The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

"As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

"Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

"John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and said were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they ­acknowledged their sins. 

"John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on ­locusts and wild honey.

“And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1: 1 - 8).

Sunday December 10th of the 2nd Week of Advent. 

What is a Beginning? 

We are familiar with the following beginnings:

The beginning of an Administration. 

The beginning of a school year. 

The beginning of the reign of king or queen. 

Why is a beginning important? 

A beginning is like the Arcon seed that conceals the genetic code of the future Arcon tree. 

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ contains the following genetic codes. 

1. John the Baptist appears preaching a Baptism of Repentance. 

2. John points to Jesus who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

3. The Holy Spirit will help Jesus gather and form the first disciples of Jesus, who will be the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth, the Church of the Living God. 

This small beginning in salvation history is not so small after all. 

Be ready to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit this Advent. 

Happy Advent!

"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Juan Diego, the Apostle of Mexico..

St Juan Diego, Apostle of Mexico.

“Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.

“At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

"Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

"Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” 

(Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8) 

Saturday 9th December 2023 of the 1st Week of Advent is the feast of St Juan Diego. (1474 - 1548). Mexican. 

St Juan Diego was a Hermit and visionary. Our Blessed Mother appeared to this humble and simple Mexican Indian and used him to transform the nation of the Aztecs. "Behold the humble maid servant of the Lord. Be it done to me according to Your promise." God can use you and me to accomplish great things in the world. All He needs is humility and faith like the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Mary said to St Juan Diego:

“Let not your heart be disturbed… Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.” (Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego). 

"Be on your guard, then, and be prudent, but without fear, because I am your Mother and, just as I said to my beloved little son Juan Diego, I hold you beneath my protecting mantle, in the crossing of my arms, close, very close to my Immaculate Heart. Trust in my protection. Yes, I am your Mother of Perpetual Help, ever ready to come to your rescue, ever ready to provide for your needs, to deliver you from danger, and to console you in sorrow. Approach me with childlike confidence and you will never be disappointed." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, December 9, 2008).

In the Gospel of today, Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them a mission with authority. 

Who are the Twelve disciples today? Historically, the Twelve disciples represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Today they are the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles. 

In the Gospel of today, we see the rollout of God's Plan. The Twelve Tribes became the Twelve Apostles. The Twelve became the beginning of the Seed of the Kingdom, the Church. The Church is the Seed of the the Kingdom of God on earth. (CCC 671).

The Kingdom of heaven is not just at hand. It is here. We are the New Israel.  Our mandate is to take authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness and to preach the Good News to everyone on earth.

"Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 10: 6 - 7).

Jesus had a magnificent obsession for the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants you and me to develop such an obsession. Various opposing but not contradictory statements describe the Kingdom:

#1. It is here and now and there and then.

#2. The Kingdom is immanent and transcendent.

#3. It is visible and invisible.

"The kingdom of God is close at hand: repent and believe the Good News." (Mark 1: 15).

The Church is the Guardian of the greatest mystery of the Kingdom of God: the Eucharist. 

"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 2023.

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 

"And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

"But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

"Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” 

"But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

"And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

"Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1: 26-38).

Friday 8th December 2023 of the First Week of Advent is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  Multiple Masses in many parishes. 

This is the patronal feast of the United States of America. It is a holy Day of Obligation. Honor our Divine Mother by attending Holy Mass on her very special Feast Day. 

What is the Immaculate Conception and why does it matter?

In the first Reading today from Genesis, God said to the Serpent: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel." (Genesis 3: 15).

This is the promise of our Redemption after the fall of Adam and Eve. God chose Mary before the foundation of the world and prepared her to be the sinless Mother of His Son. God preserved the Blessed Virgin Mary from original sin by virtue of the Death of her Son, Jesus the Christ which God foresaw.

Only a pure Vessel can hold a pure God. Why does this matter? Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man. Although Mary is 100% human, it is absolute necessity that the Mother of the Redeemer be not tainted with the least sin.

Mary's generosity in giving her Yes made the Incarnation possible.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38).

The total faith and surrender that Mary displayed here is rewarded by God's special revelation to Mary:

"For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1: 37).

