I am who You say I am O God.

THE DEVIL QUESTIONED THE IDENTITY OF JESUS DURING HIS TEMPTATION. "IF YOU ARE TRULY THE SON OF GOD..." IN EVERY TEMPTATION, THE DEVIL IS QUESTIONING OUR IDENTITY. ANSWER THE DEVIL:
"I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM. I AM THE CHILD OF GOD. GOD IS SUPPLYING ALL MY NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE.."
TRUST IN GOD TO HELP YOU.

"Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” (Luke 4: 1 - 13).

Sunday 6th March 2022, First Sunday of Lent.

First Sunday of Lent, the Church presents us the Temptation of Jesus in the Desert according to St Luke.  Nobody can go through life without multiple desert experiences. Jesus was severely tempted after 40 days of rigorous fasting. He was tempted to abandon the path His Father marked out for His mission for a grandiose scheme of the Devil.

Jesus ate nothing during the 40 days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

If you do not know your IDENTITY IN CHRIST, you will be an easy prey for the Devil. He will suggest to you your "true identity" and then sell you a fake ID Card to be carried all the time.  What if your area of weakness is money (bread). The devil might suggest that you are born to be a millionaire, own fine houses and beautiful clothes, etc. Do not be deceived. The word of God in the Scriptures reveal our TRUE IDENTITY. Armed with this truth, you can strike back at the Devil. Here are a few Scriptures about money:

#1 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." (Matthew 6: 19 - 21).

#2 "Keep your lives free from love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you, I will never abandon you'" (Hebrews 13:5).

#3 Man does not live on money alone.  Man is created to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  (Cf Matthew 4 : 4).

Jesus defeated Satan by quoting the Scriptures. Can we afford to do less? Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, says St Jerome.

"The Eucharist is heaven on earth; the Eucharist is My Church on earth already assumed into heaven. Heaven is wheresoever the words of consecration have been pronounced over the bread and wine in the holy oblation, for there I am present, even as I am present in the glory of My Ascension, adored by the angels, praised by all the saints, held in the divine gaze of My Father, and burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Believe this and you will find heaven on earth, while waiting and hoping to see My Face in glory."  (IN SINU JESU, May 29, 2014 Ascension Thursday).

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Matthew gave a dinner for Jesus for calling and choosing him.

TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S MIGHTY, MERCIFUL AND MYSTERIOUS  PROVIDENCE  IS THE TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE FROM FEAR, WORRY AND DOUBT.
EXERCISE THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE AND SEE IT GROW.

"Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5: 25 - 32).

Saturday 5th February 2022, Saturday after Ash Wednesday.

The Pharisees and their scribes became scandalized when they saw that Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors.

Jesus heard their murmuring and said to them: “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Levi who is also called Matthew left everything: job, money, house and property and friends and followed the stranger named Jesus. This strikes me as a great act of faith. Matthew was not a saint when Jesus called him. But Jesus did not come to call saints.  Paul describes his own 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).

The word Mercy is found in the Bible countless times.  Abba Father Himself is described as the "Father of mercy and God of all consolation."  (2 Corinthians 1: 3). 

In the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we find abundant mercy waiting for everyone.  To receive mercy is as simple as ABC:
+Ask for Mercy.
+Be Merciful.
+Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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? Jesus delights in mercy.

"My apostles wanted for nothing so long as I was with them.  In having Me in their midst, they had the very Source and Creator of all that is, that was, and that ever will be. You have Me close to you. I am here before you in the Sacrament of My love. Remain with Me for My sake; I will provide for you." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, February 3, 2009)

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The Feast of St Casimir of Poland.

JESUS ATE NOTHING DURING HIS 40 DAYS IN THE DESERT. HE STRENGTHENED HIS SPIRIT AND WAS ABLE TO DEFEAT SATAN IN THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE THAT FOLLOWED.

"The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”  (Matthew 9 : 14 - 15)

Friday 4th March 2022, Friday after Ash Wednesday is the feast of St Casimir (1458 - 1484). Son of King Casimir IV of Poland and Lithuania. Casimir stayed away from the court life. His siblings, the princes and princesses were not interested in religion.  His faith and piety shone out. Casimir had a great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. St Casimir is the patron saint of Poland.

