The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

"TO THE EXTENT THAT EACH CHRISTIAN GROWS IN HOLINESS, HE OR SHE WILL BEAR GREATER FRUIT FOR OUR WORLD." (POPE FRANCIS, EXSULTATE ET GAUDATE - REJOICE AND BE GLAD).

"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

"Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God."  (Luke 24: 46 - 53).

Sunday 29th May 2022, in the 7th Week of Easter is the Solemnity of the Ascension.  The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter or on the 7th Sunday of Easter depending on the Diocese in the United States.

Jesus is taken up into heaven in full view of His disciples. During the forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus continued teaching, encouraging and comforting His disciples. Now the time of Departure has come. He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Gift of the Father. He then turned the work of building the Kingdom of God on earth to them with the Great Commission:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." ( Mark 16: 15).

Every epoch and people respond to the Great Commission with the peculiar gifts and infrastructure provided by God. But the universal and perennial Gift of God is the Holy Spirit. Without the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit we cannot evangelize. Nobody can undertake the onerous missionary work of evangelization without the Holy Spirit.

Two powerful and different examples of evangelization are:
#1. St Therese of the Chlld Jesus (1873 - 1897). She became the Patroness of Missionaries without stepping out of her Carmelite Convent. She offered her prayers and sufferings to support the missionary endeavors of the Church. She gave the world a spirituality of "little ways."  One can be very effective in the spiritual life by doing "little things." She is a Doctor of the Church.

#2. St Teresa of Kolkata (1910 - 1997). Her missionary endeavors all over the world earned her a Noble Peace price and more importantly sainthood.

Every saint in the Church, that includes you and me are missionaries. Our Baptism gives us the mandate of Mission and Witness.

Do what you are inspired to do. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

5. 29. "Mary is not only the bridge joining us to God; she is more. She is the road that God travelled to reach us, and the road that we must travel in order to reach him." (Pope Francis).

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The Rosary is one of the most powerful weapons of the Christian soldier.

GREAT THINGS IN LIFE START FROM GREAT DESIRE. ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SAYS THAT DESIRE TRANSFORMS A MAN. THEREFORE GREAT DESIRE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TRANSLATE TO THE CONDITION OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (John 16: 23 - 24).

Saturday 28th May 2022, 6th Week in the Easter Season.

What does Jesus say about prayer in the Farewell Discourse? "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

Two important things to note from the key Scripture for this Saturday.
#1. Asking Abba Father for our needs and gifts in the Name of Jesus.
#2. The joy of of answered prayer.

Do you believe that God answers prayers? We all affirm that God is true and faithful. Why then do we doubt Him when it comes to God's answer to prayer?

Psalm 91 is about God's trustworthiness: "God's faithful promises are my armor and protection." (Psalm 91: 4). Armor and protection mean the same thing. Scripture is using double equivalent words to describe God's faithfulness.

One of the most amazing things to discover in religion is that God is true and faithful and He answers prayers. If your nine-year old son asks you for a big Harley Davidson Superbike for a birthday gift, how do you respond? 

God our Father knows exactly what we need and when we need it. God answers prayers. Ask and keep asking. If you ask for something that would harm you, expect a No.  If you do not ask with faith and persistence, you will never know the joy of answered prayer. The intense joy of answered prayer is intended to grow your faith.

"God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"
(Numbers 23: 19 NTL).

I will trust in God's faithfulness forever and ever.

5. 28.  "Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world?"
‘Oh my Lady,’ answered Saint Dominic, ‘you know far than I do because next to your Son Jesus Christ you have always been the chief instrument of our salvation."
The Holy Rosary. Mary answered St Dominic, OP.

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Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, first Archbishop of Canterbury.

CONSIDER IT ALL JOY MY FRIENDS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS, FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. (CF JAMES 1: 2).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16: 20 - 23).

Friday May 27th 2027, 6th Week of the Easter Season. 

Friday 27th May is the feast of St Augustine of Canterbury. (+ 604). Italian Benedictine monk sent by Pope St Gregory the Great to evangelize the Anglo-Saxon people who conquered England and dominated the original Celtic population who embraced Christianity centuries earlier. St Augustine baptized Ethelbert, the Anglo-Saxon king and the people followed their king into the Church. St Augustine made Canterbury his Episcopal See and became the first Primate of all England.

