THE IDENTITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

WHO IS JOHN THE BAPTIST? 

"Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples  and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 

 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, 

lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, 

and the dead are raised up, 

and the poor have good news preached to them. 

 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." 

 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:

 "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold?

 A reed shaken by the wind? 

 Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment?

 Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. 

 Why then did you go out?

 To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

 This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.'

  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; 

yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11: 2 - 11).

Sunday 14th December of the 3rd Week of Advent. Gaudate - Rejoice Sunday! 

In today's Gospel, the disciples of the Baptist asked Jesus:

Are you Jesus the Messiah or who are you in fact?

The way Jesus answers the question gives us an insight on how to think about ourselves as disciples of Jesus.

Jesus said to them in reply, 

“Go and tell John what you hear and see:

 the blind regain their sight,

 the lame walk, 

lepers are cleansed,

 the deaf hear, 

the dead are raised, 

and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 

And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

. 

Jesus queried the disciples of John the Baptist:

What have you noticed about Me?

What do I do from day to day?

What do you hear me say?

What type of people hang out with Me?

Let us put the answer of Jesus in a little lullaby:

If you bark, you are a dog.

If you sing, you are a mockingbird.

If you fly, you are an eagle.

Jesus told His adversaries: If you do not believe that I am the Messiah, check out what I do and say and be honest and believe that I am the Genuine Article. By your fruits, you shall be known.

Friends, what do you do to show that you are a follower of Jesus? 

How would your non-Christian neighbor suspect that you are a Christian?

 By the fruits you manifest, you will show who you are. The fruits are the fruits the Holy Spirit produces in us:

Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity.

Before you think this is impossible, note well that it is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit to produce these fruits in us. Jesus said: Without Me, you can do absolutely nothing. (Cf John 15: 5).

Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard.

THE CHURCH honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in December. 

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

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/novena-to-immaculate-conception.html

THE MEMORIAL OF ST LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR.

MEMORIAL OF ST LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. 

"As they were coming down from the mountain,

the disciples asked Jesus,

"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;

but I tell you that Elijah has already come,

and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.

So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands."

Then the disciples understood

that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist." (Matthew 17: 7 - 10, 13).

Saturday, 13th December of the 2nd Week of Advent is the feast of St Lucy, Virgin and Martyr. 

Lucy was born circa 283 AD in a noble Roman family. She consecrated her virginity early to Jesus Christ. When she refused to marry Paschasius, he was enraged and reported her to the government as a Christian. When all efforts to make Lucy change her mind failed, she was condemned to death. She was tortured and her two eyes were gorged out. 

 Lucy died a martyr under Emperor Diocletian (+304).  Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and all those who have eye trouble. Lucy had been venerated as a saint from antiquity. Her name is included in the Roman Canon. 

Elijah the great prophet came back in the person of John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight His paths and people did not recognize the hour or the opportunity. 

 Although he appeared like a fire whose words were as a flaming furnace, yet people took little notice. The noise in the world was too loud and impenetrable for the message of salvation.

This is Advent, less than ten days to Christmas. Arise from your sleep.  Do not allow Christmas shopping and any other frenzied activities to obscure the true meaning of the Season.

The Lord is surely coming in splendor to visit His people. Prepare to welcome Him.

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of 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:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/novena-to-immaculate-conception.html

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"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: 25 - 35).

Friday December 12th 2025 in the 2nd Week of Advent is the great Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Church honors the Mother of the Redeemer, the Heavenly Princess with the title of Lady, Mother, Queen, Virgin, etc. Different titles to honor and show our love and devotion to the Queen of Heaven, the Holy Mother of God. 

The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe started in 1531, long before the United States of America.

 Mary appeared to Juan Diego, a young Aztec man. She was dressed as a simple pregnant Mexican woman. 

She left an imprint of herself on the tilma of Juan Diego. 

This Tilma is intact and is venerated today by pilgrims from all over the world in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the preeminent titles of Mary because of the significance of the event in Guadalupe, Mexico in 1531 and its continued relevance to the faith of Christians in the Americas because Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the the Americas not just Mexico.

The Blessed Virgin Mary's apparition to St Juan Diego on December 12, 1531 set off a series of events, conversions, miracles and the building of a great Church which has since become a Basilica. 

It is estimated that annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Guadalupe is about 10 million.

“I have great hopes in your love for Christ and for men. There is a great deal to be done. Let us set out with renewed enthusiasm; united with Christ, under the motherly gaze of the Virgin, Our Lady of Guadalupe the sweet mother of priests and religious.” (Pope St John Paul II). 

