The Spirit of Wisdom is very precious.

"I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands." (Wisdom 7: 7 - 11).

Sunday 10th October 2021, in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time.

The Spirit of Wisdom is more precious than gold and silver. This is the message of the first Reading in this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. A rich young man in today's Gospel comes to Jesus to ask for wisdom for his life. Jesus looks at him, loves and offered him the best of the best wisdom: “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

What would you do if you are this rich young man? I might say to Jesus: "This is a hard saying. Let me think about it for a while."
The Gospel reports that when the man heard the reply of Jesus,  "his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions."

At the root of the young man's response is: Lack of faith and lack of wisdom. It is a sad and tragic response. The many possessions of the man have now possessed him and made him a slave. We see this situation too often in life. The Lord Jesus provides a solution in Matthew 6: 33.

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

"The riches of My kingdom are for all whom I have redeemed with My own Blood, but it pleases Me to bestow them through My Mother, the Queen and Mediatrix who stood at the foot of My Cross, offering Me and offering herself with Me. Today she reigns with Me in paradise.  All that I won for souls from My Father on the altar of the Cross, with My Mother at My side, I will now pour out on souls through her Heart and through her hands. This, too, is the secret of a fruitful priesthood. In every priestly act and in all of life, place your hands in the hands of My Mother and your heart in her Heart." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, January 8, 2008).

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Feast of St Denis of Paris and St John Leonardi.

"While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11: 27 - 28).

Saturday 9th October 2021, 27th Week in Ordinary is the feast of St Denis, First Bishop of Paris, martyr and companion martyrs. (3rd century).
We honor too St John Leonardi (1541 - 1609). Italian priest. John qualified first as a pharmacist before he decided to become a priest. He founded the Order of Clerics Regular to serve sick people and those in prison.

In the short Gospel of today, Jesus praised His Mother saying: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”  What does it mean to be counted among the very happy because we hear the word of God and keep it? A clearcut example is the words of Jesus below:

"Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6: 27.... 38).

When we love our enemies,
When we do good to those who hate us,
When we bless those who curse us,
When we pray for those who mistreat us,
Then we do what Jesus says to us.

How about the joy and happiness that should follow our obedience? This is automatic. You may not notice the change at once. It could take months or even years. But when you notice the change you are happier.
I have two examples on this:
Last night before going to bed, I had a serious headache. It was as if my head was on fire. I turn to God the Father in such emergencies. I was inspired to take four tablets of Ibuprofen. I slept very soundly and felt good in the morning. It took some time before I remembered my condition last night. When I did, I thanked God.

I prayed to God for years to remove from me anxiety about money. A little while ago, I was reading something when I realized I had not worried about money for a long time. How long? Possibly a couple of years. Why did God not act as human and say to me: "SEE I HAVE JUST ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER!" That is not the way of the Almighty. God wants us to walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11: 5.... 13).

The Archangel declared to Mary and she was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  "Behold I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me as You promised."  At that instant, the Word became flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Weep for your priests.

"Gird yourselves and weep, O priests! wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! The house of your God is deprived of offering and libation. Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the elders, all who dwell in the land, Into the house of the Lord, your God, and cry to the Lord!"  (Joel 1:13 - 15; 2:1).

Friday 8th October 2021, in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time. We shall honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our devotiins.

In our key Scripture for today, the Prophet rang out a dire warning to priests and all ministers of the Altar. Weep, wail, spend the night in sackcloth. Do your pastors need to hear these words? Now listen my fellow Christians.

No priest, No Eucharist.
No Eucharist, No Church.

Satan's design for the Church is no longer a secret.

#1. Infiltrate the Church with lying lips who have political agenda.
#2. Strike the priesthood with a mortal blow.
#3. Attack the magisterium with a withering, coordinated campaigns.
#4. Once the mighty Roman Church totters, wipe out the remnants with a mop up operation.

St Paul teaches that every prophecy in the Bible is there to warn us and prepare us for what will happen. Jesus says in Revelation 19: 10, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."  What the word prophesies will happen.

What shall we do brothers and sisters?
#1. Repentance and Sacramental Reconciliation.
#2. Prayer and the Eucharist.

