Be my Good Neighbor. Let me be your Good Neighbor.

"AS LONG AS ANYONE HAS THE MEANS OF DOING GOOD TO HIS NEIGHBORS AND DOES NOT DO SO, HE SHALL BE RECKONED A STRANGER TO THE LOVE OF THE LORD." (ST IRENAEUS).

“And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied,  “A man fell victim to robbers."
"A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight."
"Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”  (Luke 10: 25 - 37)

Our key Scripture for today is from the Parable of the Good Samaritan. You may call this a story of mercy.
What is mercy? From the Parable, we may say that mercy is when someone shows you a totally unexpected pity in a moment of great need.

Our neighbor is every person in need.

Jesus ends what we call the Parable of the Good Samaritan by saying to the scholar of the law: Go and do as the Good Samaritan. Every person in need is our neighbor.

Be a good neighbor.
Allow someone to be a good neighbor to you. Jesus is always a good neighbor.

Jesus gave us the Divine Mercy Devotion through St Maria Faustina. This devotion is summarized through the ABC of Mercy:

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

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Augustine Zhao Rong and the Martrys of China.

"NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO ME THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT. AND ALL THAT HE WANTS, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT MAY APPEAR TO US, IS REALLY FOR THE BEST." (ST THOMAS MORE)

"Jesus said to his Apostles:........

"Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." (Matthew 10: 24...... 33).

Saturday 9th July 2022, of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time  is the feast of St Augustine Zhao, Chinese priest and martyr and 119 of his companion martyrs. These 120 martyrs died
between 1648 and 1930.  Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese soldier and after his conversion was ordained a diocesan priest. He was martyred in 1815.

The Chinese martyrs were beatified in groups at various times. On the 1st of October 2000, Pope St John Paul II canonized the 120 martyrs in Rome.

The Gospel of today contains one of the sweetest doctrines in the Bible.  It is God's powerful and merciful Providence over all of creation. What does this mean? Abba Father cares lovingly even for the tiniest creatures such as sparrows. He cares for them so much that He gives sparrows permission to build their nests right above His altars. David envied the tiny sparrows this privilege.

How is it possible that man created in the image and likeness of God, destined to live forever with God could be possibly treated with less dignity than a sparrow?  You are worth more than many sparrows, declares Jesus. Believe this. Faith comes from hearing. You have heard/read this. This is the word of God proclaimed today in every Church in the world. I believe it.

"I will teach you all that you need to know as you go forward' says Jesus to a mystic.  "I will not give you My words ahead of time, but I will give them to you as you need them, at the moment chosen by My loving providence. Renounce the desire to control and arrange things ahead of the time that I have decreed. Each thing has its own moment, and that moment alone and no other brings with it the grace sufficient to your need, to your weakness, and to the task at hand. I am proceeding this way with you because I want you to trust Me completely, to trust Me in all things, great and small." (IN SINU JESU pg 76).

Thank You Jesus. This is a sweet message.

7. 9. We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July.

“Don’t hold yourselves cheap, seeing that the creator of all things and of you estimates your value so high, so dear, that he pours out for you every day the most precious blood of his only-begotten Son.” (St Augustine).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Spirit will be your Helper.

"YES, THE HOUR IS COMING, FOR EVERYONE WHO KILLS YOU, TO THINK HE IS OFFERING WORSHIP TO GOD." (JOHN 16: 2).
MY BRETHREN, THAT HOUR MAY BE VERY CLOSE!

“Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

"When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10: 16 - 23).

Friday 8th July 2022, of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time.

Our Gospel for this Friday is from the Missionary Discourse of Jesus. Jesus continues to train His disciples for future missionary work. He tells them and us what to expect. They are:

#1 The mission field is Wolfland. Their shrewdness will come from their awareness that they are not alone. "Behold I am with you always."

#2 They will be arrested and arraigned before courts. They should not be anxious about how to defend themselves. "For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10: 20). The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete and Advocate is the Voice that speaks in Court. Be calm and confident and allow Him to do His job.

#3 "You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10: 22).

The missionary is not a baby-kissing politician, a movie star or a socialite. He is the ambassador of the One who calls Himself "the Truth, the Way and life." Caesar and the powers of this world will ask scornfully "What is truth?" So do not expect to be welcomed everywhere with open hands.

Don’t plan to come down from the cross. Once you put your hands on the plough, it is forward march to the very end. Salvation belongs to those who persevere to the very end.

Jesus also predicted a great deal of victory and consolation for His disciples. Arraignment before governors and magistrates will be an opportunity for them to see the power of the Holy Spirit in their defense. We see the fulfillment of this when Peter and John faced the full Sanhedrin.

We see the same power at play when Paul was before Festus, the Roman high official. Jesus was not kidding. He promises to support His disciples. He does so always.

