The Canaanite Woman Passed the test of faith.

The Testing & Expansion of the Faith of the Canaanite Woman. 

"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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. 

"Jesus’ 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 Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

"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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour." (Matthew 15: 21 - 28).

Sunday August 20th in the 20th Week of Ordinary Time.

We heard the Gospel of the Canaanite Woman on Wednesday 9th August 2023. 

Why is the Church repeating the same Gospel today? Perhaps because the Gospel still contains a lot of meat and marrow. I got fresh insight when I reflected on the Gospel again today.

I have been going through a series of spiritual trials and desolations for a couple of weeks. I was mystified because I could not discern from my behavior the cause for this. 

Today God used the book of Father Timothy Gallagher: IGNATIAN DISCERNMENT IN DAILY LIFE - FINDING GOD IN ALL THINGS to open my eyes a little. 

In our Gospel of today, Jesus was testing the faith of the Canaanite Woman. Jesus wants to take her faith to a new level. The Canaanite Woman passed the test. 

God could NEVER say NO to any proper prayer. God promises:

"Ask and you will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you." 

Then God adds: "Whoever asks shall receive..." 

In another passage God promises that "Whatever you ask for shall be given you..." 

For God to say No to a proper Prayer will be DIVINE INJUSTICE. God is not capable of being unjust. It is one of the greatest lies of Satan to convince us that God is a Liar. Satan wants us to believe that God never answers all our prayers. 

In the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18: 1 - 8, Jesus calls failure to answer prayers by God an act of injustice. Read the text below:

"Because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’”  The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?  I tell you, he will see to it that JUSTICE  is done for them speedily."

Jesus boosted the faith of the Canaanite Woman through Divine Pedagogy. (How God teaches human beings).

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

"And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour." (Matthew 15: 21 - 28).

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 John Eudes, Priest and Founder.

Joshua Last State of the Nation Address to the Elders of Israel. 

"Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and addressed them, saying: 

“Fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely.

"Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

"If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

"But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. 

[NEVER NEVER SHALL WE FORSAKE THE LORD WHO SAVED US FROM THE EGYPTIAN SLAVERY!!] 

"He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 

"At our approach the Lord drove out all the peoples, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

"Joshua in turn said to the people, “You may not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If, after the good he has done for you, you forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, he will do evil to you and destroy you.”

"But the people answered Joshua, “We will still serve the Lord.” Joshua therefore said to the people, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord.” They replied, “We are, indeed!” 

"Joshua continued: “Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 

Then the people promised Joshua, “We will serve the Lord, our God, and obey his voice.”

"So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem, which he recorded in the book of the law of God.

"Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord. 

And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.” 

"Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.

"After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten." (Joshua 24: 14 - 29).

Saturday August 19th 2023, 19th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Eudes. (1601 - 1680).

St John Eudes was a French priest and a gifted preacher.

 St John Eudes took a private vow of chastity at the age of 14 and was ordained a priest at 25.  He became a great and talented preacher of the Gospel and an eminent evangelist. St John Eudes had great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 He founded the Society of Jesus and Mary (Eudists).  He later founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge for ex prostitutes. He was declared by Pope Leo XIII as “father, doctor, and apostle of the liturgical cult of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.”

Yesterday, we read the equivalent of a great State of the Nation Address by Joshua to the Elders of Israel. Today is a follow up to the Great Speech. Joshua conscious that his death is near had to instruct the People what it takes to maintain friendship with God and consequently their wellbeing and prosperity.

It takes more than "We will serve the Lord" to actually serve the Lord. If you are to serve the Lord, you will serve Him day after day for life.

The spirit to serve the Lord may be there, but the flesh is weak. To serve the Lord faithfully for life like Abraham, Jacob, David you need the anointing and a Plan. This is what your Plan may look like:

The 7-Way Plan:

1. Prayer 

2. Scriptures 

3. Eucharist 

4. Reconciliation 

5. Examination of conscience 

6. Spiritual Reading 

7. Ministry or Faith-Sharing. 

These are the Daily Habits of Saints. 

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 Israelites learn of their sacred history and Divine Providence from Joshua.

JOSHUA recounts the Sacred History and Divine Providence in the life of Israel. 

"Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: 

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: In times past your fathers, down to Terah, father of Abraham and Nahor, dwelt beyond the River and served other gods.

"But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the River and led him through the entire land of Canaan.

"I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir in which to settle, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigies which I wrought in her midst. 

"Afterward I led you out of Egypt, and when you reached the sea, the Egyptians pursued your fathers to the Red Sea with chariots and horsemen.

"Because they cried out to the Lord, he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians, upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them.

"After you witnessed what I did to Egypt, and dwelt a long time in the desert, I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them, the two kings of the Amorites, before you. 

"Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, prepared to war against Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you; but I would not listen to Balaam. On the contrary, he had to bless you, and I saved you from him.

"Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power. 

"And I sent the hornets ahead of you that drove them (the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow.