"Reparation is at the heart of this work: adoring Me for the priests who do not adore Me; seeking Me for those who flee from before My Face; trusting Me for those who place all their trust in themselves and in the ways of the world. Above all, love Me. Love Me for the sake of those priests of Mine whose hearts have grown cold. Priests must offer themselves as victims for their brother priests. This is how I intend to purify, and heal, and sanctify, and restore the beauty of holiness to My priesthood: by associating victim priests to My own Sacrifice renewed on the altar, and by taking the offering of their sufferings into My own, so as to make them co-redeemers with Myself, co-redeemers of those priests who must be brought back from the distant regions of sin where Satan has held them captive for too long."  (IN SINU JESU, Friday, July 10, 2009).

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The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11: 5.... 13).

Thursday 7th October 2021, 27th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is known as Lady under many titles: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, etc.  Our Lady of the Rosary celebrates Mary as a powerful intercessor using the instrument of the Rosary Prayer.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus gives one of His most profound teaching on the Prayer of Petition. Here is what I got from reflecting on Jesus' teaching on the Prayer of Petition:

#1. Prayer works more than our expectation.
#2. Ask the Lord to open your mind and heart and show how prayers are answered. You will be amazed by God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence.
#3. Do not be unbelieving. Believe and experience the joy of answered prayer. It is sweet.

Here is what the Church teaches about the Rosary:

"The Rosary is very pleasing to our Mother in heaven; she herself has recommended it. There are two elements of the Holy Rosary: meditation on its mysteries and vocal prayer. The Rosary surely reaches the motherly heart of Mary and moves her to obtain abundant graces for us." (Roman Missal).

Two recent popes, Pope St Paul VI and Pope St John Paul II have highly recommended the Rosary. Most saints since the 1500s have said the Rosary without fail.

"Your Rosary is like a ladder that you climb step by step, drawing you closer to our Lady, which means finding Christ. It is a devotion which leads us to Christ through Mary." (Pope St Paul VI, Marialis Cultus).

St Louis Marie de Montfort, a man I have never heard of before my conversion and return to the Church introduced me to the Holy Rosary through his anointed book: THE SECRET OF THE HOLY Rosary.
I have said the Rosary every single day since over 25 years. The Rosary confirms every word of Jesus in the Gospel of today.

For the 15 Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, click the link below:

http://seekfirstcommunity.com/2020/08/the-15-promises-of-mary-to-those-who.html?m=1

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Feast of Saints Rose Marie Durocher and Bruno.

“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”  (Luke 11: 1... 4).

Wednesday 6th October 2021, in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Marie Rose Durocher. (1811 - 1849) Virgin. Canadian. Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary.

Today is also the feast of St Bruno (1030 - 1101). Priest. German. Founder of the Carthusian Order.

In Our Gospel of today, Jesus teaches His disciples and ourselves how to pray. The Our Father or the Lord's Prayer is the Prayer known and recited by all Christians. It is the model of what a pleasing Prayer to God should be. It lays down the sequence and order of both our praises and prayer intentions  according to St Augustine.

Let us reflect on the Our Father Prayer:

#1. Can you truly call God
FATHER, if you do not demonstrate this relationship in daily living?

#2.   Can you say HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, if you , who are called by His name, do not endeavor to live a holy life?

#3.  Can you say YOUR KINGDOM COME, if you are unwilling to embrace God's sovereignty and accept Kingdom principles in your life.

#4.  Can you ask God with confidence GIVE US EACH DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if you refuse to work or if you refuse to share your bread with the needy?

#5. Can you honestly pray FORGIVE US OUR SINS FOR  WE OURSELVES FORGIVE EVERYONE IN DEBT TO US?

#6. Do you understand what you pray when you say AND DO NOT SUBJECT US TO THE FINAL TEST?
Are you prepared to put on the full armor of Christian warfare at all times and fight for Christian victory?

The two saints whose lives we celebrate today, Saints Bruno and Rose Marie Durocher are familiar with the meditation on the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer is the foundation of spirituality and the life of Prayer.