Many people will be familiar with the daily Scripture verse for today. But did you know that this gem of wisdom was given by Jesus on the night before His death in an intimate monologue with the Twelve in the Cenacle? A couple of weeks before Pentecost, the Scriptures are from the Last Supper Discourse (Chapters John 13  to 17). This is to prepare us for the glorious feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church.

What does a woman do when her expected delivery date is 10 days? She prepares for the big event. She does not focus on anxiety but the joy of the outcome: "a child has been born into the world."

Are you searching for a treasure? Search no further. There are acres of diamond in your backyard.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matthew 13: 44).

5. 27. “God might have created a more beautiful world,
He might have made heaven more glorious
but it was impossible for Him, to exalt a creature,
higher than Mary, in making her His Mother.” (St Bonaventure, OFM, Doctor of the Church).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Philip Neri, Great Confessor and Apostle of Joy.

ACCEPT ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED.
ACCEPT ALL THAT IS HAPPENING.
COOPERATE WITH ALL THAT IS HAPPENING EXCEPT WHAT IS SINFUL. (JEAN-PIERRE DE CAUSSADE, SJ).

"Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,
“Are you discussing with one another what I said,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me’?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” (John 16: 16 - 20).

Thursday 26th May 2022, in the 6th Week of Easter is the feast of St Philip Neri.  (1515 - 1595), Italian Priest.
St Philip Neri was an extraordinary priest filled with the Holy Spirit and ecstatic joy. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, the same religious community that gave the Church St John Henry Newman. St Philip Neri converted thousands through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He was a great catechist and spiritual director. He was noted for his joyful and cheerful disposition which attracted thousands to him. One of my favorite quotes from Philip is:
"One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession."

Jesus predicted the persecutions of the disciples in the Last Supper Discourse: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." The antagonism to Jesus and His Gospel is more pronounced today than ever. If you are not prepared today to bear witness to Jesus, what is the likelihood that you will be ready tomorrow? The Scripture says: O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

Many of us have probably heard the maxim: "He who laughs last, laughs best." Jesus promises us the last laugh. This laugh will be filled with joy and will last forever. In the short time, our Savior and Redeemer is asking us to endure all the trials, deprivations and persecutions with the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.
"I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I go, but I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy." (Cf John 14: 18).

5. 26. "If, in spite of everything, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven leaves a certain taste of sadness in our souls, let us go to his Mother as the apostles did. They returned to Jerusalem…and they prayed with one mind…together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus."  (Acts 1:12-14).
(Saint Josemaría Escrivá).

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Feast of St Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor of the Church.

PREPARE TO RECEIVE ALL YOU CAN RECEIVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE BIG GIFT THAT THE FATHER DOES NOT RATION. YOU RECEIVE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE CONTAINER YOU BRING. BIG CONTAINER = BIG GIFT. SMALL CONTAINER = SMALL GIFT.
HOW MUCH YOU RECEIVE IS UPTO YOU.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16: 12 - 15).

Wednesday 25th May 2022, 6th Week of the Easter Season.

Today is the feast of:
St Bede the Venerable, OSB.
St Gregory VII, Pope.
St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin.

St Bede the Venerable (672 - 735). English Benedictine Priest and Doctor of the Church. St Bede worked hard to help the Church in England grow stronger in faith and increase in numbers. He accomplished this through his study of Scriptures and History. He was a brilliant light in England of his day.

Have you noticed that the theme of the Holy Spirit has dominated the Last Supper Discourse these past few days? No accident! The Church is telling us that the Great Feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of Holy Mother Church is very near.

Today Jesus reveals that "When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." Now what does the Spirit of truth do? The opposite of truth is falsehood, lies, deception, lack of integrity. Is there a spirit of falsehood? Absolutely. His name is Satan, Devil, Liar, Father of Lies, the Accuser of the brethren. Master of fake news. Murderer.

The greatest threat of the world today is not nuclear bomb or Corona Virus. The greatest threat to civilization is falsehood, lies and deception. Falsehood and lies are so pervasive in the world today. God gave us the Internet for work, leisure, evangelization and source of information. The Internet barely 25 years in existence has been perverted by the spirit of greed for money and immorality. Satan and his cohorts want to dominate the Internet 100 %. This is why the mission of the Holy Spirit is so important today.

