THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. 

Sunday 28th December 2025, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Brothers and sisters, why does Holy Mother Church set the last Sunday of the year to celebrate the great feast of the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph? 

A few reasons come to mind.

#1. Jesus did not drop from Heaven to earth. He was born into a human family.

#2. The home of Nazareth is the school to learn and understand the life of Jesus.

#3. Our teacher is Mary, the Matriarch of the Holy Family. Mary teaches us three lessons about family life: Silence, Prayer and Work.

#4. The family may be your pathway to holiness: its joys and sorrows are all providentially ordained. Dare not to reject any of it.

In our key Scripture for today from the Gospel Acclamation, I share with you a Rhema word received on Holy Family Sunday over 20 years ago and remembered every Holy Family Feast:

"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." (Colossians 3: 15, 16).

Receive this word as a special gift today as you make your way through the last moments of 2025.

 If the peace of Christ is in your heart and controls your health, job, money, family, food and if the word of Christ dwells in you richly, you will always have a great day, week, month and a grand 2026.

 Why and how? "My grace is sufficient for you." (2 Corinthians 12: 9).

Go for Shalom brothers and sisters:

Peace and Word of God to you always!

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the month of December. 

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

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

THE FEAST OF ST JOHN THE APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST.

FEAST OF ST JOHN THE APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST. 

"On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,

“They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.”

"So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

"They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

"When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

"Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed." (John 20: 1a, 2 - 8).

Friday 27th December 2024, 3rd Day of Christmas in the Solemnity of the Octave of Christmas is the Feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist. 

John wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. John is an eye witness, faithful and credible witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the will of God that we learn the truth of the Gospel from faithful, true and credible witnesses. The Church is the faithful, true and credible witness of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ for over 2000 years. To the Catholic Church, Jesus Christ committed the fullness of the truth and the Sacred Magisterium. 

St John's writing of his Jesus experience is an eye witness account. He saw. He heard. He touched. He then bore witness.  His witness which is faithful and true have unlocked for us the secrets of the Word of God.

Our Scripture text for today challenges me to ask: What have you seen today?

Open your eyes of faith and see the Church as the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit and the living Sacrament of Salvation in our midst today. 

What have you heard?

+ Hear the Good News proclaimed from the Altar.

+ Hear it proclaimed on television, radio, Internet and music.

"This is John, who reclined on the Lord’s breast at supper,

the blessed Apostle, to whom celestial secrets were revealed and who spread the words of life through all the world."  (Entrance Antiphon).

"Above all, I renew for you the words I uttered for Saint John from the Cross: “Behold your Mother.” Live in her presence. Honour her at every occasion and in every way possible. Every time you show love and devotion to My most holy Mother, you honour the words I spoke from the Cross, and you put them into practice. “Behold your Mother.” She desires nothing more than to look after you, just as if you were her only son. Her attention for you is not divided, nor is it in any way impaired by the attention she gives to the vast multitude of her children through the ages. Trust in her care for you. Pray her Rosary. Honour her as you have been doing."  (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, January 31, 2008).

Father, we pray that with St John the Evangelist we may share in the hidden wisdom of your eternal Word which You reveal to us at the Eucharistic table. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

HAPPY SOLEMN OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS. 

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:

THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:

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

THE FEAST OF ST STEPHEN, DEACON AND FIRST MARTYR.

FEAST OF ST STEPHEN, DEACON. FIRST MARTYR. 

"Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

 Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

"When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.

 But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said,

“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 

"But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

"The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

"As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, 

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 6: 8 - 10, 7: 54 - 59).

Friday 26th December 2025, in  Solemnity of the Octave of Christmas, is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Martyr. Deacon. 

"St Stephen was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles (Acts 6: 1 - 6) and was filled with faith and the Holy Spirit," and was "full of fortitude" (Acts 6: 5, 8).

 Stephen died praying for his executioners. The similarities between Stephen's martyrdom and the crucifixion of Our Lord emphasize his imitation of Christ even up to the complete gift of self." (Roman Missal).

 …Like his Master, St Stephen died forgiving his persecutors

and thus makes us realise that the entry into the world of the Son of God gives rise to a new civilisation, the civilisation of love that does not yield to evil

and violence and pulls down the barriers between men and women, making them brothers and sisters

in the great family of God’s children.”  (Pope Benedict XVI, 26th December 2009). 

