THE BIG PROMISE.

THE GREAT Promise! 

"Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.

I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever,

 that Spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; 

but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you."

"I will not leave you desolate;

I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, 

but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, 

and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14: 15 - 21).

Sunday 10th May 2026, 6th Week in the Easter Season.

Our Savior continues to reveal to His chosen friends the dynamics of the the Kingdom of God that He is entrusting to them. 

The Church is the seed of the Kingdom on earth.

The Holy Spirit, the Big Gift of the Father is the Spirit of truth. 

He will lead and guide the Church to all truth and preserve the integrity of the teachings of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will be our Advocate and constant Helper.

"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).

The excitement is growing. The disciples were advised to retreat to the Upper Room and prepare for this phenomenal event. 

The Holy Spirit! Why does He matter?

"The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She [the Church] is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men." (CCC 747).

 This is He and this is what He does. He is also the Lord and Giver of life. 

The eternal life we start enjoying here and now when we believe in Jesus. He is also the Abundant life promised by Jesus in John 10: 10.

 The one condition for receiving this free Gift is: 

"If you love me you will keep my commandments," says Jesus.

The Pentecost Novena 2026 begins on Friday, May 15, 2026. 

It runs for nine days and ends on Saturday, May 23, 2026, 

the day before the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday on May 24, 2026. 

I am excited.

If you have received Him but not yet activated this awesome Person, prepare for Pentecost Sunday

 through intense desire and prayer.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

WE ARE SERVANTS OF THE MOST HOLY GOD.

NO SLAVE IS GREATER THAN HIS MASTER.  

"Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 

"If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 

"Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’

"If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 

If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

 And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.” (John 15: 18 - 21).

Saturday May 9th in the 5th Week in the Easter Season.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus utters a truth which is still absolutely authentic today:

NO SLAVE IS GREATER THAN HIS MASTER.  

Before God we are all slaves. 

We are slaves because our limited freedom and capacity depend entirely on God. (Cf John 15: 5).

 Scripture further says: everything you have comes from God. Why do you boost? (Cf 1 Corinthians 4:7).

Brothers and sisters, do you know that this world is very hostile to God?

 The world is ready to trample upon the servants of God under foot. 

Be real. Be authentic. Do not love this world and all that it parades as ultimate pleasure and goodies. 

Love Mary. Love the Saints. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

I CHOSE YOU TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT THAT WILL REMAIN.

I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU TO GO & BEAR FRUIT.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

You are my friends if you do what I command you. 

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. 

I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

 It was not you who chose me,

 but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, 

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

 This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 12 - 17).

Friday 8th May 2026, of the 5th Week of Easter.

In our key Scripture for today, we reflect on the Call, the Choice and the Anointing we have from God our Father.

 When God wanted to start His family, He called Abraham.

 Through faith and obedience, Abraham became fruitful.

 Other examples of people in the Bible that God chose, called and anointed are:

Moses, Joseph the Prince of Egypt, David, John the Baptist and Paul the Apostle.

 All of them responded to God with faith and obedience and became fruitful.

The Call Today is loud and clear:

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you." (John 15: 16)

Today Jesus reminds us of His ringing Call:

 "To go and bear fruit that will remain." 

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you." (John 15: 16)

Today Jesus reminds us of His ringing Call:

 "To go and bear fruit that will remain." 

We know that the only fruits that remain and abide are fruits provided by the Holy spirit. 

The Lord Jesus is looking for a generous response:

"I will be a witness to You in the world O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers, Alleluia! " (Psalm 18:50; 22 :23.)

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.

""Let Mary never be far from your Lips and from your heart.

Following her, you will never lose your way.

Praying to her, you will never sink into despair.

Contemplating her, you will never go wrong." (St Bernardine of Siena).

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

LOVE MY FATHER.

AS THE FATHER LOVES ME, SO I LOVE YOU. 

"Jesus said to his disciples: 

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

 Remain in my love. 

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (John 15: 9 - 11).

Thursday May 7th 2026 in the 5th Week in the Easter Season. 

 "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." (Cf John 15: 9 - 11).

It is not possible to divorce the love of Jesus from keeping His Commandments.

 What are these Commandments?

The Ten Commandments.

The Commandments of the Church.

All the statutes in Sacred Scripture.

Let us be clear on this point. 

All the Commandments are important.

 Every one of them will be accounted for in the last judgment.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May. 

“Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us... and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a ‘mother’ to whom we can turn at every moment.”  (Pope Benedict XVI). 

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

HOW TO REMAIN IN JESUS AND BEAR MUCH FRUIT.

IF YOU WANT TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT, REMAIN IN JESUS. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. 

"You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 

"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

"Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15: 1 - 8).

Wednesday May 6th 2026 in the 5th Week in the Easter Season. 

IF YOU WANT TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT, REMAIN IN ME. Says Jesus. 

Every Christian wants to bear some fruit. Some desire to bear 30%, others 60% and yet others 100%. 