“I gave you a land which you had not tilled and cities which you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” (Joshua 24: 1 - 13).

Friday August 18th 2023 in the 19th Week of Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture for today is from Joshua 24: 1 - 13.

Call this Scripture: The Sacred History of Israel and the working of Divine Providence in the People chosen by God to be His family.

What is Divine Providence?

It is the Plan, Purpose, Design, Blueprint in the mind of God for a people or an individual. This Plan or Purpose was not conceived Yesterday.  This Design or Blueprint has been in the mind of God from Eternity.

"LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago."

 (Isaiah 25: 1 NIV).

God chose and called Abraham to be the Father of the Chosen People. From Abraham, Joshua traced the history to the conquest of the Promised Land.

Do you have a family history? Do you have a personal history of God's dealings in your life, containing the landmarks, Ups and Downs? Do you have a personal diary, a journal recording important events in your life?

Today's first Reading is to challenge us to review our sacred history of God's Providence in our lives. You will be amazed to discover events similar to the following:

“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigies which I wrought in her midst...

"Because they cried out to the Lord, he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians, upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them.... 

"Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power.... 

FINALLY NOTE:

"I gave you a land which you had not tilled and cities which you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”

From the beginning of the Journey to the End, God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence watched over the people to do them good. 

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

Pray for all those you offend to forgive you.

Pray for all those you offend and you will be a Forgiver. 

"Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

"Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

"That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

"When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 

"At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’

"Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 

"When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

"Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt.

"Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. 

"His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’

"Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. 

"So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

"When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan." (Matthew 18: 21 - 19: 1).

Thursday August 17th 2023 in the 19th Week of Ordinary Time.

Why did Jesus conclude the teaching on Our Father, the Lord's Prayer by stating unequivocally a precondition for the forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with the Father? 

This is obviously an important theme for Jesus because He taught it again in today's Gospel in Matthew 18:21–35, which concluded thus: "Then in anger his master handed him [the unforgiving servant] over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

Reconciliation is crucial to enjoying the privileges of filial adoption. A girl who ran away from home and lived a lawless life for a couple of years may be hesitant as she approaches home. The prodigal son understands that there are consequences to vagrancy and knows the importance of Reconciliation.

Many people claim that forgiveness of the other person is hard. Really? 

Lessons that help forgiveness:

#1. Forgive at once.

#2. Forgive everyone without discrimination.

#3. Forgive always.

#4. Forgive everywhere.

#5. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Forgive everyone. This step is modeled for us from the Cross.  Jesus forgave in real time those who were killing Him. He did not wait until Easter Sunday when He rose from the dead to forgive.

#6.  Pray everyday for all those whom you have offended, known or unknown to forgive you and set you free.

Jesus Christ invites us to a life of continual conversion so that we can pray Our Father (the Lord's Prayer) with confidence.

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 Stephen of Hungary.

Feast of St Stephen of Hungary. 

"Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land—Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordan with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms, and as far as Zoar.

"The Lord then said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over.”

"So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the Lord, died as the Lord had said; and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial.

"Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.

"For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

"Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him; and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience, thus carrying out the Lord’s command to Moses.

"Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel."

 (Deuteronomy 34: 1 - 12).

Wednesday 16th August 2023 in the 19th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Stephen of Hungary. 

St Stephen of Hungary was born in 969 and died on August 15th 1038). Monarch.

St Stephen was crowned king of Hungary on Christmas day 1001 by Emperor Otto III by the permission of Pope Sylvester II. 

 

Stephen earned his greatness in Christian history by founding monasteries and organizing dioceses thereby transforming Hungary into a Christian nation. St Stephen and his wife Blessed Gisela were the parents of St. Emeric.

St Stephen is the patron saint of: Hungary, kings, bricklayers and masons.

Our key Scripture is from the first Reading: Deuteronomy 34: 1 - 12. This reading brings to a conclusion the epic story of Moses which was started in Exodus 1.

We recap what we learned about this towering figure of the Bible below:

Moses the humble shepherd of the priest of Madian is chosen, called and anointed as the man who will lead Israel out of Egypt, receive The Ten Commandments from God and deliver it to the People. 

God choose the people the world consider absurd to serve Him in high office. 

Consider the profile of Moses at Exodus 1:

• 80 years humble Shepherd. 

• Possible speech impediment. 

• Fugitive from the criminal justice system of powerful Egypt. 

Why did God choose such a man?

Because this is who God is and how He works. God choose people despised by this world and promote them to do great things. Call it the mystery of Divine Providence. 

In the Magnificat, Mary reveals the divine template when it comes to the Choice, the Call and the Anointing of His collaborators:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great thingsfor me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1: 46 - 49).

This template of Choice, Call and Anointing applies to the Patriarchs: (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) David, Mary, John the Baptist, etc. 

At the end of the life of Moses, God said to His best friend Moses:

“This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over.”

Call this the mystery of Divine Providence. 

Here is the great Epitaph to Moses from the Holy Bible:

"Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel." (Cf Deuteronomy 34: 1 - 12).

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