My Good Shepherd is my Provider and Protector.

"I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me." (John 10: 14).

Sunday 3rd May 2020, 4th Sunday in the Season of Easter is the Good Shepherd Sunday.

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd?
The Church is a family, a sheepfold and Jesus is the necessary gateway into the Sanctuary. God has foretold in the Scriptures that God Himself would be the Shepherd of this flock and will appoint human beings to govern His flock. (Cf CCC 754).

What does it mean that we are the sheep of God's flock? The answer is in today's Responsorial Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit."

Psalm 23 is the personal experience of King David. If the Lord is truly your Good Shepherd, if you recognize His voice and follow Him, you can claim and own all the promises of Psalm 23. This is what Jesus means when He says: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10: 10).

Go for the full life!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Bread of life Discourse exposed unbelief and hypocrisy.

"Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (John 6: 60).

Saturday 2nd May 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt (297 - 373) Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Athanasius was a key light at the Council of Nicaea (325) where he defended vigorously that Jesus Christ is true God (100%) and true Man (100%). He defended this truth all his life and suffered much persecution from the Arians including several exiles.

Our key Scripture for today shows that the disciples who witnessed many of the miracles of Jesus: feeding thousands, raising the dead, casting out demons, healing the sick, opening blind eyes and deaf ears never really believed in Jesus. It took the Bread of life Discourse to expose their unbelief and hypocrisy. Brethren, unbelief and hypocrisy are still very alive  in the Body of Christ today.
God raised up Athanasius to defend the truth of Christ's divinity. Who is the Athanasius of our day to defend the Church from unbelief and love of money?

"But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him." (John 6: 64).

Hundreds left Jesus and went home and never returned. But Peter spoke up for the Twelve who remained:
“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68 - 69).

To whom shall we go? To what shall we go? Outside Jesus, there is nothing there. Everything is emptiness without Jesus.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus the Carpenter.

“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?  Is he not the carpenter’s son?" (Matthew 13: 54 - 55).

Friday May 1st 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Joseph the Worker and Labor Day in most countries of the world. Jesus was apprentice carpenter under Joseph and later became a self-employed small businessman as a carpenter.

What is God's plan for work for man and woman?
"God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth." (Genesis 1: 28).

Through our labors, we make ourselves holy and become in a certain way co-creators with God. Look at some beautiful cities in the world like Atlanta. Through simple landscaping, man has added so much value to the city carved out of  forest.

"Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat; blessed are you, and blessed will you be." (Psalm 128: 1-2).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday, May 1, 2020.

First Friday, May 1, 2020.

Jesus promised 12 special graces and favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 5th month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #5.

#5.  "I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings."

The Sacred Heart of Jesus promises to pour abundant blessings on all the undertakings of those who honor Him especially on the First Friday of every month. Faced with unprecedented pressure to adapt our lives to the exigencies of the pandemics, who is so strong and so confident to despise extra help at this period?

Lord come to our help and prosper the work of our hands.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass or virtual Mass this Friday.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, click the link below:

http://sfjweb.com/?q=content/sacred-heart-12-promises

Seekfirstcommunity.com

The Eucharist is Jesus.

"I am the bread of life...... I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Cf John 6: 48 - 51).

Thursday 30th April 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Pius V, Pope, Dominican Priest (1504 - 1572). He implemented the decrees of the Council of Trent, published the Roman Catechism and revised the Missal and Breviary.

We return to the Bread of life Discourse in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. Today eternal life is promised to those who partake of the Bread of life with faith and integrity.

In the Eucharist, Jesus is our Priest. He is the Victim who is sacrificed for our sins. He invites us to consume Him as food and drink. This teaching was so radical that many of Jesus disciples abandoned Him and went home. But Jesus did not water down the teaching. Instead Jesus asked the remaining disciples: "Will you also go away?"

The Eucharist is Jesus, Emmanuel. God is with us, in this sacrament. He invites us to come receive Him and adore Him. For He is truly Jesus, our Lord.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Patron Saint of Plagues, Patron Saint of Italy, first Woman Doctor of the Church: St Catherine of Siena.