"My Father’s goodness and love remain hidden from so many souls. They have not understood that I came into the world to reveal My Father who is all love, and to draw souls to Him in filial confidence and in the joy of abandonment to His goodness. Love our Father. Trust our Father. Depend upon our Father in every weakness. This revelation of God as a Father who cherishes His children, and so loves them that He sent Me, His only-begotten Son, into the world to suffer and to die, lies at the very heart of My Gospel. Love My Father and open your heart to the immensity of His love for you. Thus will you become for Him, in Me, a beloved son in whom He takes delight." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, March 21, 2011).

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The Feast of St Maria Faustina.

"Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” (Luke 10: 38. .... 42).

Tuesday 5th October 2021, 27th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Secretary of Mercy, St Maria Faustina Kowalski (1905 - 1938). Polish. Nun of the Blessed Sacrament.

Jesus Christ our Merciful Savior communicated with St Maria Faustina His desire to have the Divine Mercy Devotion established. Maria was not well educated but she worked very hard to accomplish this divine purpose. Before she died in 1938, she left the world a book which has since become a classic: "Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalski." This book recounts the conversations of the mystic, Maria Faustina had with Jesus. This book is instrumental in the establishment of the Divine Mercy Devotion.

Our key Scripture for today is from the Gospel for today Luke 10: 38 - 42.  We meet Martha and Mary. Two sisters but different temperaments. Martha is the super charged fixer. Mary is the quiet contemplative type. To Martha's complaint, Jesus replied:

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Jesus entrusted the Divine Mercy Devotion to Sister Maria Faustina. Maria did not have a theological education. No PhD. No Masters degree. Barely literate. This is the person Jesus chose to be His Secretary in the Divine Mercy project. Maria needed only one thing: Complete trust in Jesus. This is grace that No one can take from her.

The Divine Mercy Devotion may be summarized through the ABC of Mercy:

A = Ask for mercy.
B = Be Merciful.
C = Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

To learn how to recite the Divine Mercy Rosary, click on the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/10/how-to-recite-divine-mercy-rosary.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of the Apostle of Care of Creation and Safe Environment: St Francis of Assisi, OFM.

"Francis, the man of God, left his home behind, abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless, but the Lord raised him up." (Entrance Antiphon on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi).

Monday, 4th October 2021 in the 27th week in Ordinary Time is the great feast of St Francis of Assisi, the Little One.

Who is St Francis of Assisi? (1182 - 1226). Italian. Deacon and Founder of the Order of Friars Minor, popularly known as the Franciscans. We Salute all our Franciscan friends all over the world who have labored in the Lord's Vineyard since the 1220s in all fields of the Apostolate. Persevere to the end and your reward will be huge.

Francis became famous for imitating closely the poverty of Jesus Christ in spirit and in deed. Holiness always attracts. After Francis was seized by Jesus and said Yes to the Lord, Francis soon attracted a group of like-minded young men who bound themselves together to live evangelical poverty, chastity and obedience. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church has used simple men like Francis and the Franciscans to renew the Church which is ever in need of reform.

What comes to your mind when you hear of St Francis of Assisi in 2021?  Many people would think of a man of peace. "Lord, make me an instrument of peace..." Others will think of radical evangelical poverty... "The little poor man of Assisi." Both are salient attributes in the profile of this exceptionally gifted holy man. I want to mention too Francis' deep love of creation and care of the earth.  Most people that are aware of the impending disaster from Global Warming will know Francis of Assisi and his contribution to this topical debate.

Other pivotal figures raised up by Jesus for the renewal of the Church are:
Benedict, Clare, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Teresa of Kolkata, etc.

Are you the next great Saint? You too can be a saint. You too can be an instrument of Peace. You too can be committed to preserving the beauty and goodness of the environment for future generations and become an apostle of Care for Creation and Safe Environment.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5: 3).

"We thank you for the beauty of creation: may the work of man not disfigure it, but enhance it to your greater glory."  Amen.

"For some time already, Our Lord has made me desire to have adoration on Thursday in thanksgiving for the Holy Eucharist, and also in thanksgiving for the mystery of the priesthood. After Mass, I made my confession to the chaplain of the monastery. He confirmed certain things having to do with the resistances to grace that I confessed. He directed me towards the saints, something that corresponds exactly to the strong attraction to the friendship of the saints that has always marked my life." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, October 4, 2007 Saint Francis of Assisi).

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