You can be perfect.

Be Perfect! 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. 

"When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. 

"If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. 

"Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.

"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

"For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?

"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 38 - 48).

Sunday 19th February in the 7th Week of Ordinary Time. 

Not a single "new" commandment above is impossible. The Scripture teaches that if you want, you can keep the commandments. St John the Evangelist writes that the commandments are not difficult to observe. 

"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We cannot be perfect in anything unless He who is in us to help us to be perfect. He is called our Helper, Friend, Advocate, Counselor, the Voice that speaks in Court for us. 

In fact, His best name may be the one most descriptive of what He does: The Standby. 

By faith, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life. By faith all the Saints in Heaven evoked the Holy Spirit and He helped them to reach the perfection God had planned for them. 

You too can be perfect with the power of the Holy Spirit. Your perfection will be unique to you. My perfection is unique to me. The greatness of God makes a cat to be perfect in its own way. Just as a dog or a bird has its unique perfection. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a Preview of our Transformation.

Is the Transfiguration of Jesus a preview for our own experience? 

"Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. 

"And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 

"Then Elijah ­appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 

"Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 

"Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

"As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to ­anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

"So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?

”But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:  2 - 13).

Saturday February 18th in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time. 

We celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Mark's story of the Transfiguration of Jesus introduces us into the inner mysteries of the faith. We see the Apostles wondering:

"What rising from the dead meant." Do you sometimes wonder what heaven and eternal life means? 

The Transfiguration of Jesus addresses these questions. First the Father acknowledges His Son: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Then Peter, James, and John saw Jesus "transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them."

 

The Transfiguration of Jesus prepares the Apostles to witness to the Divinity of Jesus Christ after His Resurrection. Then they would say: We were eye witnesses to this Event. We saw Jesus transfigured. We heard the Father acknowledged Him as His beloved Son. We saw Moses and Elijah converse with Jesus. 

By faith, we believe in the testimony of the Father in the Transfiguration. By faith, we believe in the witness of Peter, James and John. By faith we believe in the Gospel handed down to us by the Apostles. 

We know that without faith, no one can please God. 

Lord Jesus, increase our faith so that we can experience more the promises of our Redemption. 

"Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3: 2).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of the Seven Servants of Mary.

The Feast of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. 

"Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.

"What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?

"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

"He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.” (Mark 8: 34 - 9: 11).

Friday 17th February 2023 in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of the Seven Holy Brothers of the Servite Order, also known as the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

On Friday, April 13, 1240, the hermits received a vision of Our Lady, who told them:

 

 "You will found a new order, and you will be my witnesses throughout the world. This is your name: Servants of Mary. This is your rule: that of Saint Augustine. And here is your distinctive sign: the black scapular, in memory of my sufferings." 

Ecclesiastical recognition for the order as a religious order was given in 1304.  They lead a life of prayer and penance.

Our reflection is from the Gospel of today: The Cost of Discipleship. Being a disciple of Jesus is not easy. It was not easy for the first Apostles: Peter, Paul, Andrew, James and John, etc. 

It was not easy for the seven saints we celebrate today. The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. 

It was not easy for the young St Therese of Lisieux from whom I learned so much about the gentle yoke of Jesus. 

It is Jesus Himself in His locution to a Benedictine mystic in IN SINU JESU who showed me that I too can bear His sweet and gentle yoke tailor-made for me. 

"Suffering, for you, is the humble acceptance of every limitation, fatigue, humiliation, disappointment, and sorrow. It is the joyful acceptance of infirmity and weakness. It is adhesion to all the manifestations of My will, especially those that you are incapable of understanding in the present moment. Suffering offered in love is precious in My sight. Accept the sufferings that I allow and that I will for you; thus will you participate in My Passion through patience and accomplish the mission that I have entrusted to you." (IN SINU JESU - pg 146).

A most recent testimony of the simple spirituality of St Therese of the Child Jesus is Blosius. 

"Blosius, a great Benedictine mystic, says that the best form of mortification is to accept with all our heart, in spite of our repugnance, all that God sends or permits, good and evil, joy and suffering. I try to do this. Let us try to do it together, and to help one another to reach that absolute abandonment into the hands of God…."

Blessed Columba Marmion, o.s.b.

Anyone who wants can be a disciple of Jesus and bear his cross daily in his walk with Jesus. As St Therese teaches: You will discover that it is Christ inside you that enables you to bear the Cross. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Get behind Me Satan.

My Savior and my Redeemer. 

Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is also the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

"Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

"They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” 

"And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

"Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

"He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly.

"Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mark 8: 27 - 33).

Thursday 16th February 2023 in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time. 

The Gospel today separates prosperity Christians from real Communion of the Saints Christians. We Christians on earth are on a pilgrimage to heaven. This is the period of purification and walking the way of the Cross with Jesus. 

"He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly." 

Jesus spoke about His cross openly. In the Communion of the Saints, the Church Triumphant are the holy ones who walked with Christ the Way of the Cross and are today enjoying their reward in heaven. 

“But who do you say that I am?” Jesus is asking you today. If your reply includes: You are the Christ. You are the Way, the Truth and Life, then you may understand the necessity to follow Jesus Christ in His Way. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Feast of St Claude de la Columbiere, SJ.

Feast of St Claude de la Colombiere, SJ. 

"When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 

"He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” 

"Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” 

"Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. 

"Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.” (Mark 8: 22 - 26).

Wednesday February 15th in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Claude de la Colombiere of the Society of Jesus. (1641 - 1682). French Jesuit priest. Father Claude was a great preacher and writer. He is famous in history because he was the confessor of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, the visionary and mystic whom Jesus communicated the message of His Sacred Heart. St Margaret Mary had great challenges in making these messages accepted either in her convent or outside.

 St Claude de la Columbiere, her confessor discerned the genuineness of the revelations and lent his support in spreading the word. St Claude de la Columbiere died in 1682 at the age of 41 and was beatified in 1929 and canonized in 1992.

In our Gospel of today, Jesus healed a blind man in two steps. By faith, the friends of the blind man brought him to Jesus for healing. Just like by faith the friends of the Paralytic tore open the roof to bring him to Jesus for healing. In the two cases, Jesus saw the faith of the friends of the sick men and healed them. 

Both healing demonstrate the power of intercessionary prayer. Prayer is the most powerful gift of God to humans. Do not disdain intercessionary prayers. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray for everything. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Feast of St Cyril and Methodius, great missionaries.

The Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries. 

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the wonderful things God is doing in our lives. 

"The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

"They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 

"When Jesus became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?

"Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.”

"He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 14 - 21).

Tuesday February 14th in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of two great missionaries who are brothers: Saints Cyril (+869)and Methodius

 (+885), Priest and Bishop respectively.

They evangelized parts of Europe in the 9th century, notably Moravia (present-day Czech Republic).  By faith, Saints Cyril and Methodius faced trials and persecution to bring the Good News to the Slavic nations. 

Pope John Paul II proclaimed them patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict, the abbot.

In our Gospel of today from Mark 8: 14 - 21, Jesus teaches us a vital lesson about how to grow our relationship with God. He sees a teaching opportunity in the disciples' total forgetfulness of recent miracles of multiplication of bread. 

If we forget the good things God is doing for us, then we could be in very shallow relationship with God. If your children forget most of the good things you do for them, they will never grow to appreciate or love you very much. 

Scripture teaches that every good thing we have and enjoy in life comes from God. It teaches too that the Holy Spirit teaches us to remember all that God is doing for us. I like this truth very much. I pray every day to the Holy Spirit to remind me of everything God has done for me during the day. I do this during the examination of conscience. I write down the main points into dated landmarks. Over time, I create a yearly timeline. 

If you want to grow in intimate relationship with God, it is your responsibility to record and remember the good things God is doing for you. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

Offer Me your best time and talent and treasure.

Offer Me your best time, talent and treasure. 

"The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” 

"Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.

"In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.

"The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not.

"Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the Lord said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”

"Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 

"Then the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

"The Lord then said: “What have you done! Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 

"If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”

"Cain said to the Lord: “My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, any­one may kill me at sight.”

“Not so!” the Lord said to him. “If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.” So the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.

"Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. “God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain slew him.” (Genesis 4: 1 - 15, 25).

Monday February 13th 2023 in the 6th Week of Ordinary Time. 

The story of Cain and Abel is one of the Bible stories we mastered as kids. I believe this interesting story is in every year of the 3 Year lectionary cycle. 

What is the teaching and application? 

1. There is a sowing time and a harvest time. 

2. By faith, Abel offers God the choicest of his lambs. 

3. Bring the best of your time, talent and treasure to the Lord. 

4. The Lord God owns everything. 

5. You can never outdo God in generosity. 

6. A sacrifice of Thanksgiving honors God. 

7. The Eucharist is the first and foremost of the sacrifice that honors God. 

Now that you know this, you will be blessed if you do it. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com