"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

Wednesday April 29th 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of a giant of the faith: St Catherine of Siena (1347 - 1380), Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

Catherine died at the age of 33 and accomplished for the Kingdom of God what most of us could never accomplish even if we live to be 90.
She brought about the renewal of the Church in a period of reckless gansterism. She was instrumental in reuniting the Church during the great Western Schism. She authored a spiritual classic, THE DIALOGUE. Catherine is the first woman to be named Doctor of the Church. She is the patron saint of plagues and Italy. There will be Masses today all over Italy to ask her intervention in the pandemics ravaging Italy. Catherine is very familiar with Plagues.

We skip the Bread of life Discourse today to draw inspiration from the Gospel from the special Mass to honor St Catherine:
"Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children." (Matthew 11: 25).

If you want to learn some of the mysteries of the kingdom Father God revealed to Catherine, read THE DIALOGUE, available on Amazon and elsewhere.

St Catherine of Siena pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

I am the Bread of life. 2

"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6: 35).

Tuesday 28th April 2020, 3rd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast days of two French saints: St Louis Marie de Montfort (1673 - 1716), Priest and founder of religious order. St Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr.

St Louis Marie is known in history from the best seller charismatic book he wrote: TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY. This book has been read by millions since publication over 250 years ago. Important people that have read the book included several Popes and saints. Pope St John Paul II has quoted from it. The book may deceptively appear light weight but the content must be anointed, which explains its longevity. I owe this book three favors I still enjoy today since reading it about 25 years ago: Commitment to daily Rosary, deeper devotion to Mary and making St Louis Marie de Montfort one of my patron saints.

St Peter Chanel died a martyr in the island of Futuna in the Oceania.

In the Gospel of today, Jesus continues the Bread of life Discourse. Today, Jesus stated a truth that committed Christians will testify to. The Eucharist effectively kills desires for material things: more money, bigger homes, flashy cars, upscale neighborhoods, etc.
If you receive the Eucharist regularly in the state of grace and this worldly desires are still part of your struggle, something is wrong.

I read St Louis de Montfort TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY over 10 times. He stated: "You cannot say the Rosary daily and continue sinning. Either you quit the Rosary or you quit sinning."
The same can be said about the Eucharist. Be steadfast with the Eucharist and No hunger or thirst for lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes or pride of life will torture you. This is the promise of Salvation. These are the evils we are saved through the Cross.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why is the Eucharist Jesus greatest Sign of love for us?

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John 6: 27).

Monday 27th April 2020, 3rd Monday in the Season of Easter.

Jesus begins the famous Bread of life Discourse. This is crucial for our faith and life as Christians. We see in this Bread of life Discourse the full meaning in the word of God: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4).

The Bread of life is the Flesh and Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, given for the salvation of the world. This Sacrament contains the full Body, Soul and Divinity of the Savior. It is the Medicine of life and Food for the Journey to Immortality.

Jesus Christ presents the Eucharist in the Bread of life Discourse as a Sign. For John the Evangelist, a Sign is a Miracle, a Sacrament. The crowd who ate the multiplied loaves wanted more of the same. They misunderstood completely the "Sign" language of the miracle. A bouquet of roses given to a girl is a sign. There is a problem when the girl uses the bouquet of roses as a vegetable.

The Eucharist is the greatest Sign of Jesus. How many little signs of love of Jesus do we miss daily?
Not even a single comfort you enjoy in life comes from chance or accident. They all come from God's gracious ordaining.

Rejoice always. Pray always. Give thanks always.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Something prevented them from recognizing Jesus.

"Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him." (Luke 24: 16).

Sunday 26th April 2020, 3rd Sunday in the Season of Easter.

After His Resurrection, Jesus sought after two of His discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus. What follows is very interesting. Why were the eyes of Cleopas and his companion prevented from recognizing Jesus? St Jerome, Scripture scholar and Doctor of the Church gives  us a clue: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
The same ignorance of Scripture prevented me from recognizing Jesus in the Scriptures, Blessed Sacrament, Eucharist, Sacrament of the Present Moment for a long time.

From the mighty deeds and words of Jesus, the disciples thought that Jesus might be the Messiah. Why did they not explore the Scriptures to prove the point and find out what Scripture says about the Messiah? Jesus said that they were not only foolish but slow in understanding. How? Because it is clear from the Scriptures that Salvation would come only through the Cross. (Cf CCC 272).

We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same error. The two big gifts of Easter are: the Holy Spirit and Peace. The Holy Spirit will make “our hearts burn within us while he speaks to us and opens the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32).

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of an Evangelist: St Mark.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16: 15).