The contrepoint to this threat is the Holy Spirit. We have this consolation of the Scriptures:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1: 5 NLT).

Pentecost Novena 2022 starts Thursday May 26 all over the world. Do not miss the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. Remember: The Holy Spirit is the biggest Gift of the Father. This is a Gift you ask for and you receive immediately. No delay. No rationing.

How do we receive more of the Holy Spirit?
We receive in direct proportion to our desires and preparedness.
A student receives knowledge from a lecture in direct proportion to his desire to learn and acquire knowledge and his preparation for the lecture.

Our desire is for the Holy Spirit is enhanced by focus on the object of the desire and focused prayer and repetition.  Eg:  Novena.

5. 25.  "Always the Blessed Virgin asks me for the prayer of the Rosary, the prayer that binds all her children to her immaculate and maternal Heart. The Blessed Virgin asks all her priest sons to take up again the Rosary, to pray it often, with attention and love. It is by the humble prayer of the Rosary that priests will be delivered from the temptations that harry them." (IN SINU JESU).

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The Spirit of Truth shall lead the Church to the Fullness of Truth.

WHAT IS OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST? WHO ARE WE IN CHRIST JESUS?
WE ARE THE BAPTIZED, THE CONFIRMED AND THE EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE. WE ARE THE SUNDAY PEOPLE, THE EASTER PEOPLE. WE ARE PRIEST, PRINCE & PROPHET.
THIS IS OUR IDENTITY. THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” (John 16: 5 - 11).

Tuesday 24th May 2022, in the 6th Week of Easter.

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Lord Jesus calls Him here The Spirit of truth.  He is "the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby)." (AMPC).

Why is the Holy Spirit sent after the Ascension of Jesus? He is sent to take up permanent residence in the disciple. As the Spirit of power, He will empower the disciple to fulfill the Mission of Jesus Christ and witness to the Lord. The Holy Spirit continues the ministry of Jesus today through the Body of Christ.

Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit "will guide you [Church] to all truth." This is a very important detail that has divided the Body of Christ. St John the Evangelist writes in the conclusion of his Gospel:

"It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." (John 21: 24 - 25).

The Holy Spirit reveals to the Church through the written and oral sources the truth that concerns Jesus and the Church. All the truth necessary for salvation. The FULLNESS of TRUTH.

An example of this is the stability of doctrine that characterized the early Church up to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and continues till today 2022. Only the Holy Spirit could have guaranteed this phenomenon:
One People, One Faith, One Shepherd, Worldwide.

"I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth."

5. 24. "Each Friday take into your heart, as if for the first time, the words I uttered from the Cross. Contemplate My side pierced by the soldier’s lance; enter into the sanctuary of My open Heart and adore My precious Blood. Receive the outpouring of My Holy Spirit, and withdraw into silence and recollection, as did John with Mary, My Mother, when all is accomplished." (IN SINU JESU).

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You all will be My martyrs.

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
HE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE BLESSED TRINITY. HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE LORD AND GIVER OF ABUNDANT LIFE. HE IS OUR ADVOCATE. THE VOICE THAT SPEAKS IN COURT FOR US. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GREAT FRIEND THAT IS CLOSER TO US THAN OUR GARMENT.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning." (John 15: 26....16: 4).

"And you also will testify..."
What does this mean for you and for me? Testify is another word for witness which comes from the Greek word MARTYR. Jesus is saying that in small ways and big ways, we shall be martyrs for Him every day.

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

Do not be frightened of being a martyr for Jesus in your work, home, church and public places. This is why Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will help us to bear witness to Him. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can be a martyr for Jesus.

Example of those who witnessed to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost:
Peter, John, Stephen, Barnabas, James. These saints are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.

In today's first Reading from Acts 16: 11 - 15, a wealthy business woman of Philippi named Lydia witnessed to Jesus after she was baptized by St Paul.

The Cross and Martyrdom are intrinsic to the very essence of Christianity. "It was ordained that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." (Luke 24: 46, 26). So must we. 

5. 22. “The Magnificat is Our Lady’s Prayer of thanks. She can help us to love Jesus best; she is the one who can show us the shortest way to Jesus. Mary was the one whose intercession led Jesus to work the first miracle. ‘They have no wine,’ she said to Jesus. ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ she said to the servants."  (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

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