But you, who do you say that I am.

"And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.”  (Mark 8: 29).

Caesarea Philippi marks a watershed in the Gospel narrative.  What happens at Caesarea Philippi and why does it matter?  First, the Father reveals the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the expected Messiah.  Secondly Jesus looks you in the eyes and asks you:  “But who do you say that I am?”
The answer you give to this test determines your life here and now and your eternal destiny.

St Jerome, Church Father and Doctor of the Church says:  "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."   Jesus made so many promises during His public ministry.  Each of His promise shows us who He is.  Which of these promises do you appropriate that helps you to answer the question: Who is Jesus?

1.  "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  (John 15: 13).
2.  "For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him."  (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
3.  "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."  (Matthew 6: 33).
4.   "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  (John 14: 13).

You can know who Jesus is through His words. He is the word of God and He is in His word.

From the Gospel, I know that Jesus is my Lord and my God, my Savior and my Redeemer. He is my Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Promise Maker and the Promise Keeper.

"Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.”  (Mark 8: 29).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Heart that is pierced with a sword.

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home."  (John 19:  26 - 27).

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  Coming right after the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The Church remembers the Heart of Mary  "pierced with a sword."

"Simeon said to Mary: Behold, this child is destined for the ruin and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign of contradiction; and your own soul a sword will pierce."  (Cf Luke 2: 34 - 35).

On the Cross, Jesus gave us His mother as our mother. (John 19:  26 - 27).  A precious, priceless Gift.

"How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me through His Blessed Mother? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

"To You Jesus will I offer sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people." 
(Cf Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18).

"O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."
(Collect, Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lift high the triumphant Cross!

"Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover." (Numbers 21: 8).

Friday, September 14th is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.  Today, the universal Church lifts high the triumphant Cross from which came the salvation of the world.  What happened in the Desert in Numbers 21 prefigures the real and gruesome sacrifice of Jesus on the altar of the Cross.  Here Jesus is the Victim, the Priest and the Altar of Sacrifice!

"When I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw everyone to myself, says the Lord."  (John 12: 32).

Thank You Jesus!

Brothers and sisters:  "We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered."
(Galatians 6: 14).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Mercy droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven...

"Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful."  (Luke 6:  36).

Mercy is the preeminent attribute of God.  In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare shows that mercy can also be a human attribute:

"The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes the thronèd monarch better than his crown."

Like the Unforgiving Servant, Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice ignored the plea for mercy.
Jesus urges us to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is always merciful.  But Abba Father's mercy comes with a condition: "Forgive and you will be forgiven."  (Luke 6: 37).  And again: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."  (Matthew 6: 12).  We see that it is Father's intention to make mercy a human policy.

"Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me. For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your eyes.....

I will teach the wicked your ways,
that sinners may return to you."
(Psalm 51: 3 - 6, 15).
The reformed sinner has not only become merciful but is now an evangelist of Mercy.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Congratulations to you who are poor.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours."  (Luke 6: 20).

St Luke gives his version of the Beatitudes in Luke 6: 20 - 26).
The Beatitude is a faithful portrait of the character of Jesus the Messiah, the Faithful Servant. It begins with a key attribute: material poverty.  Jesus was born of poor parents in a manger. He lived in a poor neighborhood of Nazareth. After he attained the age of puberty, He became an apprentice carpenter in His father's workshop.

When Jesus began His teaching with "Congratulations to you who are materially poor..." His audience would have been delighted. Let us head to the Catechism to see what the Church teaches us on the Beatitudes.

"The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. This vocation is addressed to each individual personally, but also to the Church as a whole, the new people made up of those who have accepted the promise and live from it in faith." (CCC 1719).

Man does not live on bread alone. Man does not live on money alone. There is life for man in every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Cf Matthew 4: 4).

"God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us "partakers of the divine nature" and of eternal life. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ and into the joy of the Trinitarian life." (CCC 1721)

The Beatitude is the blueprint of our Journey of Faith.  Follow it as faithfully as you follow the GPS and it will lead you to our true Homeland.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I will see you in court.