In our key Scripture for today, the Archangel Gabriel gave Mary a testimony of God's marvelous miracle for Elizabeth in order to confirm Mary's faith.

I love to hear stories of miracles. They build my faith. You too should cherish miracle stories. Better still, don't hide the wonderful things God is doing for you.

 Expect a miracle every day and share the story.

Mary said to Gabriel after she heard of Elizabeth big miracle, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 36 - 38).

Happy Advent!

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in 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:

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

THE FEAST OF ST DAMASUS 1ST, ROMAN PONTIFF.

FEAST OF ST DAMASUS 1ST, ROMAN PONTIFF AND MARTYR.

«J«sus said to the crowds:

“Amen, I say to you,

among those born of women

there has been none greater than John the Baptist;

yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

From the days of John the Baptist until now,

the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,

and the violent are taking it by force. 

All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. 

And if you are willing to accept it,

he is Elijah, the one who is to come. 

Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 11: 11‐15).

Thursday11th December 2025 2nd Week of Advent is the feast of St Damasus 1 (305 - 384). Pope.

Born in Rome but of Spanish descent. Damasus presided over the See of Peter when the Church was rocked by many heresies. Arian heresy had not yet been crushed.

He defended the Church against schismatics.  Damasus is the Pope who commissioned St Jerome to translate the Bible into common Latin. This translation called the Vulgate made the Latin language the official language of the Church.

From the days of
 John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force." (Matthew 11: 12).

Thursday 11th December 2025, 2nd Week of Advent.

In the Gospel for today (Matthew 11: 11 - 15), Jesus praised His cousin John as the greatest prophet. No surprise when you line up all the prophets along with their profiles.

 From the prophecy of the birth of John to his naming and dedication, there were many supernatural signs. His lifestyle and ministry were extraordinary.

After praising John the Baptist, Jesus said something curious and difficult to understand: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force." (Matthew 11: 12).

What does Jesus mean? The kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force?

First, we know that the Church is the seed of the kingdom of God on earth. We know that the Church suffers lots and lots of persecutions?

 But how are the violent taking the kingdom of God by force? The kingdom of God is the ultimate destination of all men. Men should set their hearts, minds and energy to reach it by all means. And people who understand this urgency are seizing the kingdom of God by force.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world (kingdom of man) which is temporary and limited and misses the kingdom of God which is limitless and everlasting?

John the Baptist left us an example of how to take the kingdom of God by force: Singleness of purpose, tremendous courage, radical evangelical poverty, humility and martyrdom.

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in 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:

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

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LORETO.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LORETO. 

COME TO ME. 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11 - 28 - 30)."

Wednesday December 10, Feast of Our Lady of Loreto.

"Litany of Loreto,

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of Virgins,

Etc." (The Litany of Loreto has been in use in the Church since the 15th Century under Pope St Pius V).

Gracious invitation from Christ Jesus in today's Gospel. (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).

But how do we respond to this invitation from Christ? 

We come to Jesus in:

Prayer. 

His word. 

Eucharist. 

Reconciliation. 

When we encounter Him in the poor.  

What are the labors and burdens that we bring to Christ the Doctor to heal?

First, we bring our burdens of sin.

We are overwhelmed with fears, worries and doubts about our:

Health. 

Family. 

Finances. 

Job. 

Tools and Possessions. 

Food. 

Future. 

We bring all the above to Jesus in confident trust that He who promised to help us will not fail. 

Jesus makes easy what is difficult and revolting to human nature.  He makes light what is most burdensome.  This is the secret of the saints. 

Saints suffer imprisonment, persecution and even death because they have the grace of God to help them. Without this grace, it is impossible for human nature to embrace these crosses. 

Jesus Christ has promised us His grace if we embrace Him and His teaching.  With His grace on our side, all things become possible. 

With our daily bread of this grace given at the beginning of each day, we are equipped to live fully for Christ in these areas of human struggle:  health, family, finances, job, tools, food and future.  Lord, give me this day my daily bread of your grace.  Amen!

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

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/novena-to-immaculate-conception.html

THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/31-day-novena-to-immaculate-conception.html?m=1

THE FEAST OF ST JUAN DIEGO, THE APOSTLE OF MEXICO.

FEAST OF ST JUAN DIEGO, THE APOSTLE OF MEXICO. 

" What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray?

 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18: 12 - 14),

ABC of MERCY. 