You can not bear any fruit if you do not remain in Jesus. How do you remain in Jesus so that you can bear much fruit like the Pros of our faith? 

We learn from examples. Who are the Pros of our faith who bore 100% fruit. Consider some of these saints and then we look at how they lived to become highly productive in the Vineyard of the Lord. 

Saints Peter and Paul, John, Benedict, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Therese of the Child Jesus, Catherine of Siena, St John Paul II, and many more. 

They abided or remained in Jesus through the daily consumption of His word. It is said that St Anthony of Padua could quote the entire Bible. He is not the only Pro that achieved this feat. 

Why is the word of God very important if you want to be very productive in the Kingdom of God? 

To quote St Ambrose of Milan, a Pro in his own right, "Know the Heart of God from the word of God."

The word of God is primus inter pares (first among equals), to become a Pro, you need a plan of life that consists of 7 branches:

1. Word of God.

2. Eucharist.

3. Prayer.

4. Reconciliation.

5. Examination of Conscience.

6. Spiritual Reading.

7. Faith-sharing or Ministry.

Saints do all the above on daily basis.

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.  

"The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."

- (Saint Louis Marie de Montfort)

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

THE FULL TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

THE FULL TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL. 

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships

to enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14: 22). 

THE GOODNEWS:

"In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium

arrived and won over the crowds.

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,

supposing that he was dead.

But when the disciples gathered around him,

he got up and entered the city.

On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city

and made a considerable number of disciples,

they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples

and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships

to enter the Kingdom of God."

They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,

with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord

in whom they had put their faith.

Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.

After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to Antioch,

where they had been commended to the grace of God

for the work they had now accomplished.

And when they arrived, they called the Church together

and reported what God had done with them

and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Then they spent no little time with the disciples." (Acts 14: 19 - 28).

Tuesday May 5th in the 5th Week in the Easter Season. 

Some people will be surprised to learn that "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships

to enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14: 22). 

Such people who sucked the milk of prosperity gospel would beg to differ from St Paul. 

But people who had made their home in the true word of God will not be surprised. 

Consider the words of Jesus Himself to Cleopas and his companion on the way to Emmaus. 

"And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”  

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures."

You may call this revelation by Jesus The Full Truth about the Gospel. 

The Full Truth about the Gospel is that the Cross or trials is inevitable path to salvation. 

Jesus told Cleopas and his companion that this truth is in the Scriptures. 

Below are some examples:

The idea of suffering before glory was not strange to the Old Testament reader. 

The lives of Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc were examples. 

Below are supporting Scriptures. 

Isaiah 53:

 — The “Suffering Servant” song had Jesus Christ in mind. 

Example verse: Isaiah 53:5 

— “But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity, he bore the punishment that makes us whole by his wounds we were healed.”

Psalm 22:

You cannot read Psalm 22 without thinking about the Passion of Jesus Christ. 

Why does all this Scripture citations matter? 

This knowledge makes it easier to accept the inevitability of suffering in the Christian experience. 

2 Timothy 3 is blunt in teaching that believers who desire to live a godly life in Christ will face persecution. 

Quo vadis? 

Jesus Christ is our Captain. Where He leads we follow Him. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.

"The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."

• (Saint Louis Marie de Montfort)

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH AND REMIND YOU OF HEALING TRUTHS IN CRISIS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH AND REMIND YOU OF THE HEALING SCRIPTURES YOU NEED IN CRISIS. 

THE GOSPEL:

"Jesus said to his disciples:

 “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.

 Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” 

"Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

"Jesus answered and said to him,

 “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you. 

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14: 21 - 26).

Jesus said in the Gospel of today: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14: 21 - 26). 

The Holy spirit is the Lord and Giver of life. He is our best Teacher.

 If we are docile to the Holy Spirit, He will manifest Himself to us as “All that we need.“

 

He who has Supreme Wisdom living in him does not need a Master's degree. 

The Holy Spirit also reminds us of the healing Scriptures we have heard and used. 

I have benefited a great deal from this ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

Among the golden verses the Holy Spirit reminds me in crisis are:

1. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6: 33). 

2. "Do not fear! Stand your ground and see the victory the Lord will win for you today. For these Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” (Exodus 14: 13-14). 

3. "The Lord says to you: Do not fear or be dismayed at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s." (2 Chronicles 20: 15). 

4. "For thus said the Lord God,

    the Holy One of Israel:

By waiting and by calm you shall be saved,

    in quiet and in trust shall be your strength.

    But this you did not will." (Isaiah 30: 15). 

5.  "My grace is sufficient for you. Power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9).

Get your own healing Scriptures ready for the time of spiritual combat. 

Let us prepare for the Novena of the Solemnity of Pentecost with fervent desire. 

The Holy Spirit was certainly very active in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints. 

The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.  

"The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most blessed virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them."

- (Saint Louis Marie de Montfort)

Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.

For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/04/may-devotion-to-mary.html?m=1