Saturday 25th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist. St Mark is the writer of the second Gospel and worked with Peter and Paul.

In today's daily Scripture verse, the Holy Spirit is saying to us:
"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Why did God create the Internet and cell phone at this time? So that everyone can fulfill the mandate to communicate the Good News with family, friends, colleagues.
Not everyone is called by God to be Mark the Evangelist. Not everyone of us can write like St Augustine. Everyone receives the word of God daily from different sources. What inspires you can inspire a family member, a friend or colleague. Share it through text, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Do not be afraid.

Most of my ministry in evangelization is sharing content created by others. All I need is the help of the Holy Spirit to discern the material as the truth. It will be terrible to distribute error or untruth. The word today encourages each of us to share the Gospel. Practice makes perfect.

"Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Gamaliel and his principle of discernment.

"If this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him." (Acts 5: 38 - 39).

Friday 24th April 2020 in the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577 - 1622), Priest and Martyr. Born in Germany, he achieved fame as Evangelist and Catechist in Switzerland where he was martyred for the faith.

Our Scripture for today asks through the lips of Gamaliel, a great Pharisee and teacher:
Is this pandemic of divine or human origin? Have you been praying about this pandemic? What is it that God is saying through you? Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to discern the will of God before taking a harsh action against the Apostles or they will find themselves fighting against God.

The Sanhedrin accepted Gamaliel's advice and ordered the Apostles flogged, "warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honor of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name."

How did this story end?
"They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted." (Acts 5: 42).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit.

"For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit." (John 3: 34).

Thursday April 23rd 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St George and St Adalbert of Praque (+303; 956 - 997). George, the Dragon slayer was martyred under Emperor Diocletian. So popular was his legend that George is the patron saint of England, Portugal, Germany, etc.
St Adalbert of Prague, Bishop was martyred for protecting a woman who ran into the Sanctuary to seek protection from her accusers who  wanted her dead.

The Holy Spirit and Peace are the dominant theme of the Easter Season. We are told that God does not ration His Holy Spirit. When you ask for the Holy Spirit in faith, be sure you will receive what you ask for. God told Solomon when he asked for wisdom and not for riches and power: "Here and now I grant you what you ask for and more." Jesus promises: Ask and you shall receive. If you ask for the Holy Spirit, your Father will be so delighted that He will give you what you ask for at once. The Father does not ration the Holy Spirit. It means you receive in direct proportion to your desire and capacity to receive. The Holy Spirit is the source of abundant life.

Ask for the Holy Spirit today.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

When you are sent on a mission.

"But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5: 19 - 20).

Wednesday 22nd April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

The Scriptures today point to one theme today: Mission Wednesday or Purpose Wednesday. The Apostles were miraculously freed from jail for one purpose: Mission.
“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” If you died with Christ during Lent and raised with Him at Easter, take your place wherever you can and "tell the people everything about this life.”

"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).

Our Response:
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Cf Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury.

 "With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all." (Acts 4: 33).

Tuesday 21st April 2020, Tuesday of the 2nd Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Anselm (1033 - 1109), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Anselm became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England in 1093. A great theologian, God called Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths of His Revelation for which Anselm suffered much including exile. Other great Archbishops and Doctors of the Church who suffered exiles are:
Saints Athanasius, and John Chrysostom.

With great power Saint Anselm bore witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Lord recognized this through glorifying Anselm with the cross of suffering and exile. Those whom the Lord justifies through faith, He glorifies through the Cross. For what purpose? So that they may resemble more closely their elder Brother Jesus.

Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ. When you embrace the Cross, then you can bear great testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You must be born from above.

"Jesus answered and said to him, [Nicodemus] “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (John 3: 3).

Monday 20th April 2020, 2nd Week in the Easter Season.

Have you been born from above? Or are you still of below, the first creation? After Easter, this question is easier for everyone to answer. The Pandemic season makes the choice facing us stark.

"Why are the nations so angry?

 Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together

against the Lord and against his anointed one." 

(Responsorial Psalm 2: 1 - 2).

Are you one of those who utter folly and have forgotten that God is Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipresent and All-knowing? 

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

"No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Being born from above means being baptized and confirmed in the Holy Spirit and living as a New Creation. Such a man or woman embraces God's word and fears nothing. 

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6: 33 - 34).

No man can live the Christian life or do the work of God without the Holy Spirit.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of Mercy.

