The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY. I PRAY TO ABBA FATHER USING THE LORD'S PRAYER TAUGHT US BY JESUS OUR TEACHER. I PRAY TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD AND SON OF MARY. I EXPERIENCE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER, IN HIS INSPIRATIONS AND POWER. THIS IS HOW I KNOW THAT THE TRINITY IS REAL. I BELIEVE BECAUSE THE CHURCH TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE.

"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).

Sunday 12th June 2022 is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Godhead, the adorable Blessed Trinity. One God, three co-equal Persons. Father, Son and Holy Spiri is the revelation of the Son, Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. This truth did not come to us from a philosophical deduction.

It is interesting that the mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed at the end of Christ's earthly ministry. This mystery was revealed in the context of Baptism and Mission of the Church. What could this mean? Jesus Christ became Man so that man can know God, love Him and serve Him and live with God forever.

The Trinity is a great mystery beyond the intellect of man. We make the sign of the Cross in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Creed teaches us all we need to know about the Holy Trinity, the One Undivided Unity.

"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified."

This is the Faith of our Fathers. The Faith revealed by Jesus Christ.
We believe!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Feast of St Barnabas, Great Apostle & Evangelist.

SAINTS PAUL & BARNABAS!
AWESOME & GREAT APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS.
THE CHURCH WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY. A JOURNEY OF 1000 MILES STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP.  IF YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY, YOU ARE GUARANTEED TO ARRIVE IN THE HOUR OF YOUR DESTINY.

"In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.....

"Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas.... and Saul.....

"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off." (Acts of the Apostles11:21.... 26; 13:1... 3).

Saturday 11th June 2022, 10th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of the Apostle Barnabas (+ 61).

St Barnabas, a Jew from Cyprus is profiled in Sacred Scripture as: "a good man, filled with the holy Spirit and faith." You won't find many Bible characters profiled with similar language. What else do we know about St Barnabas?
He was a levite. He discipled Paul the Apostle and mentored John Mark. He was generous in using all his time, talent and treasure in serving the Lord. He was a prophet, teacher and evangelist. Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus under the reign of Emperor Nero in 61 AD. Although Barnabas was not one of the original 12 Apostles, Barnabas like Paul had been assigned the title Apostle since ancient times.

"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13: 2).

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Evangelization and Mission commissioned the first Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas.

The Church prays on the Feast of St Barnabas :
"O God, who decreed that Saint Barnabas, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, should be set apart to convert the nations, grant that the Gospel of Christ, which he strenuously preached, may be faithfully proclaimed by word and by deed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son." Amen.

6. 11.  Morning Offering Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers and desires, all my sufferings, delays, disappointments and obstacles; all my time, talent and treasure, all my fears, worries and doubts as well as all my weaknesses.  I offer all these on all the altars in the world where the Eucharist is celebrated today and on every Altar where Your Eucharistic Face is present.  I offer them for the remission of my sins, for my family and [Mention the specific intention] and for the Holy Father Pope Francis.  Amen.

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The Heart that loves us so blindly.

WHY DID JESUS CHOOSE THE ORGAN OF THE HEART AS A SYMBOL OF HIS TENDER LOVE & AFFECTION FOR US?
THE SON OF GOD AND SON OF MARY CAME TO SAVE ALL MANKIND. HE CHOSE A SYMBOL OF LOVE THAT IS UNIVERSAL TO ALL PEOPLE.

"The designs of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine." (Psalm 33: 11, 19).

Friday 10th June 2022 of the 10th Week of Ordinary. We honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a votive celebration.

Our key Scripture is from the Entrance Antiphon. Jesus loves each and every one of us with an intimate and unique affection before the foundation of the world. He came to save us from sin so that we may be with Him for all eternity. The obstacle to that union is sin. Jesus lays down a necessary prescription in the Gospel of today.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna." (Matthew 5: 27.... 32).

Consider this point my brethren:
What does it profit a man or a woman to be president, billionaire, ceo, miss world, etc for 10 to 40 years at the most and when he dies loses his immortal soul in hell? To save ALL from this faith, Jesus was born into poverty, lead a humble self-sacrificing life and at the end of it was crucified. Jesus desires all people to know of His great love for us. This is why He gave us the Sacred Heart Devotion.

6. 10. "Love Demands a Return of Love: Every pulsation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, from the first moment of the Incarnation to Its last throb on the Cross, was for purest love of mankind. True devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we love Him in return, for love demands a return of love."  (Anonymous. Likely author: Fr Lukas Etlin, O.S.B. (1864-1927).

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Night Prayer

Prayer Before Going to Bed.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, meek and humble of heart, you offer to those who follow you a yoke that is good to bear, a burden that is light.

Accept, we beg you, our prayer and work of this day, and grant us the rest we need that we may be ever more willing to serve you, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

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Feast of St Ephrem the Deacon, Doctor of the Church.

"WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, THAT RICHES DO NOT ENDURE & CARNAL DESIRES NO LONGER EXIST, THAT BEAUTY & POWER DISAPPEAR & VANISH, THEN THEY RECOLLECT THEMSELVES & ARE FILLED WITH REMORSE." (ST EPHREM, DEACON & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH).

How much are you aware of the love of Jesus for you? A little or great?

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna."  (Matthew 5: 20.... 26).

