A GOOD LENT COULD BE A DESERT EXPERIENCE.

"The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee ­proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1: 12 - 15).

Sunday 18th February 2024, 1st Sunday of Lent.

Today's short Gospel from Mark (Mark 1: 12 - 15) is packed with spiritual food.

Let us unpack the key words in our key Scripture for today:

#1. The Holy Spirit: He drove Jesus into the Desert, that is, He compelled Jesus to head to the Desert after His Baptism. 

#2. Desert: A place of spiritual combat inhabited by wild beasts. 

#3. Satan: The principal antagonist who tempts Jesus. Satan is the employer of the wild beasts. 

#4. 40 Days: Critical duration for the Desert experience, the period of the Test, the Struggle. Reminds us of Israel's 40 years in the Desert, Moses and Elijah's 40 days fasting. 

#5. Wild beasts: A symbol of unsavory characters that haunt the "deserts" of this world. The Prodigal Son was in the abode of wild beasts. 

The Temptation of Jesus in the Desert is a key Scripture in Lent to remind us of the real spiritual warfare we are engaged in day after day.

In the early days of my conversion, I heard this Scripture read from the lectern in a Sunday Mass:

I left the Mass that day very happy because I came to understand what was going on in my life. God was not destroying me. He was training me as a son. I emerged from the School of the Desert a couple of years later equipped with the 7-Way Plan to live the Christian life:

Will a Plan help you to organize your life in Christ? 

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com  

MATTHEW AND THE MYSTERY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

"Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. 

"Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 

"The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 

"Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5: 27 - 32).

Saturday 17th February 2024 Saturday After Easter in the Season of Lent. 

“Come and be one of my disciples!”  So Levi left everything, sprang up, and went with him." (TLB Translation). 

The TLB Translation catches the enthusiasm of Levi better known as Matthew. If you have been waiting for a call, an opportunity for a long time, you understand Matthew's reaction. 

A vocation is a sacred call made by God to predestined souls. Usually, the soul would have a premonition that he is born for more. He is in a subdued mood of restlessness till the Teacher shows up. A Chinese proverb says: "When the student is ready, the teacher appears."

Jesus sudden appearance at Matthew's Tax Office was not an accident. It was Divine Providence. Matthew, the Tax Collector became the Chronicler of the early Church. He was not perfect. None of the Twelve Apostles was perfect. 

Perfection took a long time in coming. It came through following Jesus every day and watching Him and doing what Jesus did. 

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com 

THE WORKS OF MERCY PLEASES THE LORD.

This is the fasting that God wants. 

"The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, 

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” 

"Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9: 14 - 15). 

The Holy Scriptures today speak of fasting. The catechesis of Jesus and Isaiah converge in the question: What is the fasting that pleases God? 

The magesterium of the Church has taught from the very beginning that Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving are the three pillars of the Christian faith. Specifically, the Corporal and the Spiritual Works of Mercy cover everything that is required:

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless

5. Visit the sick

6. Visit the imprisoned

7. Bury the dead

1. Instruct the ignorant

2. Counsel the doubtful

3. Admonish sinners

4. Bear wrongs patiently

5. Forgive offences willingly

6. Comfort the afflicted

7. Pray for the living and the dead

Do this and you will be blessed.

 For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com  

THE FEAST OF ST CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIERE, SJ.

Feast of ST CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIERE, SJ. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 

"What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Luke 9: 22 - 25). 

Thursday February 15, 2024 Thursday after Ash Wednesday is the feast of St Claude de la Columbiere of the Society of Jesus.  (1641 - 1682). French Jesuit priest.

Father Claude was a great preacher and writer. He is famous in history because he was the confessor of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, the visionary and mystic whom Jesus communicated the message of His Sacred Heart.

St Margaret Mary had great challenges in making these messages accepted either in her convent or outside. St Claude de la Columbiere, her confessor discerned the genuineness of the revelations and lent his support in spreading the word. St Claude de la Columbiere died in 1682 at the age of 41 and was beatified in 1929 and canonized in 1992. 

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must take up his cross daily and follow Me.

“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”  (Luke 9: 22)

At the beginning of Lent 2024, we hear Jesus speaking of the absolute necessity, the inevitability of His suffering.   Why is the Spirit giving us this Scripture now?  

Consider these reasons:

#1.  Are you fully aware of the power of the cross and the necessity of your own suffering?

#2.  No following of Christ without suffering.  Rejection of the cross is rejection of Jesus Christ.  (Pope Benedict XVI).

#3.  The Son of Man must suffer before His glorification.  (Luke 24: 26).  What is a divine necessity for Jesus is true for us.

There are 37 Doctors of the Church,  great men and women who clarified our doctrine of faith and showed us by example how to live the Christian life.  They all suffered physical, emotional and spiritual pains.  But each one of them accomplished their destiny in spite of their terrible sufferings. 

Our Saint of today, Claude de la Columbiere was an accomplished speaker and writer. Claude suffered harsh imprisonment and succombed to death from illness at the age of 41.

Our suffering is blessing in disguise.  No cross, no crown. 

So at the beginning of Lent 2024,  the mystery and contradiction of the cross is set before us to grapple with.

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com  

REMEMBER MAN YOU ARE DUST.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 

"When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” (Matthew 6: 1 - 16, 16 - 18).

Wednesday February 14th, Ash Wednesday 2024. The First Day of Lent.

"Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return."

Welcome to Ash Wednesday 2024, the beginning of the holy Season of Lent. Let us reflect on four key messages from today's Ash Wednesday Scripture Readings. 

#1. "Yet even now—oracle of the Lord—return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment." (Joel 2: 12 - 13).

#2. " A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me." (Psalm 51: 12 - 13).

#3. "We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5: 20).

#4. "When you give alms..." (Matthew 6: 2).

“When you pray ... " (Matthew 6: 5).

"But when you fast..." 

..(Matthew 6: 6). 

Conclusion: Lent is about Metanoia, Conversion. Lent is about turning back to God through almsgiving, fasting and prayer. Lent is about evangelization through being ambassador for Christ. 

Finally, Lent is about emerging at Easter with a holy, steadfast and new spirit. 

The 40 day period of Lent is God's gift to us to become New Creation.

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com