"The movement of persecution that is about to break out against My Church will focus on three objects. In fact, this has already begun. I will be attacked in My priests; they represent My Eucharistic Face. The face of the priesthood is My Face, once again mocked and covered with mud, spittle, and blood. I will be dishonoured in the Sacrament of My Body and Blood. You will see an increase of sins against the mysteries of My Body and Blood: sacrilege, desecrations, and mockeries. I will be attacked in the weakest and most vulnerable members of My Mystical Body. This too has already begun, but it will increase until it reaches proportions that will oblige My Father to avenge the blood of His beloved innocents." (IN SINU JESU pg 91).

7. 8. We honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus in July.
“This blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. This blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church.” (St John Chrysostom).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Do not take your credit cards on your mission journey.

WITHOUT COST WE RECEIVE THE GOSPEL. HOW CAN WE SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITHOUT COST AS JESUS INSTRUCTS US? BY LIVING AND PRACTICING THE EVANGELICAL SIMPLICITY OF JESUS.

"Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep." (Matthew 10: 7 - 10).

Thursday 7th July 2022, of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time.

The Church continues to respond to the missionary mandate of Jesus Christ worldwide uninterrupted by persecutions and pandemics.
"As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven?
Where is it?
Who is in it?
How does it work?

Jesus Christ is the King. Where the King is, there is the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is unlike the Kingdom of David. The Kingdom of David was limited by geography and was temporary. The Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaims is universal and eternal. Jesus today exercises His kingship in the heart and mind of everyone who accepts Him and welcomes Him.

The seed of the kingdom exists in the Church. (CCC 671). The Church is the community of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Church welcomes everyone who presents himself for Baptism. The new Christian is instructed in all that Jesus has taught the Apostles. He is then admitted to the Sacraments of Salvation and begins his growth into the mysteries of Christ.

Our response to the gift of the kingdom should be intense gratitude and full commitment to the growth of the kingdom.
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29).

Do you know the shortcut to the Good Life?  Make the Kingdom of God your first priority in everything and the holy life that it calls for. Then believe without a single doubt that God who is so faithful and true will provide ALL your NEEDS. God who created you knows what you need and when you need it.

7.7. The Church dedicates July to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

“No! the chastisements of God are not yet at an end; still more sorrowful times are ahead; and divine justice will be placated by the devotion to the Blood of Jesus Christ.”   (St. Gaspar del Buffalo).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE AND NOW.  WHEN THE HUNGRY ARE FED, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE. WHEN THE CRY OF THE POOR IS HEARD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE. WHEN THE SICK IS HEALED, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE. WHEN TRUTH IS TOLD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE.

"Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them ­authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.  "(Matthew 10: 1 - 7).

Wednesday 6th July 2022, 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Maria Goretti (1890 - 1902). Italian. Virgin and Martyr. Maria was barely twelve years old when she was attacked by Alessandro Serenelli, a 19 years old man who tried to rape her. Maria resisted fiercely.  Alessandro stabbed her to death.
Maria forgave him in her death bed. Alessandro spent 27 of 30 years in prison. Maria appeared to him in a dream and brought him flowers. Alessandro Serenelli was in the audience at the Vatican when Maria was canonized in 1950. He later joined the Capuchin monastery.
St Maria Goretti is the patron saint of purity, young women, rape victims and youth.
In her liturgy, the Church teaches us that God is the source of innocence and lover of chastity.

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples. Who are the Twelve disciples today? Historically, the Twelve disciples represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Today they are the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles. 

In the Gospel of today, we see the rollout of God's Plan. The Twelve Tribes became the Twelve Apostles. The Twelve became the beginning of the Seed of the Kingdom, the Church. The Church is the Seed of the the Kingdom of God on earth. (CCC 671).

The Kingdom of heaven is not just at hand. It is here. We are the New Israel.  Our mandate is to take authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness and to preach the Good News to everyone on earth.

"Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 10: 6 - 7).

Jesus had a magnificent obsession for the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants you and me to develop such an obsession. Various opposing but not contradictory statements describe the Kingdom:

#1. It is here and now and there and then.
#2. The Kingdom is immanent and transcendent.
#3. It is visible and invisible.

One thing that is absolutely clear and certain is that everyone is expected to be involved in bringing about the dawn of the Kingdom. How?

Every single thought, every single word and every action either contributes to the coming of the Kingdom of God or the delay of it. The Kingdom of God comes through your thought, word and deed.

"The kingdom of God is close at hand: repent and believe the Good News." (Mark 1: 15).

