The Lord is kind and merciful.

OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO OUR AWARENESS OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US. "T'IS NOT FROM CHANCE SPRINGS ANY OF THE COMFORTS WE ENJOY. IT IS FROM YOUR GRACIOUS ORDAINING O MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL FATHER.."
THE MORE WE KNOW OF GOD'S MERCIES AND KINDNESSES TO US, THE MORE WE RESPOND WITH LOVE.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion." (Psalm 103...).

How much do you know that the Lord is kind and merciful?  (Cf Psalm 103: 8).

On the 3rd Sunday of Lent 2022, we chant in the Responsorial Psalm that the Lord is kind and merciful. Why do we need to remember this important truth? Because our love for God is in direct proportion to our awareness of God's love for us. In other words, the more you know of God's mercies and kindnesses to you, the more we love Him.

The Catechism teaches us that:
God made us to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him so that we can enjoy eternal life with Him forever.

It is therefore very important to remember all the time that the Lord is kind and merciful to us. When we want to remember key facts like doctor's appointment, birth days, court dates, interview dates etc, what do we do? We write it down and place the note where we can easily see it as often as possible.

You do exactly the same with sacred facts like our key Scripture for today. Do you have important landmarks in your life? All those key events where you have experienced God's kindness and mercies. Scripture instructs us never to forget our landmarks. (Cf Proverbs 22: 28). Now organize your landmarks into Timeline and “Write down the special dream [landmarks] on stone so that one may read it in a hurry." (Cf. Habakkuk 2: 2). Do this and you will never forget that the Lord is kind and merciful.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. Matthew 4: 17).

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Feast of the Guardian of the Church - St Joseph.

MARY SPOKE SPARINGLY IN THE GOSPELS. JOSEPH BORE SILENT WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL THROUGH HIS ROBUST FAITH AND OBEDIENCE AND HUMILITY.

"Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly..... "

Saturday 19th March 2022, in the 2nd Week in Lent. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her." (Matthew 1: 20).

Here is what we know about Joseph:
#1. Joseph is from the royal line of David.
#2. A carpenter by trade and a man of humble means.
#3. He is a just and honest man.
#4. Because it was not good for a woman with child to be alone, God chose Joseph to provide for Mary and Jesus; to protect them and to be foster father to Jesus and raise Him up in virtue and manly manners.

Joseph excelled in all the roles that Divine Providence entrusted to him.

Joseph is the patron saint of the Church and a powerful intercessor for the Church and us all. He is also the patron saint of a happy death.

"Let My priests be fathers! 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." (Friday, November 15, 2013).

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The Feast of St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

GOD PERMITS PHYSICAL AND MORAL EVIL. WHY? IT IS A GREAT MYSTERY. JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD DIED AND ROSE TO VANQUISH SATAN AND EVIL.

"Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?" (Matthew 21: 42).

Friday 18th March 2022, in the 2nd Week in Lent  is the feast of St Cyril of Jerusalem. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (315 - 386). St Cyril was the Archbishop of Jerusalem when the Arian heresy disturbed the peace of the Church all over the Roman Empire.

Cyril vigorously defended the unchangeable teachings of the Church. For this, he suffered multiple exiles from the See of Jerusalem. St Cyril is recognized in history by his catechetical works. He prepared multitudes of Catechumens to receive Baptism and helped the Neophytes after Easter to grow in the faith. What is really providential in the work and legacy of San Cyrillo is that he documented his teachings which have come to us. His writings of over 1600 years ago prove that the Catholic Church is the same in teachings and beliefs in the late 300s as she is today. Nothing has changed.

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?"

I had an unforgettable experience with our key Scripture for today: "The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone." In the first experience, this was quoted to me by the Head of Personnel of a large company when he handed me a letter of promotion. The background was this: After a period of internationalization, everyone believed an immediate promotion was in the works for me. It never came till five years later.

The second experience with this Scripture came when the job was gone after three years. A regional manager I had known not too well quoted the Scripture to me when he learned I was no longer with the company. This key Scripture is a Messianic prophecy applying to Jesus.

What am I to make of this Scripture? God wants us to understand a central truth of Salvation. This truth is called Divine Providence. It can be understood as Divine Plan, Blueprint, Purpose, Design. God governs all things from Beginning to End through His Divine Providence. We see it in our first Reading today. Joseph was sold by his siblings and ended up in Egypt as a slave. This seemingly blind act of jealousy was part of God's Plan to save the family of Jacob and make Joseph the Prince of Egypt.

The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus was all part of God's plan for the salvation of humanity. This plan  was conceived long ago and faithfully executed. The doctrine of Divine Providence has been called the most beautiful and comforting doctrine in the Deposit of Faith.

Mary answered: Be it done to me according to Your Plan. And the Word became Flesh.

What does the Church teach on Divine Providence? To find out, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-church-on-divine-providence.html?m=1

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Happy Feast Day St Patrick.

CHRIST WITH ME.
CHRIST BEFORE ME.
CHRIST BEHIND ME.
CHRIST IN ME.
CHRIST BENEATH ME.
CHRIST ABOVE ME.
CHRIST ON MY RIGHT.
CHRIST ON MY LEFT.
CHRIST IN EVERY EYE THAT SEES ME.
CHRIST IN THE HEART OF EVERY MAN WHO THINKS OF ME....
HAPPY FEAST DAY ST PATRICK. PRAY FOR US.

"Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings.... Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust." (Jeremiah 17: 5, 7).

Thursday 17th March 2022, the feast of St Patrick. (389 - 461). British-Irish. Bishop and great Missionary. Patron saint of Ireland and Nigeria. St Patrick teaches us that persistence in prayer breaks resistance. St Patrick had a great desire to become a priest. He was opposed by powerful clerics because he was considered too old and not able to withstand the rigors of the studies involved. Convinced by the intensity of his desire, he persisted. Result: St Patrick is one of the most powerful priests that ascended the Altar of God. Not just that, St Patrick was consecrated the Bishop of all Ireland.

What is the word of God in the first Reading saying to us this Thursday of the second week of Lent?  God is the Author of all blessings and curses. God is the primary cause of every good thing in life: health and medicine, family, money and possessions, job and social status. All the gold, silver and diamond belong to God. He provides food to all living things. Your future, destiny and security lie in His mighty hands.
How foolish it is to place your trust in mortal man who cannot save himself. Nobody gives that which he has not says an old Roman proverb.

In the Gospel of today, we see the rich man who did not see Lazarus day after day lying at his door tormented by hunger. The rich man trusted his wealth but unknown to him is the fact that his enjoyment is for a short season. Then one day, he died suddenly. Lazarus died too and the table was turned. Lazarus who trusted in God went to heaven. The rich man was gnashing his teeth in hell.

"Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!" (Cf. Luke 8:15).

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You do not know what you are asking.

ABBA FATHER KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AND YES, WHEN WE NEED IT. EXERCISE YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S MIGHTY, MERCIFUL AND MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE EVERY DAY.

"As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” (Matthew 20: 17....28).

Wednesday 16th March 2022, of the 2nd Week of Lent.

Ten years ago, 2012, I prayed mostly for good health, good job, financial stability, etc. “You do not know what you are asking." I thought I did. Could the best practice with regards to asking God for favors be understanding of these two Scripture texts?

#1 "Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" (Matthew 6: 8).

#2  "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8: 26).

Today, I pray for one thing:  To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and to believe deeply that God will meet all my needs as promised. The practice of this trust and confidence in God's provision for my needs makes me more peaceful. I get what I need and do not waste my time with what I don't need.

"Priests have the right and the privilege of calling upon My Mother in every need, trial, failure, and sin, confident of receiving from her help and solace, mercy and healing, comfort and peace. Too few of My priests have entered into the relationship of filial love and of spousal intimacy with My most holy Mother that I desire for them, and from which their holiness will flow as from a pure spring."  (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, December 3, 2009).

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Wash yourselves clean.

ABBA FATHER IS THE SOURCE OF EVERY MERCY AND COMFORT. HE SHOWS US A REMEDY FOR SIN IN FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING. THE SEASON OF LENT IS THE BEST TIME TO MAKE THAT LIFE-CHANGING CONFESSION IN YOUR LIFE.

"Wash yourselves clean!  Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

"Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be ­crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall ­consume you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!" (Isaiah 1: 10, 11 - 20).

Tuesday 15th March 2022, of the 2nd Week of Lent.

Our Retreat Master for this day of Lent is the Prophet Isaiah. The question is: What do we do about Sin in our life. The Bible is stark clear on this. "If we say that we have no sins, we are liars." But if we humble ourselves and come to God and confess our sins, God will embrace us with His mercy. (Cf 1 Peter 5: 6).

The Lord Jesus, in His wisdom and foreknowledge gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The power of a good Reconciliation in the Season of Lent is phenomenal. For an indepth Examination of Conscience for Confession in the Season of Lent, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-good-examination-of-conscience.html?m=1

"My priests should be the first to seek Me out in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They should be the first to run to Me as soon as they experience the pangs of an uneasy conscience and the regret of their sinful weaknesses. The single greatest service My priests can offer one another is the readiness to hear each other’s confessions and to pronounce over each other the healing words of absolution. In this way, they carry out the example I gave you when, at the Last Supper, I washed the feet of My disciples. Frequent confession, weekly confession is, more than ever, necessary to My priests." (IN SINU JESU page, Thursday, July 31, 2008 Saint Ignatius of Loyola).

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Be merciful as Abba Father is merciful.

O THAT TODAY YOU WILL LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART. THE ABC OF MERCY IS THE 3-STEPS TO MERCY:
A - ASK FOR MERCY.
B - BE MERCIFUL.
C - COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6: 36 - 38).

Monday 14th March 2022, of the 2nd Week of Lent.

The message of mercy can never be overstated. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
What is mercy?
Mercy is not judging, not criticizing, not condemning. Mercy is forgiving. Mercy is sharing your bread with the hungry. Mercy is generosity.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. The ABC of Mercy is the unforgettable way to do this.
A - Ask for mercy.
B - Be merciful.
C - Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

"I will not abandon or forsake you. I am faithful. I have chosen you and you are Mine. Why do you doubt My love for you? Have I not given you signs of My favour? Have I not shown you that My mercy has prepared for you a future full of hope? Did I not promise you years of happiness, of holiness, and of peace? My blessing is upon you and the designs of My Heart are about to unfold for you. You have only to trust Me. Believe that I will keep you as the apple of My eye." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, February 14, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com