Who do you say that I am?

You Christian, Who do you say that I am? 

"Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

"They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

"He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

"Simon Peter said in reply,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

"Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

"Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ." (Matthew 16: 13 - 20).

Sunday August 27th 2023 in the 21st Week of Ordinary Time. 

Who is Jesus Christ to me? 

Since I interact with Jesus every day in Prayer, Word of God, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Examination of Conscience, Spiritual Reading and Ministry, shame on me if I am unable to say who Jesus Christ is to me. 

Here is my answer to the question You ask O Jesus. 

• You are my Lord and my God. You are my Savior and my Redeemer. 

• You are my best Friend and constant Companion. 

• You are Emmanuel who is always with me, in me and for me. 

Our Gospel of today is key to understanding  Ecclesia, Assembly, Church (all meaning the same thing) that Jesus Christ has set up. 

Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered for the Twelve:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus said to Peter in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  (Cf Matthew 16: 13 - 20).

Jesus builds His Church on rock of Peter's Confession. A Church that is defined as:

+ The People of God. 

+ The Body of Christ. 

+ The Temple of the Holy Spirit. 

A Church which manifests these characteristics:

#1. Pillar and Foundation of truth. 

#2. Always under attack by the Enemy. 

#2a. Victorious and Invincible. 

#3. Missionary and Catholic. 

#4. Infallibility in doctrine by Peter and his successors. 

#5. Hierarchy and sacred priesthood. 

#6. The Church of the Eucharist. 

Do you love the Church?  Saint Augustine writes, “We, therefore, receive the Holy Spirit if we love the Church, if we are joined together by charity, if we make the Catholic name and faith our joy. Believe it, brethren, to the extent that one loves the Church, to that extent he has the Holy Spirit within him”.

"Yes, here I was speaking of the Eucharist, the gift of My abiding presence to My Bride, the Church, and this until the end of time. Not one soul who belongs to Me is left friendless in this world so long as the Church continues to do what I commanded on the night before I suffered, in memory of Me. The Most Holy Eucharist is not only My Sacrifice offered to the Father, although in a bloodless manner; it is not only the sustenance of souls, nourishing them with My very Body and Blood; it is also the Sacrament of My divine friendship, the pledge of My burning desire to remain close to all who seek Me, to all who need Me, to all who would spend time in My company." IN SINU JESU page 54)

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 

If you fear the Lord, you will be mightily Blessed.

Blessings Promised to those who fear God.  

Examples of those who fear the Lord:

Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul and others. These are friends of God. 

"See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

"Blessed are you who fear the Lord,

who walk in his ways!

For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;

blessed shall you be, and favored. 

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home;

Your children like olive plants

around your table. 

Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord."

The Lord bless you from Zion:

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life." (Psalm  128:1b-2, 3, 4, 5).

Saturday August 26th in the 20th Week of Ordinary Time. Let us honor the Blessed Virgin Mary today under her title Mother of Perpetual Help. 

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Our key Scripture for today is from the Responsorial Psalm 128.

If the fear of God is in you, you will be mightily blessed.

Every one wants to be mightily blessed. But not everyone desires to fear the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is one of the Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you desire the blessings that come from the fear of the Lord, you desire the Gift that brings the blessings. Ask the Holy Spirit for the fear of the Lord and He will give you the gift.

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 Saints Louis of France and Joseph Calasanz.

Feast of Saints Louis of France and Joseph Calasanz. 

"Once in the time of the judges there was a famine in the land; so a man from Bethlehem of Judah departed with his wife and two sons to reside on the plateau of Moab.

"Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons, who married Moabite women, one named Orpah, the other Ruth.

"When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband.

"She then made ready to go back from the plateau of Moab because word reached her there that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.

"Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her.

"Naomi said, “See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!”

"But Ruth said, “Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

"Thus it was that Naomi returned with the Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who accompanied her back from the plateau of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest." 

(Ruth1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22).

Friday 25th August 2023 of the 20th Week of Ordinary Time.  We celebrate the lives of two saints. 

St Louis of France (1214 - 1270). He lived a simple life characterized by prayer and penance. God was pleased with Louis and raised him from the cares of earthly rule to the glory of heavenly kingdom.

We celebrate also today:

St Joseph Calasanz (1557 - 1648). Spanish Priest who dedicated his life in charity and patience to the education of poor children.

What is the common factor between King Louis and Father Joseph? They were separated by nearly 300 years. 

"Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property." 

St Louis the king of France had eleven children. As king of a great European power in the 13th century, Louis lived a life of penance and prayer and treated the French people as his children. 