The Church is the Guardian of the greatest mystery of the Kingdom of God:

"It [The Eucharist] was to extend the graces of My Incarnation and earthly life to all of My disciples, to My chosen friends, until the end of time. So much of what I held in My Heart when I instituted this Sacrament has now been forgotten, or obscured, or deliberately contradicted. This is what causes the sorrow of My Eucharistic Heart. This is why I turned to you and asked you to give Me your life, the rest of your life, in adoration and reparation. I want the free response of your adoring love to My Eucharistic love." (IN SINU JESU).

Our Baptism makes us priest, prince and prophet. You too are a Guardian of the Eucharistic mystery.

7.6. July the Month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

“Devotion to the Precious Blood is the devotion of our time . . . It is a devotion for all souls, for the whole world.” (Pope John XXIII).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feasts of Saints Anthony Zaccaria and Elizabeth of Portugal.

ONE OF THE MAIN GIFTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THIS:
WE BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. JESUS SAYS IN THE LITURGY OF THE MASS THAT WHEN WE HONOR HIS SAINTS, WE GLORIFY THE SAINT-MAKER. HOW MANY PATRON SAINTS DO YOU HAVE?
"CLING TO THE SAINTS, FOR THOSE WHO CLING TO THEM WILL BE SANCTIFIED." (POPE ST CLEMENT I).

"A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 9: 32 - 38).

Tuesday 5th July 2022, 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Anthony Zaccaria and Elizabeth of Portugal.

St. Anthony Zaccaria (1502-1539). Italian from Cremona in Lombardy. He became a successful medical doctor at the age of 22. Unsatisfied with worldly success, he became a priest. He continued to care for the sick and comfort the dying. In Milan, he co-founded women’s religious order and then a congregation of priests called the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (the Barnabites). Anthony reinvented a three-day exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Forty Hours Devotion.  St Anthony Zaccaria died in 1539 at the age of 37.

St Elizabeth of Portugal :
Also known as Elizabeth of Aragon. (1271 - 1336). Elizabeth married King Denis of Portugal when she was very young. She set an example of Christian charity in the court and was the peace-maker between her husband and the children. After her husband died, Elizabeth became a Franciscan tertiary.

We see in our key Scripture for today the compassion of Jesus for the crowds who were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. He healed many of their diseaae and illness and preached to them the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Yet Jesus was sad because the need is so great and the human resources needed for the work are paltry.

The Lord has given us today two incredible and powerful tools for Evangelization and Cathechesis:
#1. The Internet.
#2. Music

On the Internet for example, millions wander about troubled, seeking spiritual nourishment. There are great possibilities for catechesis and evangelization through the social media. The social media, viz: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, etc are the Mission Field of Today.

Music is a powerful tool for the New Evangelization. Both the young and the old love music. Music is one of the first blessings we shall recognize in Heaven. There is today abundant Christian music. They have good theology and lyrics. Subscriptions are available and affordable through Amazon Music and Google YouTube Music and others.

If you want to learn more about what the Catholic Church believes and teaches, click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2021/03/compendium-of-catholic-teachings.html?m=1

7. 5. July = Most Precious Blood Month.
“Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified before they ascend to Your divine altar.”  (St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Courage, your faith has restored your health.

"WHAT IS FAITH? IT IS THE CONFIDENT ASSURANCE THAT SOMETHING WE WANT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS THE CERTAINTY THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR IS WAITING FOR US, EVEN THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE IT UP AHEAD." (HEBREWS 11: 1 TLB).

“While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.”  (Matthew 9: 18 - 26).

In today's Gospel, we are blessed with two examples of STRONG FAITH in action:

1.  Jesus said to a desperate woman with twelve years problem of issue of blood: “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”

2.  Jairus the Synagogue official approached Jesus believing that Jesus could raise her daughter from the dead. 

The Christian has a silver bullet in his armor against fear: Faith!  Faith is generated by prayer and nourished by the word of God. Faith destroys fear, worry and doubt.
"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust."  (Luke 8: 50; Mark 5: 36)

Without faith, we can do nothing. "The just shall live by faith."  My faith is nourished by the two healing incidents in today's Gospel. It teaches me not to be afraid to ask Jesus to do big things for me. It reminds me that all things are possible for God and all things are easy for God.

"What is Faith and why is it so important?

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." (Hebrews 11: 1 TLB).

Everyone who matters in the Bible from Abraham, David, John the Baptist, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Peter and Paul were not just people of faith but lived by faith.

The woman with the issue of Blood in today's Gospel exercised her faith:
“If I only touch him, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned around and spoke to her. “Daughter,” he said, “all is well! Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was well from that moment." (Matthew 9: 21 - 22).

We are saved by grace through faith. You can start living by your faith right here and now.

7.4. July is the Month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

“Precious Blood, ocean of divine mercy: Flow upon us! Precious Blood, most pure offering: Procure us every grace! Precious Blood, hope and refuge of sinners: Atone for us! Precious Blood, delight of holy souls: Draw us! Amen.”  (St Catherine of Siena).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com