We learn from the brief summary of the life of St Stephen from the Roman Missal that Stephen must have been a very important witness in the early Church. Consider why:

#1 Stephen's life and experience shows that the promises of Jesus are true. "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say." The Holy Spirit is the Voice that speaks in Court. (Matthew 10: 19).

#2 Stephen died like Jesus forgiving his executioners.

This vindication of the promises of Jesus and fearless embrace of martyrdom made a deep impression on the Church. The Church included the name of St Stephen in the Canon of the Mass to intercede for the Church.

How soon after His Ascension was Christ's prediction vindicated when He said in the course of instructing His disciples:  "But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.  When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say."  (Matthew 10: 17 - 19).

We observe the power and faithfulness of Jesus in the trial and death of Stephen. What Jesus did for Stephen during his trial and execution, He has done for every single one of His martyrs. He has stood by their sides and sustained them to the last.

Do not be afraid. Jesus will do the same for us should the occasion arise.

"As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7: 58).

The blood of the martyrs is still the seed of Christianity. (Cf CCC 852).

HAPPY SOLEMN OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS. 

THE CHURCH HONORS THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 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 intercessions. NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:

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

C H R I S T M A S,

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. SOLEMN HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION.

Today is the First Day of the Glorious Christmas Season. 

When the angels went away from them to heaven,

"the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 

"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

"Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them." (Luke 2: 15 - 20).

Thursday 25th December 2025, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Solemnity of Christmas.

Our key Scripture for this Christmas Day proclaims how God's grand and mysterious Providence comes to us.

 They come through SIGNS.

 God is a spirit and invisible. 

We humans are flesh and blood and material.

 This is why the Word of God became flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.  We can see Him and touch Him.

In the Christmas story, let us imagine ourselves for a moment to be Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, Jesus' grandparents Anne and Joachim, the Magis. 

All these people were able to touch Jesus physically. These people are exceptionally blessed.

We are also exceptionally blessed because we are able to touch Jesus in the Eucharist. 

In the Eucharist, Jesus is fully present to us: His soul, body, blood and divinity.

Without faith, the touching of the infant Jesus by Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, Jesus' grandparents Anne and Joachim, the Magis is meaningless.

 Without faith, our receiving of Jesus in the Eucharist is totally meaningless. Like consuming a tiny waffer. 

Faith is the key to a Happy Christmas.

We honor the Immaculate Conception Devotions and of the Blessed Virgin Mary every in December. 

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

THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:

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

CHRISTMAS EVE - MASS IN THE MORNING.

12 - 24 CHRISTMAS EVE - MASS IN THE MORNING.

"Come O Son of David. Come and have mercy on us.

"Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord:"  (2 Samuel 7: 5)

Today is the last day of Advent and Christmas eve.  We hear so much of David in the Scriptures read in the Church this day.  Why is David such a pivotal figure in the history of salvation?  Consider the following verses from these Scriptures for today: (2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 and Psalm 89 and Luke 1: 67 -  79)

#1.  "I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel."  (2 Samuel 7: 8)

#2.  "I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you."

#3.  "I will give you rest from all your enemies."  (2 Samuel 7: 11)

#4.  "Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever."  (2 Samuel 7: 16)

#5.  "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.” (Psalm 89: 4-5)

#6.  He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!"  (Psalm 89: 27)

#7.  "He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant."  (Luke 1: 69)

Consider the reason for the foregoing prophecies:

THE CHOICE. THE CALL. THE ANOINTING. 

David son of Jesse was chosen by an act of Divine Providence. In the fullness of time, the Lord called David and the Prophet Samuel completed the Ordination by Anointing David with the oil of Consecration. 

"You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!"  (Cf Psalm 89: 27)

Come O Son of David.  Come and have mercy on us.

Happy Christmas!

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:

THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:

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

THE FEAST OF ST JOHN OF KANTY, PRIEST.

THE FEAST OF ST JOHN OF KANTY, PRIEST. 

"Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 

 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 

 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child;

 and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, 

 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 

 And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name."  

And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called.

  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, 

"His name is John."

 And they all marveled.

  And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 

 And fear came on all their neighbors.

 And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea;  and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying,

 "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him." (Luke 1: 57 - 66).

Tuesday 23rd December 2025 of the 4th Week of Advent is the feast of St John Kanty. Priest. (1390 - 1473). Polish.

St John Kanty was a priest, philosopher, physicist and theologian. 

