Abraham responded at once when God called him.

The Call of Abraham. 

"The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.”

Abram went as the Lord directed him." (Genesis 12: 1 - 4).

Sunday 5th March 2023, 2nd Sunday of Lent. 

Abraham is the father and exemplar of our faith. Here is what we know of Abraham before his Call:

1. He is a pagan. 

2. Abraham was 75 years old. 

3. Married to Sarah. No child. 

4. Heard God's Call and responded at once. 

What is Faith? Faith is exactly to hear God's word to you and to respond like Abraham. 

Those who heard God and responded like Abraham:

1. Mary of Nazareth. 

2. Moses. 

3. David. 

4. Peter and Paul. 

5. Francis of Asissi & Dominic. 

6. Ignatius Loyola & Mother Teresa of Kolkata. 

You too, baptized child of God has the Holy Spirit living in you. 

O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Casimir.

Love as you are loved. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“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 and sisters 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: 43 - 48).

First Saturday in March, March 4th 2023 of the first week of Lent is the feast of St Casimir. (1458 - 1484). Son of King Casimir IV of Poland and Lithuania. Casimir refrained from the court life. His siblings, the princes and princesses were not interested in religion.  His faith and piety shone out. Casimir had a great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St Casimir is the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.

Why is it difficult to love our neighbors as God loves us? Because we believe we deserve God's love. We go to Church, receive the Sacraments, pay our tithes, etc. NO! NO! NO! Jesus says: "Your heavenly Father,  makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust."

St John the Evangelist teaches that God first loved us when we were totally unlovable. When we try to love everyone, bit by bit, we become more like God. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Katherine Drexel, Virgin and Foundress.

Whoever is angry with his brother is unjust. 

"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. 

"Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

"Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” (Matthew 5: 20 - 26).

Friday March 3rd 2023 of the first week of Lent is the feast of St Katharine Drexel (1858 - 1955), Virgin and Foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was a generous philanthropist. Katharine was a wealthy heiress from the rich and famous family of the Philadelphia society. She realized that it profits her nothing to gain the whole world and put her eternal destiny in jeopardy. She listened to the Call of Jesus Christ to teach the message of the Gospel and bring the Eucharist to African-American and Native American people in the South of the United States. In 1915, Katharine founded the Xavier University in New Orleans. At her death in 1955, over 500 of her sisters were teaching in 63 schools.

Fraternal charity is the core of the message of Jesus Christ. This was recognized even in the Apostolic times. "See how they love each other." The early Christian communities frowned upon Christians taking members to the same household (church) to civil courts. 

Some political parties say: Don't even criticize publicly a member of the party. Which is more important? A member of the party or a member of the same household of faith? 

"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."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this First Friday. 

March 3rd, First Friday in March, 2023.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  How? BY ATTENDING MASS AND RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION. 

In the 3rd  month of the year 2023, we look at Promise #3.

#3.  "I will console them in all their troubles."

Jesus says  "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  (John 16: 33 ). 

We note that Jesus does not promise a trouble free life in this world.

Consider this truth also:

"My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal." (Sirach 2: 1).

Troubles are opportunity to grow spiritually.  "I promise to be your strength in proportion to the trust you place on Me." The more you trust Jesus, the more He is your comfort, strength and security in trials.

Remind the Lord often of these promises. Remind Him also of His promise to answer every prayer. (Matthew 7: 7).

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of March, 2023.

"I am your Friend. I have chosen you to be in life and in death the privileged friend of My Sacred Heart. I bless you and I bless those whom you entrust to the mercy of My open Heart. The light of My Face shines upon you. Believe in My love for you. I will never abandon you, never disappoint you. My plans are for your happiness, for your holiness, for your peace. Have no fear. I will do for you all that I have promised, and your heart will rejoice, and you will praise and glorify Me forever." (IN SINU JESU, Wednesday, December 19, 2007).

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart Prayers and Prayer Intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

By faith, Esther wrestled God in prayer.

O God, answer my prayers. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

"For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish?

"If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7: 7 - 12).

MAN'S EXTREMITY IS GOD'S OPPORTUNITY. MAN"S SECURITY IS SATAN'S OPPORTUNITY. ESTHER WAS "SEIZED WITH MORTAL ANGUISH". HER EXTREMITY IS PROFOUND.  (1st READING).

Thank God for your trials. 

In Philippians 4: 6-7, we are advised to bring our request to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving.   Esther tells God twice that she is alone and has nobody to help her except God.  She recalls from Scripture that God always helps those who are pleasing to Him.   She pleads to God to help her and reminds God that she is an orphan.  God after all is the Father of the fatherless and orphans.  

Then finally, she was specific about what she wants:  “persuasive words” when she meets the king;  “turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.”

This is a great prayer and a model of prayer in crisis.

By faith Esther and Daniel wrestled with God in prayer. They received what they asked for from a God who promised to answer all prayers. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

By faith the people of Nineveh heard the word of God and repented.

The People of Nineveh heard and believed. 

"While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, 

“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. 

"Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

"At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

"At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11: 29 - 32).

By faith, the people of Nineveh heard the preaching of Jonah, they believed and repented and found life. You hear the choice word of God every day this Lent 2023. What is your response? 

March is the month the Church honors St Joseph, the holy Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Honor St Joseph every day this March. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Prayer is the best gift of God to us.

Our Father is the Perfect Prayer. 

When you pray, begin with: Our Father. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. 

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

"Give us this day our daily bread; 

"and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6: 7 - 15).

Tuesday 28th February 2023 in the first Week of Lent. 

Brethren, make forgiveness your Lenten Project for Lent 2023. Everyone needs to forgive someone. This is how to go about your Lent 2023 Forgiveness Project:

1. Pray every morning for forgiveness for your sins. 

2. Tell Abba Father that you have forgiven everyone who has offended you. 

3. Ask God to give the grace to everyone whom you have offended to forgive you. 

4. Say this prayer every day to Easter Sunday and you will be transformed.

This is not theory. I did this. I have no problem of forgiveness today. 

1. I forgive everyone who offends me immediately. No matter the offense. No matter the race or color. No matter the place or circumstance. 

2. I continue to pray for the person until the poison of unforgivenness is drained from my heart. 

Now that you know this, do this and will be blessed. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

By faith you recognize Jesus in your needy brothers.

Who is my brother? 

By faith we recognize our needy brothers as the mystical Christ. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.

"And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 

"Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

"Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

"He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ 

"And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25: 31 - 46).

Monday 27th February 2023 of the first week of Lent. 

The grace of God comes to us during Lent through the powerful word of God that reminds us of who we are and the Journey to follow and imitate Jesus. The mystical Jesus continues to live in His brothers and sisters especially the most needy. 

By faith, we hear the word of Christ proclaimed in the Church and believe the message. By faith we recognize our needy brothers and sisters and minister to them as best as we can. 

Walk by faith and not by sight or feeling this period of Lent. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com