Let this words nourish our faith today and always. When you are afraid, when you worry, when you are tempted to doubt God's power and promises, redouble your trust in God and remember that nothing will be impossible for God.

In his papal Magisterium, Pope St John Paul II, declared:

“The Immaculate Conception shines like a beacon of light for humanity in all the ages. At the beginning of the third millennium, it guides us to believe and hope in God, in his salvation and in eternal life. In particular, it lights the way of the Church, which is committed to the new evangelization.”  (Pope John Paul II on Dec 8). 

"Honour My Mother in the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. This is a mystery full of grace and of light for those who ponder it. It is the remedy for many of the ills that afflict My priests and poison their souls. Invoke My Mother conceived without sin and she will communicate to you something of the purity and brightness of her all-holy and immaculate Heart." (IN SINU JESU, November 29, 2008 After First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent).

"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 

"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” (Matthew 7: 21, 24 - 27).

Thursday December 7th 2023 of the first Week of Advent is the feast of St Ambrose (340 - 397). Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

St Ambrose was still unbaptized and mayor of the imperial city of Milan when he was elected the Bishop of Milan. 

Aided by the Holy Spirit, Ambrose quickly rose to the challenges of his calling. God gave him the courage of an apostle and made him an outstanding teacher in the Church. He was famous for his care of the poor and his apostolic zeal and opposition to the Arian heresy which was the scourge of the Church in the 4th and 5th century. St Ambrose converted and baptized St Augustine.

Our key Scripture instructs us to build our lives on rock. That Rock is Jesus. If we do not build on Him, we build on sand.

To build your life on rock, you need Wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us make good choices and decisions. Wisdom deals with Choice - this or that? To build the foundation of your family home on rock or try to save money and compromise the foundation with inferior material..

True wisdom lies in hearing and doing the word of God, the will of God, the command of God. How do we become wise?

How do good and godly choices become a habit?

#1. Pray for Wisdom every day. You will surely get it.

#2. Read and ponder the word of God daily. It is the source and foundation of Wisdom.

#3. Practice daily examination of conscience. You will see where you have been wise and foolish in the course of the day. You resolve to act appropriately in the future.

Wisdom is listed as the first of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Ask and you receive Him immediately.

"Trust Me with all the events of your life. I will not abandon you. You are Mine and I will not forsake you. The decisions of men are all in My hands. Nothing will befall you that I do not permit. I will give you My grace to accept the changing circumstances of your life. It is I who am behind all that happens to you. Nothing escapes My wisdom; nothing escapes My love; nothing escapes My omnipotence. Trust Me, and be at peace. I bless you with all the love of My Sacred Heart. Do not be afraid. Tell Me again and again that you trust in My merciful love for you." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, June 17, 2008 ).

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the Month of December. The preeminent feast of Mary is December 8th, the great Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Honor Mary under her Immaculate Conception every day this December.

"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Feast of St Nicholas, Bishop.

The Feast of St Nicholas, Bishop. 

"At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.

"Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. 

"The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.

"Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” 

"The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”

"Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”

“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”

"He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 

"They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—­seven baskets full." (Matthew 15: 29 - 37).

Wednesday 6th December 2023 of the First Week of Advent is the feast of St Nicholas (270 - 349 ).

St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in present day Turkey. He was one of the 318 Bishops at the Council of Nicaea and signed the famous document, the Nicene Creed. 

His anonymous gift-giving around Christmas to the poor and destitute could not be secret for long. This custom became a tradition around the Feast of St Nicholas and today Santa Claus is a favorite feast of children in many countries of the world.

"The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic Gods giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves."  (St. Nicholas of Myra). 

 Our key Scripture for today is the background to the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The entire Liturgy of the word today centers on food, banquet and celebrations. Let us unpack them one by one.

#1. Collect (Opening Prayer).

"Prepare our hearts, we pray, O Lord our God, by your divine power, so that at the coming of Christ your Son we may be found worthy of the banquet of eternal life and merit to receive heavenly nourishment from his hands."

How do we prepare our hearts for the eternal banquet? The 7-Way Plan: Prayer, Word of God, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Examination of Conscience, Spiritual Reading and Faith Sharing or Ministry. 

#2. First Reading (Isaiah 25: 6 - 10).