 “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20: 21 - 23).

Sunday 19th April 2020, Divine Mercy Sunday.

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world." Jesus had said to St Maria Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy. ( Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska).

The Divine Mercy Rosary is one of the most powerful devotions we have in the Church today. I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for all the blessings I have received through this wonderful devotion. Once upon a time, pressed by time to choose the Divine Mercy Rosary or another devotion, the thought came to me: Jesus Himself approves the Divine Mercy Devotion. And so does the Church. 

The Divine Mercy Devotion is simple and can be summarized by the ABC of Mercy:

A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in you."
The "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU" you see at the bottom of the Divine Mercy image is the direct request of Jesus.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

We must speak about what we have seen and heard.

"Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus." (Acts 4: 13).

Saturday 18th April 2020, Easter Saturday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

Why does God use the weak and unlearned people to produce the amazement that leads to faith and conversion? The answer is in the chosen Scripture of today. Imagine two rustic and uneducated men from the fishing community standing before the Supreme Court of Israel and arguing why the Church is an essential service. This is exactly what Peter and John did in the first Reading of today. Their argument before the Supreme Court was forceful enough. Now comes the checkmate.

"Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply." (Acts 4: 14). The Justices became speechless. But that wasn't the end. Peter and John drove a nail into the coffin of the proud argument of the Justices who dared to raise their voice against the Holy Spirit:

"Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4: 19-20).

My brethren, the current pandemic presents a great opportunity to bear witness to the truth we hold dear. Does the Church provide an essential service or not?

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" (Luke 24: 38).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

At the command of Jesus, we cast our net to the right and caught a large haul of fish.

“Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” (John 21: 6).

Friday 17th April 2020, Easter Friday in the Solemnity of Easter.

We have in the Gospel of today a delicately touching scene from John 21. What happened? The disciples had gone back to the their old job of fishing. But Jesus was not done with them. He sought them out. He knew they fished all night without catching a fish.
“Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” They obeyed and hauled in a massive catch of fish.
What lessons can we learn from today's event?

#1 We need the guidance of Jesus for the success of our ministry, career, marriage, life.

#2 Prayer of faith in the Name of Jesus activates  divine intervention.
"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4: 12), we hear the Apostle Peter proclaim in the first Reading today.

Brethren, it is Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! He is the Key to every human desire and success.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why are you still fearful and full of doubts?

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" (Luke 24: 38).

Thursday 16th April 2020, Easter Thursday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

The Apostles gathered in the Upper Room could still not shake off the gruesome events of Good Friday by now three days ago. Jesus had since appeared to Mary Magdalene and some women, to Peter and some Apostles, to Cleopas who was present with his companion reporting the encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. In spite of all these, the Elect were still frightened with questions and doubts arising in their minds.

In the face of the Corona Virus pandemic, we can take comfort in today's Gospel.  We confess our fears, worries and doubts to Jesus who is in control of all events.

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8). Jesus promises.

The Holy Spirit and power in the name of Jesus are the two Easter promises. We need the two today more than ever.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Trust the Dream-fixer to fix any broken dreams.

"We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel." (Luke 24: 21).

Wednesday 15th April 2020, Wednesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

Have you ever lost hope in a certain and expected outcome? Maybe something as mundane as the result of a football or soccer tournament? Maybe a job or promotion you were absolutely certain was in the bag?
Then you know how painful a dashed hope could be. We have seen on television matured men and their wives and supporters crying profusely because they lost an election they believed was theirs.

Crushed dreams and hopes are very painful. The disciples of Jesus lost hope after His body was lowered into the grave and the entrance sealed with a Roman imperial wax. He is dead. Any hope of miracle is dashed to pieces.

Now that the dream of the Kingdom and a new way of life has been shattered, Cleopas and his companion decided to go home and look for a real job. Enters the Dream-fixer:  “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?” (Luke 24: 25 - 26).

Once upon a time, I had a big dream. In a matter of days, one brutal event after the other happened to snuff out the dream. I was heart broken. Like Hezekiah pleading for his life, I turned to Abba Father at 5 am in the morning, weeping and asking why this must happen. Abba Father spoke one word that gave me hope. In 48 hours, I was on the way to a new dream. The Dream-fixer fixed my dream with something much better.

“Was not my heart burning within me while He spoke to me on the way and opened the scriptures to me?”

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com