The short Gospel of today deals with fasting. Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving are the 3 pillars of Christian spiritual life.
What is your attitude about fasting? 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.”

Fasting is indispensable for a healthy spiritual life. No one should be dispensed from fasting because all fasting is not fasting from food. Some people cannot fast from food for health reasons. But they can abstain from meat and alcohol on Friday and Wednesday. Others abstain from television, texting, movies and gambling. Fasting is a sign that one is serious about his spiritual life.

"One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4).

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Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

March 4th, First Friday in March, 2022.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  How? BY ATTENDING MASS AND RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION.
In the 3rd  month of the year 2022, we look at Promise #3.

#3.  "I will console them in all their troubles."

In Promise #3, Jesus says  "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  (John 16: 33 ). We note that Jesus does not promise a trouble free life.
Consider also:
"My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal." (Sirach 2: 1).

Troubles are opportunity to grow spiritually.  "I promise to be your strength in proportion to the trust you place on Me." The more you trust Jesus, the more He is your comfort, strength and security in trials.

Remind the Lord often of these promises. Remind Him also of His promise to answer every prayer. (Matthew 7: 7).

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of March, 2022.

"I am your Friend. I have chosen you to be in life and in death the privileged friend of My Sacred Heart. I bless you and I bless those whom you entrust to the mercy of My open Heart. The light of My Face shines upon you. Believe in My love for you. I will never abandon you, never disappoint you. My plans are for your happiness, for your holiness, for your peace. Have no fear. I will do for you all that I have promised, and your heart will rejoice, and you will praise and glorify Me forever." (IN SINU JESU, Wednesday, December 19, 2007).

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart Prayers and Prayer Intentions click the link below:

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

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Thursday after Ash Wednesday is the feast of the Educator, St Katherine Drexel.

BY FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING BREAK WITH YOUR ADDICTIONS, SINFUL HABITS IN THIS HOLY SEASON OF LENT. GOD WILL NEVER SPURN A HUMBLED, CONTRITE HEART. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
"Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Luke 9: 22 - 25).

Thursday 3rd March 2022, Thursday after Ash Wednesday is the feast of St Katharine Drexel (1858 - 1955), Virgin and Foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was a generous philanthropist. Katharine was a wealthy heiress from the rich and famous family of the Philadelphia society. She realized that it profits her nothing to gain the whole world and put her eternal destiny in jeopardy. She listened to the Call of Jesus Christ to teach the message of the Gospel and bring the Eucharist to African-American and Native American people in the South of the United States. In 1915, Katharine founded the Xavier University in New Orleans. At her death in 1955, over 500 of her sisters were teaching in 63 schools.

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must take up his cross daily and follow Me.
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”  (Luke 9: 22 ).

At the beginning of Lent 2022, we hear Jesus speaking of the absolute necessity and the inevitability of His suffering.   Why is the Spirit giving us this Scripture now?  Consider these reasons:

#1.  Are you fully aware of the power of the cross and the necessity of your own suffering?
#2.  No following of Christ without some type of suffering.  Rejection of the cross is rejection of Jesus Christ.  (Pope Benedict XVI).
#3.  The Son of Man must suffer before His glorification.  (Luke 24: 26).  What is a divine necessity for Jesus is true for us.

Saints Therese of the Child Jesus, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Canisius are some of the 37 Doctors of the Church. They are all great men and women who taught the truth of the faith with clarity, simplicity and integrity. They added nothing of their own and were all subject to the Magisterium of the Church. They showed us by example how to live the Christian life.  They all suffered physical, emotional and spiritual pains.   Each one of them accomplished their destiny in spite of their terrible sufferings.

Our suffering is blessing in disguise.  No cross, no crown.
So at the beginning of Lent 2022,  the mystery and contradiction of the cross is set before us.

The follower of Jesus Christ whose desire is to do the will of God is destined for rejection, suffering and even death. But if he perseveres, he is promised the Resurrection.

"Father, in Your will is our peace."