Thursday 9th June 2022, 10th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Ephrem the Syrian (306 - 373). Deacon and Doctor of the Church. There is so much to write about the accomplishments of Ephrem the Syrian. Let us consider these:
Ephrem had a keen intellect. His pen was like a sharp sword. Part of his genius is that he used poems and hymns to combat the heresies of his time. He expounded the mysteries of Christ and the Glorious Virgin Mary. Ephrem had a great devotion to Mary and was not shy about it.

Are you a minimalist or one who lives Magis in everything. Magis simply means More. It is an attitude of the heart and mind that goes for More in everything and never for the least or minimum.  This is a core principle of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus.

In Matthew 5: 20, Jesus says that the Minimum will never get you into Heaven.  For example, the Church law states that you must receive Holy Communion "at least" once a year. The minimalist rejoices and says to himself:  "This is great. I can do this."

"Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will."  (St Ignatius Loyola).

6. 9. "In our age of religious indifference, when fervor and charity have grown cold, Jesus exhibits to the world His Sacred Heart as the symbol of God’s infinite love—the symbol of His own generous self-sacrificing love for men. Jesus shows His Divine Heart as a furnace whose burning rays of love are able to reanimate faith and rekindle love in hearts grown cold and ungrateful." (Anonymous. Likely author: Fr Lukas Etlin, O.S.B. (1864-1927).

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Teacher be ware.

"NOT MANY OF YOU SHOULD BECOME TEACHERS, MY FELLOW BELIEVERS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT WE WHO TEACH WILL BE JUDGED MORE STRICTLY" (JAMES 3: 1).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 17 - 19).

Wednesday June 8th 2022 of the 10th week of Ordinary Time.

Teacher beware! You teach not only by what you say. Every action of yours is closely scrutinized. People talk about teachers and preachers in these terms: "He is real. He is not real."

Hear St James: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also." (James 3: 1 - 2).
Are you concerned or discouraged by the warnings? No need to be.  We take consolation from the promise of the Spirit:

"Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh......  In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5: 16, 22-23).

We are not qualified to take credit for anything in our ministry. Our qualification comes from God,  who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant by giving us the Holy Spirit. (Cf 2 Corinthians 3: 4 - 6).

6. 8. "THE Church, governed and taught by the Holy Ghost, has approved and recommended devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and has enriched it with many indulgences. She has instituted the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which, in the course of years, has increased in extent and solemnity until now it is celebrated solemnly with an octave by the universal Church on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi."

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Christian, you are the salt and the light of the world.

YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. WHAT IS SALT? SALT IS A MINERAL SUBSTANCE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO HUMAN & ANIMAL HEALTH. THE TEACHING OF JESUS IS UNCORRUPTED SALT? IT IS PURITY OF DOCTRINE. THE CORE & UNBENDING TRUTH WHICH THE CHURCH OFFERS TO THE WORLD, SEASON & OUT OF SEASON. WELCOMED OR NOT.

In our core Scripture for today, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 13  - 16).

Tuesday 7th June 2022, of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls Himself the Light of the world. How did Jesus transmit this light to the world?

Primarily through His teaching. The public ministry of Jesus covers a number of activities, viz: healing people, casting out demons, feeding people, etc. It is through teaching that Jesus is primarily known by all and sundry. The common people, the doctors of the law, the Pharisees all know Jesus as Rabbi, Teacher.
The Mission of Jesus Christ is to bring light to a world covered in darkness. (Isaiah 49: 6).

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus said to His disciples: You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.
The message of Jesus Christ is pure and uncorrupted. This salt of the earth is found in the Creed of the Church which was fleshed out at the Council of Nicaea, in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and the teaching of Sacred Magisterium.

The Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) is to be mediated to the world through teaching and preaching.
Christians are commissioned by virtue of their Baptism to be the Light of the world. How is this done in practice?

Baptism incorporates the Christian fully into the Body of Christ. When the Church gather in worship, it catechizes the Christian through the act of worship, reading and breaking open the word of God, homilies and songs. At the end of the Service, the Christian is sent forth into his community and the world to go and be the light of the world. He indicates his understanding and acceptance of the commissioning by answering "Thanks be to God."

Christians, God called us to be the
light of the world so that His salvation will reach the ends of the earth. Do not therefore hide your lamp under the bed. Place it on the Internet, emails, text messages, conversations, etc.

6. 7.  Four of the twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Christians who honor His Sacred Heart:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.   
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

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The Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN THE
CHURCH? MARY IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO KNEW JESUS FROM WOMB TO TOMB TO RESURRECTION TO ASCENSION TO PENTECOST! THIS KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE QUALIFIES MARY AS MOTHER AND TEACHER IN THE CHURCH.

"The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus." (Cf Acts 1: 14).
 
Today is Monday after Pentecost 2022,
of the 10th week in Ordinary Time. Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19: 25..... 34).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the only human being that witnessed all the mysteries of our salvation from Conception to Death of Jesus to the Birth of the Church on Pentecost Sunday. Is this an accident or mere coincidence?

O God, Father of mercies, Your Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also; grant with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Your Church will grow to embrace all people. (Cf Collect of the feast).

"Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise,
for from you arose the sun of justice, Christ our God." (Gospel Acclamation).

6. 6. The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June:  [The Sacred Heart Devotion]  "wholly consists, properly speaking, in an ardent love of Jesus Christ, constantly residing amongst us in the adorable Eucharist, and in testifying this ardent love by our grief at seeing Him so little loved and so little honoured, and by the means we take to repair this contempt and this want of love."

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