The Little Ones We Know.

The Little Ones 

"At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. 

"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” 

(Matthew 11: 25 - 30). 

Sunday 9th July 2023 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time. 

"At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones." 

Who are the "little ones"? What can we learn from them?

1. St Aloysius Gonzaga died at the age of 21. Performed no great deeds. He did not write any books. He simply loved Jesus. 

2. 

The Little Flower. She had very little in terms of biography. She died at the age of 23. She wrote a simple story of her life that became a best seller. What did she do that is extraordinary? She loved Jesus simply. 

3. St Maria Faustina. 

St Maria Faustina died at the age of 34. Maria is one of the Little Ones because she loved Jesus with everything she had. Jesus used her to introduce the Divine Mercy Devotion to the world. 

These little ones had great love for Jesus. But remember that Jesus first loved each of them. They responded to the love of Jesus with vivacity. 

How can we respond to this love initiative of Jesus? 

• Prayer. 

• Eucharist. 

• Reading His word every day. 

• Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

• Etc. 

July is the Month the Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Strange Ways of Divine Providence.

The Strange Ways of Divine Providence. 

"When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!” “Yes, father!” he replied. Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old that I may now die at any time. 

"Take your gear, therefore—your quiver and bow—and go out into the country to hunt some game for me. With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”

Rebekah had been listening while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau. So, when Esau went out into the country to hunt some game for his father, Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau that she had in the house, and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear; and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands and the hairless parts of his neck.

 "Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish and the bread she had prepared.

"Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!” “Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?” 

"Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born. I did as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your special blessing.”

"But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”

"He answered, “The Lord, your God, let things turn out well with me.”

"Isaac then said to Jacob, “Come closer, son, that I may feel you, to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.” 

"So Jacob moved up closer to his father. When Isaac felt him, he said, “Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.” 

"(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy, like those of his brother Esau; so in the end he gave him his blessing.) 

"Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”

“Certainly,” Jacob replied.

"Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it and then give you my blessing.”

"Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate; he brought him wine, and he drank. Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob, 

“Come closer, son, and kiss me.” As Jacob went up and kissed him, Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes. With that, he blessed him saying,

“Ah, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field that the Lord has blessed!

“May God give to you of the dew of the heavens. And of the fertility of the earth abundance of grain and wine.

“Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you.” (Genesis 27: 1 - 5, 15 - 29).

Saturday July 8th 2023 in 13th Week of Ordinary Time. Let us honor the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Mediatrix of All graces. 

(Is Rebecca a type and shadow of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our First Reading today? St Louis Marie de Monfort thinks so). 

The story of how Jacob "duped" Isaac of his birth right makes an interesting reading anytime. Charactererizing this event as duping is not to understand the role of the powerful, merciful and mysterious Divine Providence in creation and in human history and in incident. 

Jacob has been chosen before the world began as part of the chronology of Jesus Christ. 

There are no Accidents in history. Everything is Divine Providence. 

God says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,  my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 8 - 9). 

July is the Month the Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Call of Matthew the Apostle.

The Call of Matthew the Apostle. 

"As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

"He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

"While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

"The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 

"He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 

"Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 (Matthew 9: 9 - 13). 

Friday July 7th 2023 in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is also First Friday in July. 

Jesus Christ appears to walk casually in the business district where the Tax Offices are located. Really? Not at all! 

There are No Accidents in God's business. Everything is Providence. Jesus had divine appointment with Mr Matthew, the Taxman on that day. Matthew was ready. He rejoiced inwardly that his waiting is over. 

Matthew celebrated his calling by throwing a large party. Many of his friends came to celebrate with him this strange event. 

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” asked the self-righteous Pharisees. 

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Do you know the ABC of Mercy? 

A = Ask for Mercy. 

B = Be Merciful. 

C = Confidently trust Jesus for Mercy. 

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this First Friday in July.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this First Friday July 7th 

July 7th , 2023 is First Friday in July, 2023.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 7th month of the year, July 2023, we look at Promise #7. 

#7.  "Tepid souls shall become fervent." 

What is tepid?  Tepid is defined as lukewarm, slightly warm, unenthusiastic, apathetic, half-hearted. 

Listen to what Jesus says about such persons:

"Because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  (Revelations 3: 16). 

Are you lukewarm with regards to Jesus, to spiritual things? Regain your fire through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

"We should, every morning, place our sufferings, prayers and labors in the pierced Heart of Jesus; there everything will be purified and perfected." (Author of "Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus"). 

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional 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

The Feast of St Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr.

The Feast of St Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr. 

"After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” 

At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 

"Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

"Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

"He rose and went home. 

"When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men." (Matthew 9: 1 - 8).

Thursday July 6th 2023, 13th Week in 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 went to Confession and became reconciled with God and with the Church. 

Alessandro Serenelli was in the audience at the Vatican when Maria was canonized in 1950.