St Joseph Calasanz dedicated his life in charity and patience to the education of poor children. He founded a religious order to cater for the poor and the abandoned children of Rome. It is reported of him that he founded the first free primary education for poor children. St Joseph Calasanz died in Rome in August 25th 1648 and was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. 

Our key Scripture for reflection is from the first Reading, the Book of Ruth. 

We reflect on the brave words of Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Unknown to Ruth, she had been chosen by God to be the great grandmother of King David and to become one of the three women in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Who is Ruth?  Ruth was a Moabite woman married to the son of Naomi. Ruth's husband died. Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem since her husband and two sons had died. She released her two daughters-in-law from any obligations towards her. Orpah, the other daughter-in-law left and went back to her people. Ruth refused to to leave Naomi.

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried."

This is a popular Scripture in weddings for obvious reasons.  Who would not like to have the like of Ruth as a daughter-in-law?

What can we learn from the character of Ruth? 

A spirit of sacrifice, hard work, loyalty and faithfulness. Although a stranger to the monotheistic religion of Israel, she no doubt fulfilled the ancient law enunciated by Jesus in the Gospel: "You shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." (Cf Matthew 22: 34 - 40).

 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 Bartholomew, Apostle.

Feast of the Apostle, St Bartholomew. 

"The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 

"He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God

"It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

"There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb."

 

(Revelations 21: 9b - 14).

Thursday 24th August 2023 of the 20th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr. 

St Bartholomew also known as Nathanael is one of the Twelve Apostles. Tradition says that St Bartholomew worked in India and Armenia where he was martyred.  The people of Armenia claim St Bartholomew as the Founder of the Armenian Church. 

Here is the amazing faith of Philip in Jesus who had just launched His public ministry:  “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Philip believes that Jesus is the Messiah.

When Philip told his friend Bartholomew that they found Jesus, he said:  “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

But Philip, a great evangelist said to Bartholomew, “Come and see.” Both Philip and Bartholomew spent some friendly time with Jesus that afternoon and both became His disciples. 

The interaction with Jesus closed the sale. And Bartholomew declared: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

We reflect on the message of the first Reading: Revelations 21: 9b - 14 because it touches the very core of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded on the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ did not found 50,000 churches but one Church: the Catholic Church. This Church is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth. (Cf 1 Timothy 3: 15).

The Feast of one Apostle, St Bartholomew celebrates the Feast of All the Apostles. This feast celebrates the Feast of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Church is the spotless Bride of the Lamb. It is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

This Church is unique in its divinely given features. These characteristics help us to recognize it easily anywhere in the world.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church helps us to recognize the true Church easily anywhere in the world. 

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 Rose of Lima, OP.

Feast of St Rose of Lima. 

"Jesus told his disciples this parable: 

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

"After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

"Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off.

"And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise.

"Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 

"When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’

"When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.

"And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’

"He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 

"Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Wednesday 23rd August 2023 of the 20th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Rose of Lima. (1586 - 1617). Lima, Peru. Virgin and a Dominican tertiary. 

Rose admired St Catherine of Siena from her youth and was deeply inspired by this Doctor of the Church who was a Dominican tertiary.  Rose of Lima became a Dominican tertiary and a model of penitence, prayer and simplicity. 

St Rose of Lima was canonized less than 50 years after her death in 1671. She became the first native born saint in the Americas.

Our Gospel for today is an allegory of the God's government of the Church. 

The Church on earth is the seed of the Kingdom of God. In this Kingdom, there is no unemployment. There is work for everyone in the Vineyard.

The Owner of the Vineyard is an equal opportunity Employer. He will be fair and generous.

The Vineyard Owner needs laborers for his vineyard. Hour after hour, he hires men from the labor market for his vineyard. Even at 5 pm, an hour to the end of the work day, he said to a few men he found at the labor center, "Why have you been standing here idle all day? You go into my vineyard too.”

 But do not be surprised and bitter if every worker is paid the same. Why were the late workers paid first?

God's mighty and merciful Providence can be very mysterious to us.

"The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.”  The Church is the vineyard of the Lord. (Cf Isaiah 5: 7).

At the end of the parable, the Master asked the disgruntled workers:

"What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?" (Matthew 20: 14 - 15).

Since the Parable of the Vineyard is an allegory for the Church today, we may wonder:

Look at the harvest! Where are the workers?

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 9: 37 - 38).

"I am the source of all fruitfulness in the vineyard that is My Church. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. Come to Me, then. Remain with Me. Act for Me, guided by My Holy Spirit, and return to Me with thanksgiving. This is the secret of a priestly life that will be pleasing to Me, will build up My Church, and will glorify My Father." (IN SINU JESU page 103).

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