Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
DO NOT FORGET THESE INCIDENTS.
DO YOU STILL NOT UNDERSTAND?
"The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
"Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
"They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread.
"When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
"And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 14 - 21).
Tuesday 18th February 2025 in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time.
“Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember?...... “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 17 - 18, 21).
We are grateful for this incident in Mark 8: 14 - 21, because Jesus used it as a teaching moment to coach us on the importance of understanding, remembering and having an open mind and heart if we are to grow in religious truth.
Why do we forget so often details of God's past mercies? I find personally that even when I write the favors in my journal, I still forget. I do better when I ask the Holy Spirit to remind me of the favors I have enjoyed from God.
"The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." (John 14: 26).
This promise of Jesus is the ground for my hope when it comes to understanding and remembering the teachings of Jesus. How does this work? I ask the Holy Spirit to give me understanding and bring to my memory the wonderful things God has done for me.
I resolve never to forget "my ancient landmarks." (Cf Proverbs 22: 28). I keep a journal.
“Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 21)
Consider carefully the above question of Jesus for us as we prepare to start Lent 2025.
"Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember?..... “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8: 17 - 18, 21).
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13: 17)
Change happens not because of what you know but because of what you do daily.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.
“Since God could choose for the Guardian of His Son,
the man in the world, the most accomplished
in all sorts of perfections,
according to the dignity
and excellence of his Charge,
Who was His most Glorious Son, the universal Prince of Heaven and earth, how could it be that being able,
He did not will it and did not do it?
There is, then, NO DOUBT that St Joseph was endowed with all the graces and all the gifts that were required
for the care which the Eternal Father willed to give him,
of the temporal and domestic economy of our Lord and of the guidance of his family … ”
(St Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).
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
Sunday, February 16, 2025
WE HONOR THE SEVEN SERVITES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TODAY.
FEAST OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS, THE SERVITES.
THE WORD OF GOD :
"The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.”
Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.
The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not.
Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the Lord said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”
When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The Lord then said: “What have you done! Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain said to the Lord: “My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight.”
“Not so!” the Lord said to him. “If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.” So the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.
Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. “God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain slew him.” (Genesis 4: 1 - 15, 25).
Monday 17th February 2025 in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites.
The Servites are a Confraternity of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (13th century). They were Religious and led a life of prayer and penance.
Ecclesiastical recognition for the order as a religious order was given in 1304.
The story of Cain and Abel is one of the Bible stories we mastered as kids. I believe this interesting story is in every year of the 3 Year lectionary cycle.
What is the teaching and application?
There is a sowing time and a harvest time.
By faith, Abel offers God the choicest of his lambs.
Bring the best of your time, talent and treasure to the Lord.
The Lord God owns everything.
You can never outdo God in generosity.
A sacrifice of Thanksgiving honors God.
The Eucharist is the first and foremost of the sacrifice that honors God.
Now that you know this, you will be blessed if you do it.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.
"It is in the holy family, the original church in miniature that every christian family must be reflected". (Pope St John XXIII).
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
Saturday, February 15, 2025
TRUST ALWAYS IN GOD'S LOVING AND MERCIFUL PROVIDENCE.
TRUST GOD AND HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS.
THE WORD OF GOD:
"Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit." (Jeremiah 17: 5 - 8).
Sunday 16th February 2025, in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time.
The first Reading from Jeremiah 17: 5 - 8 provides the food for our reflection.
Jeremiah offers us curse or blessing as Moses did before him.
"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse." (Moses, Deuteronomy 11: 16).
What are the things that make our hearts turn away from the Lord? In one word: IDOLATRY! Something we love more than we love God. They could be any or all of the following:
Money, Job, Health, Family, Possessions, Food, Worries.
The Prophet Jeremiah continues:
"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust.
THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU TRUST GOD, HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS.
"They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit." (Jeremiah 17: 7 - 8).
WHY DOES HE NOT FEAR 'HEAT' OR CHANGES IN FORTUNE? BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN GOD'S POWERFUL AND UNCHANGING DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
A tree planted beside running water can be compared to a soul
planted inside the Church Sanctuary. He is nourished continuously by the word of God and the Sacraments.
All the gold, silver and diamond belong to God. He provides food to all living things. Our future, destiny and security lie in His mighty hands.
