THE PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION. 

"When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, 

he sent two of his disciples and said to them, 

“Go into the village opposite you,

and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat.

Untie it and bring it here.

If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply,

‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’”

So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, 

and they untied it.

Some of the bystanders said to them, 

“What are you doing, untying the colt?”

They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, 

and they permitted them to do it.

So they brought the colt to Jesus

and put their cloaks over it.

And he sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, 

and others spread leafy branches 

that they had cut from the fields.

Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:

    “Hosanna!

        Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

        Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!

    Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11: 1 - 10).

Sunday 24th March 2024, the Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. 

Today is the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. On this day the Church celebrates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to accomplish His mission, called the Paschal Mystery. 

The Paschal Mystery is the core of the Gospel. Jesus suffered. Jesus died. Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus ascended into Heaven.  Before the Gospels were written many years after the Ascension of Jesus, this was the only creed the first and early Christians were expected to know.  It was called the Apostolic Proclamation or Kerygma.

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”  (Cf Mark 11 - 12).

The Kingdom that Jesus came to establish will fulfill and complete the "kingdom of our father David."

The summary of the Church's teaching on the kingdom is:

"The kingdom of heaven was inaugurated on earth by Christ. 

"This kingdom shone out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ" (Lumen Gentium 5).

The Church is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Its keys are entrusted to Peter. (CCC 567).

"Almighty and ever-living GOD, who as an example of humility for the human race to Follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the CROSS, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection… "(Collect of Palm 🌴 Sunday).

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

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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THE FEAST OF ST TURIBIUS OF MONGROVEJO, MISSIONARY BISHOP.

THE FEAST OF ST TURIBIUS OF MONGROVEJO, BISHOP.  

"Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. 

"But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 

"So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” 

"But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him.

"So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

"Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?” (John 11: 45 - 56).

Saturday 23rd March 2024 in the 5th Week in Lent is the feast of St Turibius of Mongrovero, Bishop. 

Today 23rd March 2024 is the feast of St Turibius of Mogrovejo (1538 - 1606). Spanish. Missionary Bishop and Archbishop of Lima, Peru. St Turibius spoke up for the rights of the native peoples of South America and defended them against the rapacious instincts of the Spanish colonizers. The Archbishop saint is remembered in history for his unwavering love of truth. 

We are on the Eve of Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. 

The plot to kill Jesus has thickened at this point. Who wants to kill Jesus and who will benefit most from His disappearance from the religious-political scene?

“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (John 11: 49 - 50).

This is the voice of the High Priest, Caiaphas. He provides a powerful motive for the criminal conspiracy. The fate of Jesus is sealed.

The plan of the Father for the salvation of the world has taken a definitive path to victory. Is God the Father incapable of stopping the execution of His beloved Son Jesus? Or to stop all the evils in the world? Just one word from the Father will change everything.

"In the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil." (CCC 272).

The Cross has been ordained by the Father from eternity to be the means of our Salvation. No Cross, No Crown. No Trials. No Triumph.

As we enter the most holy Week of the year, we pray for the grace to understand the meaning of the Cross in our lives.

THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

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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DO NOT BE AFRAID OF PERSECUTIONS.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED. 

"The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?”

"The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”

"Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

"If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 

"Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

"He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him." (John 10: 31 - 42).

Friday March 22nd in the 5th Week in Lent.

The common theme in the Gospel Reading and the first Reading from Jeremiah 20: 10 - 14 is Persecution. 

Sirach the Sage teaches: 

"My child, if you want to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials." (Sirach 2: 1).

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 10).

The human nature shrinks from every type of suffering. As we see from Sirach and Jesus, it is impossible to avoid suffering as a child of God. 

The best examples of humanity are the saints. They are the cremè de la cremè. But they all suffered and are persecuted. 

Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, Teresa of Avila, Mother St Teresa of Kolkata. They all suffered. They suffered persecutions from the forces of evil. They suffered persecutions from human beings instigated by demons. 

There is no escape from persecution as a child of God. 

Trials are baked into the human condition because of Original Sin. To erase the effects of Original Sin is why Jesus Christ came to earth. 

Again let us reflect on the words of the Sage:

"My child, if you want to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials."

The Masters of Spiritual life teach that the best way to prepare for tomorrow is to imagine all possible trials that can befall you, viz: Illness, accidents, bankruptcy, flood, war, etc. Since we humans do not control events, since all events are controlled by God's mighty and sovereign Providence, be prepared to surrender every event to God. The same merciful and loving Providence teaches us not to be afraid of trials.

THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

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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THE LORD IS FAITHFUL TO ALL HIS PROMISES.

THE LORD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT FOREVER. 

"When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:

“My covenant with you is this:

"you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. 

"I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. 

"I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

"I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.”

"God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.” (Genesis 17: 3 - 9).

Thursday 21st March 2024 in the 5th Week in Lent. 

God made a Covenant (Great Promises) to Abraham in the first Reading, Genesis 17: 3 - 9.

What caught my attention is the Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105.

"The Lord remembers his covenant for ever." 

Has the Lord made any Covenants with me? I checked my Timeline and the landmarks of my life. I found to my amazement that the Lord has made numerous promises to me and all the promises have been fulfilled except what I label the greatest. This word was given 15 years ago. Each anniversary of the word, I remind the Lord of the word. The last anniversary was some months ago. When I reminded the Lord, I got this message. "For your peace, the word is a promise." Alleluia! God is faithful and is committed to fulfill ALL His Promises. 

Has the Lord made you any promises? Did you write it down? Do you water the promise with faith-filled prayers? 

The Lord promised to Abraham: I shall be your God. 

I will use this promise in times of trial: Father, be a God to me. Help me to be a better son to you. 

THE CHURCH HONORS ST JOSEPH IN MARCH. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

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

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MY WORD HAS THE POWER TO MAKE YOU FREE.

IF YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO MY WORD 

"Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, 

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

"They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

"Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.

"So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.

"I know that you are ­descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

"They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”

"Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” 

"So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.”

"Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.” (John 8: 31 - 42).

Wednesday March 20th 2024 in the 5th Week in Lent. 

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Listen to the above words of Jesus. I have heard these words for over 30 years since I resolved to read the Sacred Scriptures every day.  Why am I not yet free? Sometimes I query Jesus and say: Lord, I have read Your words for a long time but I don't feel free. 

Today the Lord spoke to me the same Scripture through another translation:

Promise:  “If you live according to My teaching, you are truly My disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —Jn 8:31-32 was (OBOB). 

Brethren, do you see with me why I have not enjoyed the promised freedom of the sons of God?

This sweet freedom is promised to those who abide, remain in the word of God,

and then start living ACCORDING TO THE WORD OR TEACHING OF CHRIST. 

Is it impossible to live according to the teaching of Jesus? Not at all! It is the work of the Holy Spirit. First pray for the DESIRE and leave the rest to Jesus. (Cf John 15: 5).

The Church honors St Joseph throughout Month of March. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

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

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