - 30).

Monday 30th August 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

Our Gospel for today is the rejection of Jesus in His hometown Nazareth. Jesus read the passage below from the Prophet Isaiah which previews the ministry of the Messiah.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

The congregation was impressed by Jesus' delivery of the message and "all in the synagogue looked intently at him.. ... And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth."
Then they wondered “Is this not the son of Joseph?"

Why did the admiration of Jesus suddenly turn to envy?  Envy is listed as one of the 7 Deadly Sins and is defined as: "Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation." It is a sin that is surprisingly found in the Church: Bishops, priests, religious, monks, nuns, etc.

Envy is such a human sin. Wives envy their husbands and vice versa. Sibling envy can be deadly as we see from Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob.

What makes you feel envious? How do you handle the deadly sin of envy that spares none of us? How will you feel if you are the target of envy at school or in the workplace?

"The redemption is the work of love. I loved in the face of hatred. I loved in the face of death. I loved even in the netherworld, where the just of the ages awaited My coming among them. It is by love that I vanquished hell, by love that I triumphed over death, by love that I undid what Satan, in his envy, had plotted against the creatures whom I so love and whom My Father destined for the praise of His glory." (IN SINU JESU page 135).

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