GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.
Saturday, March 09, 2024
Friday, March 08, 2024
THE FEAST OF ST FRANCES OF ROME, BENEDICTINE OBLATE.
ST FRANCES OF ROME, RELIGIOUS.
"Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
“I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).
Saturday 9th March 2024, of the 3rd Week of Lent is the feast of St Frances of Rome. (1384 - 1440). Italian.
St Frances was a married woman who raised three children in the way of the Lord. Frances became a Benedictine Oblate and founded a community of Oblates in the heart of Rome. Besides being a wife and mother, Frances was a mystic and very involved in charitable services in Rome. In Frances, we have a unique example of love in marriage as well as in religious life.
In the Gospel of today from Luke 18: 9 - 14, Jesus teaches how to be acceptable to God in our prayers.
"O God, be merciful to me a sinner." The attitude and prayer of the Tax Collector becomes our example of the type of prayer that justifies and the prayer that is heard by God. Here is what the Church teaches on the Prayer of Humility:
"The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable:
"God, be merciful to me a sinner!"
"It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that "we receive from him whatever we ask."
"Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer." (CCC 2631).
"Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions, " (Psalm 51: 3) cried King David after his sins of adultery, cover up and murder.
The prayer of David was heard by God and David went home justified. The Lord hears the cry of the poor and the humble.
Because of the great mercy of God, God gave the Church Baptism as the great Sacrament of Reconciliation and Regeneration. Baptism wipes out our sins and the record of our sins.
Does Baptism remove concupiscence, our ingrained tendency to certain sins? It does not. What then happens to sins that are committed after Baptism? Jesus Christ gave the Church the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession, Penance) to deal with this crisis and stubbornness of sin.
Those who are humble like the Tax Collector are justified by this Sacrament and enjoy the mercy and peace of God.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1
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Daily Bible Verse @
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com
SeekFirstcommunity.com
Thursday, March 07, 2024
ST JOHN OF GOD, RELIGIOUS.
ST JOHN OF GOD, FOUNDER.
"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
"Jesus replied: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
"The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
"The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
"And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Mark 12: 28 - 34).
Friday 8th March 2024 in the 3rd Week in Lent is the feast of St John of God.
the feast of St John of God. (1495 - 1550). Religious. Born Portuguese. Worked and died in Spain. A prodigal of some sort in his younger days. Once he was converted at the age of 40, everything changed. He became fired up with ministry to the poor and the sick. John was a man of many talents and at various times became a farmer, soldier and merchant. His followers founded Brothers Hospitallers of St John.
I knew St John of God as a pamphleteer because at the time I first read his biography, I used pamphlets for evangelization. He became my patron saint and is still one of my patron saints.
St John of God is the patron saint of hospitals, nurses, booksellers, pamphleteers.
In the Gospel of today from Mark 12, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
This is what St John of God, our Saint of today believed and lived after his conversion at the age of 40. John writes:
"We owe God three things: love, service, and reverence. Love: as our heavenly Father we should love him above all the things of the world..... And above all, always have charity, for this is the mother of all the virtues."
Love of God and love of neighbor are the twin pillar of the spiritual life. St Joseph who we honor in March excel in both.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1
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Daily Bible Verse @
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com
SeekFirstcommunity.com
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
THE FEAST OF SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY, MARTYRS.
SAINTS PERPETUA & FELICITY, MARTYRS.
"Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
"Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”
"Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
"But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.
"And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?
"Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
"When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11: 14 - 23).
Thursday 7th March 2024, Thursday of the 3rd Week in Lent is the feast of two young martyrs from North Africa: Saints Perpetua and Felicity. (+ 203). Perpetua was mother of a young child and Felicity was pregnant.
Perpetua and Felicity triumphed over their butchers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Cf Revelation 12: 11).
Today's Scripture points us to reflect on the reality of Spiritual Warfare.
Are you one of those sophisticated scientific Christians who despise the reality of demons and spiritual combat?
If you are, think again because you may be in the minority. This is because the Church defines a Catholic as: He who believes in all that is contained in Sacred Scripture and believes everything taught by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This includes: The Sacraments, Sacramentals, the Hierarchy, etc.
The Season of Lent has been known as a Season of Desert Experience by Christians. This is the period when most Christians are severely tested in their walk with Jesus.
I learned during my years with the RCIA that most Catechumens and Candidates are very tempted to leave the Process at this time. The Church applies the Rite of Exorcism to help all those preparing to enter the Church at Easter Vigil.
How do we protect ourselves from demonic assaults?
Holy water, crucifix, Bible, Holy Rosary, Chaplet, Sign of the Cross, holy Medals and holy pictures.
All these are sacramentals.
They all belong to the treasury of graces that Jesus bequeathed His Church.
Use them. Put on the full armor of God always.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1
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Daily Bible Verse @
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com
SeekFirstcommunity.com
Tuesday, March 05, 2024
PRACTICE WHAT YOU TEACH.
OBEY AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD.
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
"Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (5: 17 - 19).
Wednesday March 6th 2024 of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time.
Teacher beware! You teach not only by what you say. Every action of yours is closely scrutinized. People talk about teachers and preachers in these terms: "He is real. He is not real."
Hear St James: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also." (James 3: 1 - 2).
Are you concerned or discouraged by the warnings? No need to be. We take consolation from the promise of the Spirit:
"Live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh...... In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5: 16, 22-23).
We are not qualified to take credit for anything in our ministry. Our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant by giving us the Holy Spirit. (Cf 2 Corinthians 3: 4 - 6).
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1
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Daily Bible Verse @
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com
SeekFirstcommunity.com
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