The Prophet Elijah at the Mountain of God.

Elijah experiences God at Horeb. 

"At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.

"Then the Lord said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.”

"A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord—but the Lord was not in the wind.

"After the wind there was an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

"After the earthquake there was fire—but the Lord was not in the fire.

"After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

"When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave."

 

(1 Kings 19: 9a,11 - 13a).

Sunday August 13th 2023 in the 19th Week of Ordinary Time.

Elijah had just won a great victory for God by massacring all the four hundred prophets of Baal. Jezabel threatened a summary revenge. To escape from Jezabel, Elijah hid in a cave at Horeb.

God came to Horeb looking for His servant, Elijah. God manifested Himself in the form of a heavy wind, an earthquake, fire and a whispering sound.

These different manifestations of the Lord is called theophanies of the awesome Person, Presence and Power of God.

At the Feast of the Epiphany, Jesus Christ was manifested  to the Three Wisemen who visited Him in His humble lodging after His birth. Just as Elijah recognized the Lord in the whispering sound, the Three Wisemen recognized Jesus through His swaddling cloth. They paid Him homage regardless His humble surroundings.

The Lord God wants to manifest Himself to you. He manifests Himself through these forms:

1. Inspirations (tiny voices).

2. Locution (You hear an audible voice).

3. Sacred Scripture (you are directed to read a specific Scripture verse).

4. Prophetic Person (Some holy person gives you a message).

5. Dream (A message comes to you through dreams).

When Elijah heard the whispering sound, 

"Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave."

In order words, Elijah showed an obedience and humility of faith.

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious and Foundress.

Feast of St Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious and Foundress. 

"A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.”

"Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured.

"Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”

"He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

(Matthew 17: 14 - 20).

Saturday August 12th 2023, 18th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Jane Frances de Chantal, French. 

 (1572 - 1641). Religious.

At the age of 20, Jane married a noble man, Baron de Chantal. After her husband died, Jane settled her children and embraced the ideals of religious life: chastity and poverty. 

Jane cofounded the Order of the Visitation with St Francis de Sales (Bishop and Doctor of the Church).

Jane Frances left Behind a large quantity of letters between her and St Francis de Sales that offer great insight on spiritual direction.

The Apostles asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon from the lunatic boy.  “Because of your little faith."

How much life will open up to us if we have faith. Without faith, we cannot please God. Without faith, the treasures of the word of God are not accessible to us. 

If only we  cry out to Jesus daily in outmost fervor and sincerity: "Lord Jesus increase our faith." The result will amaze us. Always remember the promise of Jesus on Prayer: "ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE."

To ask for your faith to be increased is a prayer most pleasing to Jesus. Now you can hear in your inner heart Jesus say this to you:

"Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

"The loss of faith that afflicts so many souls is incompatible with a life of adoration. Souls do not stop adoring because they have lost their faith; they lose their faith because they have stopped adoring Me. This is why I would have you hold fast even to the outward forms of adoration. When even these things are cast aside, there is nothing left to invite the soul to the inward adoration in spirit and in truth by which I am glorified. I speak here of the genuflection, the prostration, the profound bow and all the other marks of attention to My presence that provide the soul with a language in which she can express her faith and her desire to adore Me." (IN SINU JESU page 87).

Thank You Jesus for this wonderful truth! O that You will impress it so deeply in our souls.

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Clare, Virgin and Foundress.

Feast of St Clare, Virgin and Foundress. 

"Jesus said to his disciples,

“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 will find it.

"What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

"Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

"For the Son of Man will come with his ­angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct.

"Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” (Matthew 16: 24 - 28).

Friday 11th August 2023 of the 18th week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Clare. (1193 - 1253). Italian.

At 18, Clare was not only beautiful but her parents were very wealthy. She gave up everything to follow the original Little One, Jesus Christ our Savior. Imitating St Francis of Assisi, the little poor man of Asissi. Clare embraced radical poverty.

 She founded the Poor Clares and modeled its constitution from what she learned from St Francis of Assisi. The Poor Clares continue to serve the Church today. 

I know one Poor Clare Nun, who made a great contribution to the world. Mother Angelica (+ 2016). 

She founded EWTN, a global Catholic Television Network. For me, Mother Angelica is a saint. She prayed and worked. She suffered persecution from inside and outside the Church. She experienced much ill health most of her life. She remained a Poor Clare all her life. "Santo Subito!"

"UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE RIDICULOUS, GOD WILL NOT DO THE MIRACULOUS."

 (MOTHER ANGELICA OF EWTN, A  POOR CLARE). 

Our Gospel this Friday is one of the greatest. Understand and embrace the message and you will understand the whole message and meaning of Christianity. Embrace the message and you will be happy forever.

We labor and are burdened in life over: Health, Family, Money, Job, Tools, Food, Future issues.  As the catechumens are advised in the Rite of Acceptance, the Cross of Christ is the only answer.  The Cross is the full truth of the Gospel. (Cf Luke 24: 25 - 27).

Jesus laid down the grim cost of discipleship:

#1 Take up your cross and follow me. Your cross are the trials that you can't escape: health, joblessness, poverty, etc.