"On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines." (Isaiah 25: 6).

This mountain is type and shadow of the Sanctuary where the Lord God prepares for us a banquet of the word of God and the holy Eucharist.

#3 Responsorial Psalm:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23: 1).

Do you find yourself in constant want or need? I need a new car, shoe, job, suit, whatever? If the Lord is truly your Good Shepherd, you will be pretty content most of the time. The restless spirit harbors the spirit of the world. We are warned not to compromise with the spirit of the world but to allow the word of God to shape our vision of the world. God knows exactly what you need and when you need it. (Cf Romans 12: 2).

#4 The Gospel:

"They all ate and were satisfied." (Cf Matthew 15: 29 - 37).

How do you feel when your Good Shepherd feeds you? If you are not satisfied, then what and who can satisfy you? The spirit of the world is a restless spirit, full of discontentment. Reject him. Tell him boldly: 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Happy Advent!

Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit. 

"Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 

"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10: 21 - 24).

Tuesday 5th December 2023 of the First Week of Advent.

Jesus rejoices! Jesus laughs! Jesus is full of joy as He thinks of the Holy Spirit.

What in your experience makes you full of joy? For me it used to be memories of answered prayers. The joy of answered prayer is very sweet indeed. Now as I get to know the ever present Holy Spirit, the thought of His incessant inspiration and power fills me with joy.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is the Lord and Giver of life: Spiritual life and abundant life. He is our ever present and near Helper. He is our Advocate and the Voice that speaks in Court for us. 

How do we receive and enjoy the Holy Spirit? Nothing can be easier:

#1  Desire! Desire! Desire!

#2. Confess your sins. 

#3. Ask Him in bold prayer to come and reside in you.

#4. Ask for the help of the Blessed Virgin. 

#5. Believe that you have received after asking in faith. 

#6. Then start giving thanks immediately. Remember that we walk by faith and not by sight or feeling.

"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

Happy Advent!

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @SeekFirstcommunity.com 

The Feast of St John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church.

Feast of St John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church. 

"When Jesus entered Caper­naum, a centurion ap­proa­ch­ed him and appealed to him, saying,

 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”

"He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 

The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those ­following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

“I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8: 5 - 11).

Monday 4th December 2023, First Week of Advent is the feast of St John Damascene. (675 - 749). Religious Priest and Doctor of the Church.

John was born in Damascus. Before his ordination to the priesthood in 726, St John was the finance minister to the Caliph.

His work of life was mostly study and writing. He produced books in dogmatic theology. St John Damascene wrote a significant book on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

But his defense of the use of images/icons is his definitive contribution to the Church. Without John Damascene, we may not be able to use these images/icons in worship or in our devotions. For example: Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy, Mary and the Saints, etc.

Thank You Jesus for making St John Damascene Hammer of Heretics. 

Thank you St John Damascene. 

Why does Jesus praise the faith of the Centurion?  

Faith is one of the three theological virtues. The others are Hope and Charity. They are gifts of God. They are given to those who ask for them and are disposed to receive them. 

Faith is a rare commodity and one of the greatest gifts of God.  The opposite of faith is Unbelief and Doubt.

How does faith work?  Jesus said for example to the Centurion:  “I will come and cure him.” The Centurion heard this and believed.  The faith of the Centurion is much deeper.  He said to Jesus for example: 'No need to come to my house.  Just heal my servant with a word said right here, right now.' Do you notice that there is humility and reverential fear in the Centurion? Reverential fear (gift of the Holy Spirit) is part of faith. 

Faith comes from hearing and believing the promises of God.  As you obey the Divine Word or Command your faith  grows.

Here are 7 examples of Faith from the Gospels to reflect on this Advent:

1. The Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation. 

2. The shepherds at the Nativity. 

3. The 3 Magi at the Hut of the Holy Family. 

4. Simeon and Anna at the Presentation. 

5. The Calling of Matthew and Zacchaeus. 

6. The Good Thief at the Crucifixion. 

7. The Roman Soldier at the Crucifixion. 

What is the common factor in all these 7 cases? 

They heard. They saw. They believe. 

Happy Advent! 

Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @SeekFirstcommunity.com