"You cannot see from where you are in this life now the power and value of sufferings united to My own. Anything given to Me, anything placed in My priestly hands, I lift up and offer to the Father, covered with My precious Blood. It is this that makes your sufferings, even the smallest ones, precious to Me, and precious in the sight of My Father." (IN SINU JESU,
Saturday, October 25, 2008).

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Ash Wednesday. Prepare for Spiritual Combat.

LENT IS A DESERT EXPERIENCE. IN THE BIBLE, THE DESERT IS A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE. THEREFORE PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR: FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING. THE SPIRITUAL WARRIOR ADVANCES ON HIS KNEES.

"Yet even now—oracle of the Lord—return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment." (Joel 2: 12 - 13).

Wednesday 2nd March 2022, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the holy Season of Lent.  Lent is the Season appointed for repentance and spiritual purification. Our God is kind and merciful. Let this truth encourage us to turn to the Lord without fear for our inward renewal.

Lent is the Journey of Faith to the supreme joy of Easter. If we die with Christ, we shall rise with Christ.

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (Cf. Psalm 94:8).

The 40 day period of Lent is God's gift to us to become New Creation.

"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, Monday, November 12, 2012 At the Priory).

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If you leave everything and follow Me, your reward will be huge.

TODAY IS MARCH 1ST 2022. THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.  HOW? WE REMEMBER HIM IN OUR DAILY PRAYERS. WE LOVINGLY ASK FOR FAVORS FROM HIM.
WHO IS ST JOSEPH?
ST JOSEPH IS THE HUSBAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE FOSTER FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST, THE GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND A TRUSTED FRIEND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH.

"Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." (Mark 10: 28 - 30).

Tuesday March 1st in the 8th Week in Ordinary Time. 

Our key Scripture for today is a tremendous promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. This promise motivated His disciples to join the Jesus Revolution. It still motivates the young novice in 2022 to enter a religious congregation and the missionary to pack her bag for a missionary field in a distant land. Jesus promises that anyone who leaves everything for His "sake and for the sake of the gospel will receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands."

How do we know that this promise is true? Is there any proof that it has ever been fulfilled in the past? The answer is:
#1. If the promise has never been fulfilled, there will be no new missionaries or martyrs in the Church. People are going to the mission fields every day and people are laying down their lives for Jesus Christ every day.
#2. Consider a few modern saints: John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Kolkata, Fulton Sheen, etc. They gave up everything and followed Jesus. While still living on earth, they were filled with divine comfort and joy and eternal life when they died.

What is eternal life? Eternal life is the Abundant life we enjoy when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and with His gifts and fruits. This life is compatible with the suffering that Jesus promises His disciples in our key Scripture: The great promise comes "with persecutions."
Can you take this?

"Let them beg Me for the grace of spiritual fatherhood, and I will give it to them in abundance. Such a man was Saint Joseph. He was the living image of My Father, and he was chosen by My Father to be a father to Me in My sacred humanity. Let My priests go to Saint Joseph. He will obtain for them this priceless gift of spiritual fatherhood, and he will guide them in the delicate and difficult work of being true fathers to souls." (IN SINU JESU, Friday, November 15, 2013).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com

You lack one thing.

IF YOU DESIRE GENUINE SUCCESS IN LIFE, NEVER MIX GOD AND MONEY. NO MAN CAN SERVE GOD AND MONEY AT THE SAME TIME. SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND YOU WILL SUCCEED GOD'S WAY!
THE RICH YOUNG MAN WANTS TO EAT HIS CAKE AND HAVE IT ALL!

"As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal... The rich young man replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “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.” (Mark 10: 17....27).

Jesus looked with love at the rich young man who came to Him for advice and Jesus said to him:   “You are lacking in one thing."
What is the One Thing holding you back from fully embracing Jesus?  Money, job, possessions, comfort?  Letting go that one thing is your path to fulfillment and genuine happiness.

At the root of the young man's negative 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 ONE THING WE LACK IS THE VERY ONE THING WE NEED. 

"The Lord became my Protector.  He brought me out to a place of freedom;  He saved me because He delighted in me."  (Cf Psalm 18: 19-20 RM)

"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." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, January 8, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com