Tuesday 9th December 2025 of the 2nd 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. 

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).

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent. The Lord puts before us the parable of the Lost and Found Sheep.

 How do you feel when you lose or misplace something valuable?

 I do not consider myself a miser. I confess that I embarrass myself how diligently I search for a lost something until I find it. Or I am forced to stop searching because the search has become absurd and ridiculous.

Once upon a time, I prepared for weeks to teach Young Adults Confirmation class, a 7 weeks course. I walked into the classroom on the first night and found just one sheep. Just one sheep? To make a long story short, I declined to go ahead with the course. 

I had not learned the Power of One! 

The Lord came after me quickly. First, He sent the young man's mother to confront me the following Sunday. "I worked so hard to convince my son to register for the course with the hope that the course and the Confirmation Sacrament would lead him back to the Church."

The very next Sunday, we had the Parable of the Lost Sheep as the Gospel. 

At the end of the Mass, I have got more than enough lesson and rebuke for my misdeed.

I learned the Power of One. 

"And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." (Matthew 18: 13 - 14).

"Paris is worth a Mass," so the saying goes. If bringing home one lost sheep causes rejoicing in Heaven, God forbid that I will deny Heaven such a joy!

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in 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:

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

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 

"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).

Monday 8th December 2025 of the Second Week of Advent is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. 

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).

December is the Month the Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

"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

JESUS MUST GROW BIGGER AND MORE IN US.

REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOODNEWS. 

THE GOSPEL:

"John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea

and saying, 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair

and had a leather belt around his waist.

His food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,

and the whole region around the Jordan

were going out to him

and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River

as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves,

'We have Abraham as our father.'

For I tell you,

God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit

will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,

but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.

I am not worthy to carry his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in his hand.

He will clear his threshing floor

and gather his wheat into his barn,

but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:1-12).

December 7th of the 2nd Sunday of Advent. 

“Look today to John the Baptist,

an enduring model of fidelity to God and His Law.

John prepared the way for Christ,

by the testimony of his word and his life. Imitate him with docile and trusting generosity.” (St Pope John Paul II).

Who is John the Baptist?

Isaiah describes him as “A voice of one crying out in the desert,

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."  (Isaiah 40: 30)

John the Baptist has a simple profile. 

 Although born into the priestly nobility, he forsook the privileges that were his by birth to serve Jesus.

"John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey."  (Matthew 3: 4) 

In order not to compromise his mission, he took extraordinary steps to safeguard his independence.

He was direct and bold in his preaching, fearing no one.

"Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance."  (Matthew 3: 8) 

He urged the great and the powerful who came to him at the River Jordan. 

His humility was profound.

"I am not worthy to carry his sandals."  (Matthew 3: 11) He said of Jesus.  Jesus returned the compliments by calling John the greatest of the prophets.

Lord Jesus grant us the singleness of purpose, courage and humility of John the Baptist.

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in December. 

MONDAY DECEMBER 8TH IS THE GREAT SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 

Do not miss the special blessings. 

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

FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS, BISHOP.

FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS, BISHOP. 

THE Gospel:

"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 6th December 2025 of the 1st 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 God's giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves."  (St. Nicholas of Myra)

We see in our key Scripture for today the compassion of Jesus for the crowds who were troubled and appeared totally abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Jesus healed many of their illnesses and preached to them the Good News of the Kingdom of God. 

Yet Jesus was sad because the need is so great and the human resources needed for the work are paltry.

What can you do to help?

"No one takes this honor on himself; it needs a call from God, as in Aaron's case." (Hebrews 5: 4)

A vocation is a call from God, an appointment by God. God appoints those he chooses to share in a particular manner in the work of redemption with his son, Jesus.

 When we are baptized, God chooses us to be his adopted children. This is also when we receive our vocation. While some are called to the ministerial priesthood like Aaron, every baptized is called to a particular ministry.

Become an evangelist. From here, you may be led to your proper path.

"My Eucharistic Heart overflows with love for My priests. I would give to each of them the grace I gave Saint John, My beloved disciple: that of intimacy with My Heart and with the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of My Mother. I would renew the priesthood of My Church in this way. I would make My priests resplendent with holiness. I would impart to their tongues and to their hands the very graces that I poured out upon My Apostles in the beginnings of My Church." (IN SINU JESU, Friday, December 7, 2007).

For information on the Compendium of the the Church, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2021/03/compendium-of-catholic-teachings.html?m=1

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in 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:

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