What is striking about the life of St John Kanty is that this brilliant and highly educated man spent his entire priestly vocation in the ivory tower. 

Yet, he had the heart of a pastor of flocks.

 He seized every opportunity to help his needy students and the poor he encountered.

The narrative of the birth and naming of John the Baptist 

 indicates that John the Baptist is a significant person in salvation history.

 Let us sketch a profile of St John the Baptist:

#1 His name is John: "God is gracious."

#2.  He was sanctified in his mother's womb. He kicked his mother hard in the womb with excitement when Mary visited Elizabeth.

#3. John was chosen by the Father to be forerunner of Jesus Christ and to prepare His way.

#4. John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan.

#5. His humility is supreme. He said: "He [Jesus] must increase. I must decrease." And he allowed his disciples to switch allegiance and follow Jesus.

#6. John gave his life for Jesus. He was the first great martyr for Jesus.

"[John's] birth brought great rejoicing;

even in the womb he leapt for joy

at the coming of human salvation.

He alone of all the prophets

pointed out the Lamb of redemption.

And to make holy the flowing waters,

he baptized the very author of Baptism

and was privileged to bear him supreme witness

by the shedding of his blood."  (From the Preface of the Mass of the Feast.)

Jesus paid St John the Baptist one of His greatest compliments:

"For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  (Luke 7: 28 KJB).

John the Baptist is the Voice. He is not the Word. John the Baptist might say:

I am just a servant of the Word. "He must increase. I must decrease"

O Lord Jesus Christ, may all Your servants decrease so that You increase in us.

As we near the Solemnity of Christmas, we thank God for the life and work of St John the Baptist. We remember too St John Kanty our saint of the day who continue to inspire us by his teaching and exemplary life.

Happy Advent!

Honor 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 

THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:

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

HANNAH DEDICATES SAMUEL IN THE TEMPLE.

HANNAH DEDICATES  SAMUEL TO THE LORD. 

God answers every prayer. 

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request." (Hannah - mother of the Prophet Samuel). 

"In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh.

"After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. 

"Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” 

She left Samuel there. (1 Samuel 1:  26 - 28).

Monday 22nd December 2025 of the 4th Week of Advent.

This Monday, our key Scripture is taken from the first Reading (1 Samuel 1: 24 - 28). 

This is the story of the extraordinary generosity of Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel.

 We know the story. This is the testimony of Hannah, the mother of Samuel to the high priest Eli.

 Hannah is one of my favorite Bible characters. Why?

+ Hannah believes in prayer.

+ She believes in miracle.

+She has an incredible spirit of gratitude.

Hannah was barren. She pleaded with God for a son. At last, the Lord heard Hannah and granted her the little Samuel. When Samuel was 3 years old, Hannah brought Samuel to the Temple of the Lord and dedicated him to the Lord. 

 Look at the accompanying image in this narrative. The little boy had never seen anyone like the high priest with his huge beard and robed in the high priestly vestment. Little Samuel was frightened and clung tightly to his mother's gown.

 After the dedication, Hannah went home and left Samuel at the Shrine. 

Where have we noticed such extravagant generosity to God in the Bible?

 We notice it in people who respond to God's Call and Mission AT ONCE. We may call these people the AT ONCE People. 

The AT ONCE people hear the Call or Inspiration from God. They respond At Once. No going home to consider it.

 MARY OF NAZARETH was dedicated to the Most High in the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of three. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary is an At Once person.  She heard the message from the Archangel Gabriel, she said YES AT ONCE.

 She learned that Elizabeth was pregnant and the Holy Spirit inspired her to visit Elizabeth. Mary said Yes again At Once.

Other At Once People in the New Testament are: Simeon and Anna who waited for the birth of Jesus for decades. 

John and James, Peter and Andrew. All these people responded At Once to the Call of God. 

They marked their response with total dedication and generosity. 

The Widow's Mite. (Mark 12:41–44, Luke 21:1–4). This is a story of another big generosity to God. 

What are the lessons for us from Hannah's gesture to God?

#1 You can never out do God in generosity.

#2 Do not be afraid to offer all your time, talent and treasure to God.

God raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap He lifts up the poor, to seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. (Cf 1 Samuel 2: 8).

"O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:

come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!" 

"The Virgin Mary, my Mother of Perpetual Help, the Mediatrix of all graces, will look after all the details, even as she did in Saint John’s home when she lived with him." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, October 4, 2007 Saint Francis of Assisi).

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