The Scriptures, the Magisterium, the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church and all the Saints affirm that God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence governs all things with great love and tenderness. This Providence is "direct and concrete." (CCC 303). This means that you can experience God's loving care every step and every moment of your life.
How foolish it is to place your trust in mortal man who cannot save himself. Nobody gives that which he has not says an old Roman proverb.
Where is your security?
The Bible warns us not to put our trust in human beings or in princes or in horses and chariots (tanks, fighter bombers, etc), or bank accounts and investments. (Cf Psalm 118: 8; 146: 3)
Here are daily actions that move our hearts to trust in the Lord and receive blessings and be blessing to others:
Prayer
Word of God
Eucharist
Reconciliation
Spiritual Reading
Sharing your faith
"Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them." (Deuteronomy 30: 19 - 20).
"It is here [In the Family] that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way "by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity." (CCC 1657).
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
Friday, February 14, 2025
JESUS FEEDS MILLIONS EVERY DAY WITH HIS BODY AND BLOOD.
JESUS FEEDS 4000 PEOPLE WITH 7 LOAVES.
THE GOODNEWS:
"In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha." (Mark 8: 1 - 10).
In the Gospel of today, Mark 8: 1 - 10, we are not surprised by Jesus' compassion for the hungry crowd around Him who followed Him to learn whatever they could of His teaching. We have observed instances of Jesus' concern for the welfare of His disciples and the crowd that followed Him.
What appeared impossible to the Apostles on feeding 4000 hungry people in a desert was no challenge to Jesus.
Jesus is God and He could relieve the hunger of the crowd or a town with a word of command.
Jesus took "the seven loaves and he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd." No sweat. Very easy for Jesus.
Consider what happens at Mass, the priest takes the bread, prays over it and says "This is My Body." The consecration of the bread to become the Body of Jesus is possible because Jesus is God. He gave this power to His disciples and to the priests they would ordain.
Just as there have been sceptics from the beginning of the Church that Jesus did not and could not feed 4000 people. There are also sceptics today on the Miracle of the Multiplication of loaves. The same doubters scorn the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. They are wrong and ignorant of history and the Scriptures. The Catholic Church is the pillar and bulwark of the truth. This is why it has survived for over 2000 years and is found in every country in the world.
"They all ate and they were all satisfied." Jesus wants you to feed on Him in the Eucharist and be satisfied.
Protect yourselves from wolves and liars who want to corrupt your faith by daily:
1. Prayer.
2. Daily Word of God.
3. Frequent Confession and Eucharist.
"It is in the holy family, the original church in miniature that every christian family must be reflected" [it is in the holy family, the original church in miniature that every christian family must be reflected}]. (Pope St John XXIII).
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
Thursday, February 13, 2025
THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS.
THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS.
THE GOSPEL:
"Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.
"And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
"He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.
"He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mark 7: 31 - 37).
Friday 14th of February 2025 in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the two great missionary brothers, Saints Cyril and Methodius (+869) & (+885),Priest and Bishop respectively.
They evangelized parts of Europe in the 9th century, notably Moravia (present-day Czech Republic). Pope St John Paul II proclaimed them patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict, the abbot.
In the Gospel, Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man.
Jesus said to the man:
“Ephphatha!”—that is, “Be opened!”—And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly."
Isaiah prophesied:
“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!" (Isaiah 42:18)
Jesus is the Messiah who heals the wounds and illnesses inflicted on humanity by sin. Jesus Christ is still healing in the world today. He is healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
Open our ears O Father that we hear the word of Your Son Jesus.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH CONSECRATED TO THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.
"The family is placed at the center of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love" (Pope St. John Paul II)
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
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
PRAY FOR A PURE HEART.
CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART O GOD!
THE GOSPEL:
"Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
"When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.
"He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” (Mark 7: 14 - 23).
Wednesday 12th February 2025, in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time.
In the Gospel of today, Jesus says that the source of all the sinful habits are from inside the mind. Thoughts, words and actions defile a person and food does not defile.
Psychologists have recognized the importance of the mind in behavior:
Sow a thought, you reap a deed.
Sow a deed, you reap a habit.
Sow a habit, you reap a character.