#2 Be prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice with your life if it becomes necessary. "For whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

As the God-Man filled with the Holy Spirit and Wisdom, Jesus knew that no one will respond to His challenge unless the bait is bigger than the sacrifice. And it is.

Here is what Jesus promises:

• 1. The Holy Spirit is promised with His gifts and fruits.

• 2. The Presence of Jesus is always with the disciple.

• 3. Peace, comfort and joy, courage, contentment are always there on tap.

These are real and substantial benefits.  Think of this for a moment: How did so many Christians made up of mature men and women, boys and girls, princesses and peasants, clerics and lay faithful chose to give up their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ? Because they knew and believed that there is a better life waiting for them.

The saints who took up the challenges of discipleship believed Jesus. Do you believe Jesus?

"For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct." (Matthew 16: 27).

I believe that Jesus has designed a yoke for each of us that fits each perfectly and the burden we are given to carry from day by day is light.

"The exercise of faith increases faith. The exercise of confidence causes confidence to grow. One who approaches My tabernacle in faith is giving evidence of a complete reliance on My merciful love. The Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is My Heart, open to receive those who will respond to My timeless invitation: “Come unto Me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet, and My burden light.” (IN SINU JESU, Wednesday, January 10, 2012).

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr.

Feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. 

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;

"But if it dies, it produces much fruit.

"Whoever loves his life loses it,

"and who­ever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

"Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.

"The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

 (John 12: 24 - 26).

Thursday August 10th 2023 in the 18th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. (+258). 

St Lawrence, Roman citizen born in Spain. Archdeacon in the Church of Rome during the pontificate of Pope St Sixtus II. St Lawrence spent his life in the service of the poor of Rome. He perished in a gruesome torture under the persecution of Emperor Valerian.

St Lawrence is the Doyen of all the Deacons of the Church. Happy feast day all you holy deacons out there.

Lavishly Lawrence gave to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (Cf Responsorial Psalm 112).

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9: 6).

St Lawrence sowed bountifully and the Lord rewarded him and made him the Doyen of Deacons and patron Saint of many charities.

During the trial of St Lawrence, the  judge asked: “Where are the riches of the Church?” But Lawrence extended his hand toward the poor and said: “These are the riches of the Church.”

Lawrence cared for the poor, the ill, and the abandoned of Rome and became their patron. St Lawrence is the patron saint of deacons, librarians, cooks, seminarians and students, butchers, etc.

St Lawrence answered the call to the clerical state when that calling was a certain death sentence. Jesus empowered Lawrence with His grace and the Holy Spirit enabled Lawrence to produce large harvest.

"The attack on My priesthood that appears to be spreading and growing is, in fact, in its final stages. It is a satanic and diabolical onslaught against My Bride the Church, an attempt to destroy her by attacking the most wounded of her ministers in their carnal weaknesses; but I will undo the destruction they have wrought and I will cause My priests and My Spouse the Church to recover a glorious holiness that will confound My enemies and be the beginning of a new era of saints, of martyrs, and of prophets." (IN SINU JESU page 149).

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O'CARM.

Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O'CARM (Edith Stein). 

"At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

"But he did not say a word in answer to her.

"His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”

"He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

"But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”

"He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

"She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 

"Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” 

"And her daughter was healed from that hour." (Matthew

15: 21 - 28).

Wednesday 9th August 2023 in the 18th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Benedicta of the Cross. O'Carm.  (1891 - 1942). Virgin & Martyr. Polish.

Teresa was born Edith Stein of Jewish parents and converted to the Church after reading the books of St Teresa of Avila. 

Some years after her conversion to the Catholic Church, she followed St Teresa of Avila into the Carmelite Order.

Edith Stein was a well established philosopher in the universities in Germany.  The Gestapo arrested her on August 2nd 1942 and sent her to Auschwitz where she died in the gas chambers on August 9th.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus said to the Canaanite woman: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour." (Matthew 15: 28).

What is faith?

Before the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel, Mary knew God as:

Almighty, All-knowing, All-powerful, All-loving, All-merciful, etc.

Her profound personal knowledge of God is the foundation of her faith.

The Canaanite woman is a believer who was searching desperately for a miraculous healing for her child. She heard about Jesus from a friend or a neighbor. She believed immediately what she heard about the miraculous powers of Jesus. She packed her bag and went in search of Jesus. Her strong faith and expectations created resilience in her. She was prepared to be rebuffed by Jesus and was determined to have her miracle.

The Bible praises faith as one of the greatest gifts of God and a profound mystery.

A little child is capable of great faith as a very old woman. Saints Catherine of Siena and Therese the Little Flower came to great faith at the age of six.

 Some quotes on faith:

#1 "The just shall live by faith." We live by faith and not by sight or feeling. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, we live by the word of God that cannot fail.

#2 "We are saved by grace through faith." 

#3 Faith comes by hearing the personal word of God to you and saying a firm Amen to it.

#4 God's grace is abundant to save us and fulfill the desires of our heart but you must accept the word you receive in faith. 

The 11th Chapter of Hebrews is the list of some of the most important people in the Bible.

They all achieved fame and greatness through their faith.

You too can overcome every challenge through faith. Two great tools to help develop your faith:

#1 Daily consumption of the word of God.

#2 Daily conversation with God through prayer.

Since you know this, you will be blessed if you do it.

August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph." 

For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com