THE MEMORIAL OF ST AGATHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR.

THE FEAST OF ST AGATHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. 

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." (Psalm 103).

ENDURE YOUR TRIALS AS DISCIPLINE FROM GOD YOUR FATHER. 

"Brothers and sisters: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:

"My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.

"Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as his sons.

For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

"So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled."  (Letter to the Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15).

Wednesday February 5th 2025 in the 4th Week of Ordinary Time is the Feast of St Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.  Agatha died at the age of 20 in 251 AD under the persecution of Emperor Decius.

Along with Saints Agnes and Lucy, she is mentioned in the Roman Canon in Eucharistic Prayer 1.

Agatha is the patron saint for these causes and more:

Breast cancer, sterility, nurses, rape victims, single lay women and so on. (Source: Laudate).

I heard Hebrews 12: 5 - 12, the Scripture in the first Reading in a Sunday Mass for the first time after experiencing a crushing reversal of fortune. I have never imagined that misfortune can be engineered by God to serve our higher purpose.

So I was happy and delighted to read again at home this glorious message of Abba Father to me, the once prodigal son:

"Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as his sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it."

My response to Abba Father is best expressed in the Responsorial Psalm 103 of today's Mass:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits. 

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him,

For he knows how we are formed;

he remembers that we are dust. 

"But the kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear him,

And his justice toward children’s children among those who keep his covenant." (Cf Psalm 103).

Now consider this question: Where would I be today if not for the residue of grace I received at Baptism? By faith I recognized at once that the Reading from Hebrews that Sunday morning at Mass was Abba Father speaking to me directly.

You too my friends, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves, He disciplines; He scourges every son and daughter He acknowledges.

Whatever trial you may be going through at the moment, our Scripture for today is certainly a word of knowledge and comfort. A sage said: "Correct thought is the key to correct action." This is the great gift God bestows on us in His word: "The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4: 12).

David is happy because the Lord disciplines him after his heinous sins.

The Apostle James writes: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1: 2 - 4).

"Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines.

"Pope John Paul II recognizes and proclaims that all members of the family are called to holiness and that through continuous and prayer as a family and adherence to the sacraments, a family can grow spiritually in communion and love. Christ thus sanctifies them and brings father, mother and child closer to His heart, while allowing His heart to permeate and touch those they encounter."

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 

VANQUISH FEAR BY CALLING ON THE NAME OF JESUS!

THE POWER OF FAITH. 

Fear is useless. All you need is Faith. 

THE GOSPEL:

"When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 

"One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”

"Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it.

"The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

"While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 

"Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

"He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

"When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him.

"Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat." (Mark 5: 21 - 43).

Tuesday February 4th in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time.

The Gospel today from Mark 5: 21 - 43 confirms our belief in the power of faith to heal and move the mountains of human illness, ignorance and poverty. 

Do you believe this? Those who exercise this innate faith inside the heart and mind of every human being are under severe pressure to get healing over the mountains of sicknesses, poverty and ignorance that crush the human spirit. If you have tiny pressure, your faith will be tiny. You will not be motivated like this woman afflicted with hemorrhage to travel far and wide in search of Jesus. 

This woman had squandered her money on specialist physicians without getting better. At last, a friend suggested she seeks out a Jewish Rabbi who is reputed to be a healer. The lady heard this recommendation and accepted the message. By faith the woman afflicted with hemorrhage, traveled to Israel where she caught up with Jesus. She sneaked behind Jesus, touched the hem of the garment of Jesus and was healed instantly. Jesus was so impressed that He praised her faith. 

By faith, Jairus the synagogue official sought out Jesus to heal his daughter who was at the point of death. By faith Jairus believed Jesus when he was told:“Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Jesus followed Jairus to his house and uttered Talitha Kumi over the little girl and raised her from the dead. 

It is by faith that all heroes of Israel listed in Hebrews 11, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Judith, Esther, etc were able to perform incredible exploits. 

You too can heal yourself and others through faith. Faith comes from hearing. Hearing the word of God which is truth. Read and meditate on God's word every day. 

The Church honors the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Month of February. 

"May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character. Let us learn from Nazareth that the formation received at home is gentle and irreplaceable. Let us learn the prime importance of the role of the family in the social order." (Pope St Paul VI). 

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 

THE FEAST OF SAINTS BLAISE AND ANSGAR, BISHOPS.

 THE FEAST OF SAINTS BLAISE BISHOP AND MARTYR AND ANSGAR, BISHOP.

 

THE WORD OF GOD:

"Brothers and sisters: What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; 

they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; 

out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.

Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection.

 

Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented.

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.

Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11: 32 - 40).

Monday February 3rd 2025 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of two Bishops: Saints Blaise and Ansgar. Blaise (+ 316). Armenian. Martyred under Emperor Licinius. Blaise is known for his cures of throat ailments.

St Ansgar: (801 - 865). French. Worked in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Known as the Apostle of the North for his great success in evangelizing these nations.

We see the evidence of the power of faith in the first Reading from Hebrews.

All the cited warriors of faith happened in the Old Testament. 

In the New Testament, Mary by faith said Yes to become the Mother of God. Simon-Peter, Andrew, James and John left their occupation at once by faith and followed Jesus when Jesus said to them: "Come. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Saints Paul, Timothy and Titus, and numerous disciples left family and home to embrace the call of Jesus: "Come follow Me." They all responded with the obedience of faith. 

In the Christian Era,  Angela Merici, Thomas Aquinas, St John Bosco, Francis of Asissi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola etc, heard the call of Jesus Christ and left everything by faith and followed Jesus.

Brethren, without faith, one can not please God or answer the Call: "Come follow Me." Without faith, one is condemned to a life of mediocrity and accomplish little or nothing in life.

Faith is a supernatural gift of God. The easiest and most direct way of getting faith is to ask for it. God who is faithful and true promises: "Ask and you shall receive."

The Church honors the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Month of February. 

"Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel". (Pope Francis). 

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