Alessandro later joined the Capuchin monastery.

St Maria Goretti is the patron saint of purity, young women, rape victims and youth.

Our Gospel of today from Matthew 9: 1 - 8 deals with Sin and Forgiveness of Sin. Jesus scandalized the Scribes by forgiving sins. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ caused St Maria Goretti to forgive Alessandro who stabbed her several times before she died. 

Once upon a time, I struggled with alcohol abuse. I kept it secret and tried everything I knew to heal myself. Persistence did not break the resistance of the demons holding me captive. 

Then one Saturday afternoon, in the Sacrament of Penance, I confessed this same sin again. 

As I got to the pew and knelt down to do my penance, I heard distinctly an inner voice:

"If you want, I can heal you." I said: "Yes Lord. Heal me."

I have not touched a drop of alcohol since that day. It has been over 25 years.

Jesus is the Master of the 2nd Chance. He offered the Paralytic man a 2nd Chance for a new beginning. 

He offered the Apostle Peter a 2nd Chance. Jesus offered Alessandro a 2nd Chance. He offered me a 2nd Chance. 

We are saved by grace through faith. The day Jesus freed me from the oppression of alcohol by His merciful love, I received a free gift but I cooperated with Jesus like the crippled man and Alessandro by saying "Yes Lord. Heal me."

Where do you need healing in your life? Jesus is always passing by. Are you ready for Him?

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of Saints Elizabeth of Portugal and Anthony Mary Zecharia.

The Feast of Sts Elizabeth of Portugal and Anthony Mary Zacharia. 

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

"When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 

"Fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for nought is lacking to those who fear him.

"The great grow poor and hungry; but those who seek the Lord want for no good thing.  

"Come, children, hear me;I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Which of you desires life, and takes delight in prosperous days? 

(Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13). 

Wednesday July 5th in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Elizabeth of Portugal. 

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. 

Today is also the feast of St Anthony Mary Zecharia. 

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.

Our key Scripture for today is from the Responsorial Psalm 34. Very beautiful and comforting Psalm. 

When you start to fear the Lord, you start experiencing His favors in extraordinary ways. The Lord hears the cry of the poor who fears Him. The fear of the Lord is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit relentlessly to increase in you the fear of the Lord and you will see how you enjoy abundant life and consolations. 

July is the Month the Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I am always with you. You can never drown.

I am with you. You cannot drown. 

"As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

"Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

"But he was asleep. 

"They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 

"He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” 

"Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. 

"The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 23 - 27).

Tuesday of July the 4th. 13th Week in Ordinary Time is Independence Day in the United States of America. 

What sort of man is this, watching America sink? 

What sort of man is this, watching Russia batter small Ukraine? 

What sort of man is this, watching the Church spin out of control? 

That Man is Jesus Christ. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, true God and true Man. He says:

"Trust Me with the timing of all things." (IN SINU JESU, March 2, 2010).

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, Missionary and Martyr.

The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle. 

"Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 

"So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

"But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

"Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

"Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 

"Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 

"Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20: 24 - 29).

Monday July 3rd 2023 in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Thomas, Apostle and Martyr. 

Thomas was a Missionary and died a martyr. Christians remember Thomas as the "doubting Thomas."

What is the error of Thomas?

Thomas refused to believe after he heard from Peter and the other Apostles that Jesus is risen from the dead. He heard the witness of Mary Magdalene who was the first to see the Risen Jesus. Thomas still refused to believe. Against reason, he refused to believe the testimony of faithful, true and credible witnesses.

In the plan of salvation, God wills that we believe the witness of faithful, true and credible persons. Jesus Christ cannot appear to 7 Billion people individually and preach the Good News to each.

There are just a few things in life we can see and touch and prove to our own satisfaction. Vast majority of things we believe because someone we trust tells us so. 

We believe our parents, teachers and friends on many things. Some believe whatever their doctor tells them but will not believe their Bishop.

Disbelief, unbelief, unreasonable doubt are crippling mental states. Can you believe that there are folks among us today who deny the Holocaust? Victims of these barbarism are still live among us.

"Satan hates those who, resisting his lies, have remained close to Me, adoring Me in the Sacrament of My love, and consoling My Heart that is so afflicted by the ingratitude of men and their lack of faith in the mystery of love that is My real Eucharistic presence." (IN SINU JESU).

Jesus told Thomas, "Stop doubting and believe.”  (John 20: 27).  

This command was all that Thomas needed to make him a super believer.  Jesus too can command our doubts, fears and worries to disappear.  Let us ask Him:

Lord Jesus, command that we no longer be faithless but strong believers in You and Your mission.   Say but a word Jesus and our doubts will be gone. Amen.

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. In July 2021, the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ healed my sick heart. I share the testimony below. Click the link below to read and believe. 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-precious-blood-of-jesus-christ.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com