Sow a character, you reap a destiny. It is true that your character becomes your destiny.
David after his adultery prayed:
"A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.
(Psalm 51: 12).
The Book of Proverbs teaches: Watch your heart carefully. From it comes the issues of life. (Cf Proverbs 4: 23).
What cleanses the heart?
The word of GOD, Prayer and Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist.
"Intercession is not incompatible with adoration. The soul who adores Me present in the Sacrament of My love will be united to Me in My everlasting intercession before the Face of My Father.
My intercession is everlasting even in the glory of eternity because I chose to keep the wounds in My hands and in My feet and in My side. They constitute an uninterrupted pleading for the sake of all: for those in glory that they may go from light to light and from sweetness to sweetness; for those on earth that they may find in My wounds healing, purity, and holiness; and for the souls in purgatory that by the merits of My holy wounds they may be refreshed and delivered." (IN SINU JESU, Friday, March 28, 2008).
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
Monday, February 10, 2025
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.
"When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
"So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
"He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.
"You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
"Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.” (Mark 7: 1 - 13).
Tuesday February 11th 2025 in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is also a Day of Prayer for the Sick.
In 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14 year-old Marie Bernarde Soubirous in Lourdes, France. She was to become St Bernadette Soubirous. The first apparition was followed by seventeen others. Many healing miracles happens in Lourdes. Lourdes has become a major pilgrimage center in the world. Six million pilgrims visit Lourdes yearly.
The Church prays for the Sick today.
Do you need spiritual, physical or emotional healing? Ask Jesus at once with faith. Ask with expectant and persistent prayer.
It is Ok to go to Jesus through Mary. That is the way of Lourdes, Fatima and Guadalupe, etc. Believe that Jesus is still making the deaf hear and the dumb speak and cancer disappear and so forth.
"Let My adorers take their place before Me. Their faith, their hope, and their surrender to My merciful love will cause a great tide of healing love to pour forth from My sacred side and radiate from My Face. Thus will My adorers, without leaving My sanctuary, become also My apostles: messengers and instruments of My merciful love and of My burning desire to gather in the lost, to bind up the bruised, to tend the wounded, and to heal the broken-hearted." (IN SINU JESU page 231).
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
Sunday, February 09, 2025
THE MEMORIAL OF ST SCHOLASTICA, VIRGIN AND FOUNDRESS.
THE MEMORIAL OF ST SCHOLASTICA. VIRGIN AND FOUNDRESS.
"After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed." (Mark 6: 53 - 56).
Monday February 10, 2025 in the 5th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Scholastica, Virgin and Foundress.
St Scholastica, Italian is a Religious and Foundress of the Benedictine Nuns. She was the twin brother of St Benedict, the Abbot and founder of the Benedictines. She lived between . (480 - 547). The Benedictine Nuns continue to serve the Church for over 1500 years.
St Scholastica is the patron saint of education, convulsive children and Benedictine Nuns.
Our illnesses, trials and crosses are blessings in disguise. God our Father uses these to draw us closer to Him. We search desperately for cures, healings and remedies. Ultimately, the search lands us at the Door of God. We recognize that only God can bring us true help.
In our Gospel today, Jesus and His disciples landed at Gennesaret. Mark the Evangelist informs us that the sick recognized Jesus and begged Him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; "and as many as touched it were healed."
Those who touched Jesus and were healed were those who recognized Jesus.
What type of recognition are we talking about? Is it the recognition of the physical attributes of Jesus? For example: 5 feet and nine inches, small beard and mustache, white robe with red cape with no hat?
I don't think so. We think it is those who recognized Jesus as a Prophet from God who has the power to heal and have the faith that Jesus would heal them.
Do you recognize the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament? Eucharistic miracles are part of the Catholic tradition. Those who have faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick have been healed.
If you do not recognize the special Presence of Jesus Christ in these Sacramental manifestations, it is time you examine your faith.
You may need to read and reread the Gospel of today prayerfully many times. As you meditate on the words of the Scripture, ask Jesus for the gift of faith.
"To hand onto your children. the faith you received from your parents, is your first duty and your greatest privilege as parents.
The home should be the first school of religion, as it must be the first school of prayer.” (St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church).
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
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