The Good Shepherd and the Family.

The Good Shepherd Promises Abundant life. 

"Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.

"But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

"When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.

"But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

"Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

"So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 1 - 10).

"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me." (John 10: 14).

Sunday April 30th 2023, 4th Sunday in the Season of Easter is the Good Shepherd Sunday.

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd?

The Church is a family, a sheepfold and Jesus is the necessary gateway into the Sanctuary. 

God has foretold in the Scriptures that God Himself would be the Shepherd of this flock and will appoint human beings to govern His flock. (Cf CCC 754).

What does it mean that we are the sheep of God's flock? The answer is in today's Responsorial Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

"Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit."

Psalm 23 is the personal experience of King David.

 If the Lord is truly your Good Shepherd, if you recognize His voice and follow Him, you can claim and own all the promises of Psalm 23. This is what Jesus means when He says: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10: 10).

Go for the full life!

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The Feast of St Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

Do you also want to leave?

"Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

"Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them,

“Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

"It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.

"But there are some of you who do not believe.”

"Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, 

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

"As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 

"Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?

"You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 60 - 69).

Saturday 29th April 2023 in the 3rd Week in Easter is the feast of St Catherine of Siena.  A giant of the faith: St Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380). Italian Dominican Tertiary. Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

God set St Catherine on fire with divine love and boldness in the service of the Church. And Catherine set the Church on fire with her zeal and service.

"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire." St Catherine of Siena said and lived this maxim. 

Let us note that St Catherine of Siena had no formal education.

"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Those who did not abandon Jesus over His teachings on the Bread of life must know and believe that without Jesus, we can do absolutely nothing. Not a little. But nothing. I like the way Jesus put this in His locution to a Benedictine monk:

"Outside of Me there is nothing for you, and with Me, in My presence, is all that your heart desires.  Do not look outside of Me for anything to fulfil your heart’s desires. Instead, hide yourself in Me, as I hide myself for love of you in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, September 20, 2011).

Do you nurse some hope that this world will fulfill the desires of your heart with regard to health, family, job, money and social and material possessions? Forget it.

Let us repeat with Peter in deep faith: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

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The Feast of St Louis Marie de Monfort and St Peter Chanel.

The Feast of Saints Louis Marie de Monfort and Peter Chanel.

"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”

"Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. 

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 

"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

"These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum." (John 6: 52 - 59).

Friday April 28th 2023 in the 3rd Week in the Easter Season. 

April 28th is the feast of two French saints: St Peter Chanel and St Louis de Monfort. 

Louis de Monfort was born on the 31st of January 1673 in Monfort in France. Louis was ordained a priest in 1700. His great contribution was in fostering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy Rosary.

In 1715, he founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary. Among his books which are still in print are: TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN; SECRET OF THE Rosary.

Louis de Monfort made the Rosary one of the most popular Catholic devotions throughout the world. Catholics everywhere are indebted to him for articulating the incredible

powers of this simple devotion.

St Peter Chanel (1803 - 1841). Priest and Martyr. St Peter Chanel died a martyr in the island of Futuna in the Oceania.

We continue with the Bread of life Discourse in the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John where eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Jesus is the dominant theme of this Easter Season so far.

It has been said that the best interpretation of the Gospel is the Example of the saints who are faithful and true witnesses to Jesus and His Way. Let us read below how some of the saints bore witness to the truth of the Bread of life Discourse.

"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others."  (Pope St John Paul II).

"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven." (Pope St Pius X).

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." (St John Vianney).

"The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (CCC 1324).

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

DEVOTION TO THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

EVERY THURSDAY: 

HONOR JESUS CHRIST OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST AND THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS. 

JULY: MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

"They conquered the Devil by the Blood of the Lamb."

In the Blood of the Lamb." (Mary, IN SINU JESU).

"Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ, and let us know that it is precious to his Father because it was poured out for our salvation and it brought the grace of repentance to all the world." (St Clement I to the Corinthians). 

Prayer:

O precious Blood of Jesus, infinite price paid for the redemption of sinful mankind. O Divine Blood, drink and laver of our souls, standing between us and the Father pleading mercy.

With all my heart I adore You, sweet Lord, and offer reparation for the insults, outrages and ingratitude, which You continuously receive from human beings, especially those who dare blaspheme the Divine Blood You shed for us.

Bless this Blood of Infinite value. Bless the fire of Jesus’ Love who shed it to the last drop for us. Where would I be if not for this Divine Blood that redeemed me? Indeed, Lord, I have drawn it from You to the last drop. What love! Thank You for this saving balm!

May every heart, every tongue, now and forever, praise and thank this priceless balm, this saving Blood, this fountain of crimson Mercy welling up from the fountain of infinite Love. Amen

🙏🙏🙏

LITANY OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS - EVERY THURSDAY 

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

Jesus, hear us.

Jesus, graciously hear us.

 

God, the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, 

Have mercy on us.

 

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness.

Save us.

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, victor over demons,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,

Save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,

Save us.

 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

 

You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.

And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

 

Let us pray, - Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

🙏🙏🙏

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Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Bread of life is Food of Immortality.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

"I am the bread of life.

"Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;

 whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6: 44 - 51).

Thursday 27th April 2023 of the 3rd Week of Easter.

What does Jesus mean that He is the bread of life?

Jesus  gives us Himself as our nourishment. What does the Church teach about the Bread of life?

"It [Eucharist] refers directly to the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ, the "medicine of immortality," without which we have no life within us......The Eucharist is our daily bread. The power belonging to this divine food makes it a bond of union. Its effect is then understood as unity, so that, gathered into his Body and made members of him, we may become what we receive.  This also is our daily bread." (CCC 2837)

In the Eucharist, we receive who we are, the Body of Christ. 

Now we must become what we receive, the Body of Christ, St Augustine teaches.

Jesus also says in the Gospel of today:  "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

Eternal life starts right here and right now with BELIEF in Jesus.

In the Eucharist we are challenged to exercise the highest kind of faith in human experience. The bread you see before you looks, tastes and smells like ordinary bread.

Once the words of consecration are pronounced over it, it becomes the Flesh of Jesus Christ. Same with the wine when it is consecrated, it becomes the Blood of Jesus. Can you now understand why most of His disciples abandoned Him when Jesus unveiled this doctrine.

Many protestants mock Catholics for believing in the True and Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Jesus Himself says "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Samaritans welcomed Philip.

The first missionary opportunity came from the heat of persecution. 

"There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

"Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

"Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

"With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city." (Acts 8: 1 - 8).

Philip, the Deacon fled Jerusalem and landed in Samaria. What did he do? He preached the Good News in his new home and converted a large number of people to Christ the Lord. (Cf Acts 8: 5 - 8).

Necessity is the mother of invention. The mother eagle shakes out the nest so that the complacent little eaglets will learn to fly and embrace their life's mission.

Be alert. Be vigilant. Jesus may come like a thief in the night.

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