"How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones?"  (1 Corinthians 6: 1).

St Paul upbraided the Corinthian Christians who were new and baby Christians for behaving in a manner completely outside "our manner of doing things."  Every family, every household has its "manner of doing things."  With time, your family manner of doing things become the tradition of your family.  The Christian Church is the Household of God. She too has its manner of acting and doing things.

"If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters, do you seat as judges people of no standing in the church?"  (1 Corinthians 6: 4).
No! No! No!

"Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough to be able to settle a case between brothers?  But rather brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers?"  (1 Corinthians 6: 5 - 6).
Yes there are many among us who can settle our grievances against one another. O Holy Spirit help us!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12: 2).
Got it! When we conform to the "manner of doing things" of the world, we sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

"I chose you from the world,
that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord." (John 15: 16).
It is our vocation and mission to make the world conform to our manner of doing things not the other way around.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jesus is still speaking through the Scriptures and Magisterium.

"Jesus knew what they were thinking." (Luke 6: 8).

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking in their hearts.  They condemned Him for healing a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath. (Luke 6: 6 - 11).
Will it scare you to know that Jesus knows what you are thinking about everything?

One of the attributes of God that delights my heart is His omniscience.  God knows everything before it happens.
Jesus knew Judas' treason before it happened. He knew Peter's betrayal before it occurred.  After the Resurrection, Jesus is more willing to forgive Peter than for Peter to accept the clemency and forgive himself.

What do you think is the purpose of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, Son of David and Son of Abraham?  (Matthew 1: 1 - 16)  To confound the likes of Pharisees who know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? (Matthew 22: 29).

"My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10: 27).

Jesus is still speaking through the Sacred Scriptures and Sacred Magisterium.

"One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
(Acts 19: 15).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Lord sustains the fatherless and the widow.

"My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ."
(James 2: 1).

Many RCIA Teams all over the world will be drawing from today's Scriptures to address the topic of Social Justice in their catechetical work.  This is the Scripture the Holy Spirit gives the Church for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.  The Holy Spirit is not liberal or conservative.  He is simply the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, the Author of the Sacred Scriptures, the Sanctifier.  The Church is not progressive or traditional. The Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.  Where the Spirit leads, the Church follows. With this in mind, let us listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches this Sunday.

"The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.

"The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.

"The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations.
Alleluia."
(Psalm 146: 7, 8 - 9, 9 10).

Psalm 146, the Responsorial Psalm highlights the themes of the mission of the Messiah.  They are also the themes of the mission of the Church.

"Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you."  (Isaiah 35: 4 - 1st Reading).

There are too many insecure and frightened people in the world today.  What can you do to calm their fears?

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Happy Birthday Sweet Mother!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”  (Matthew 1: 23).

The Universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Mary was chosen, called, prepared and enabled to be the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Cf Romans 8: 30). Mary said Yes immediately to the Archangel Gabriel.  She did not say:  "Let me ask my husband about this.  I will also like to talk to my mother."  It was this openness to grace that made Mary:  "Blessed among women."  (Cf Luke 1: 45).  And every generation continues to call her blessed. (Luke 1: 48)

According to Matthew the Evangelist, Jesus Christ descended directly from Abraham:
"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob........... (Matthew 1: 1 - 2).

After the birth of Jesus, the line of genealogy comes abruptly to an end.
"Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,  Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah."  (Matthew 1: 15 - 16).

A new genealogy begins from Jesus Son of God and Son of Mary. This genealogy includes you and me as royal sons and daughters.

"Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God."  (Entrance Antiphon, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

How you delight in the LORD.

"Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desire."  (Psalm 37: 4).

Our Bible verse for today is taken from the Responsorial Psalm from the Liturgy of Friday in the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time.

Before we tackle how we can find our delight in the Lord, we want to know what "delight" means. The dictionary defines "delight" by example thus:   "to make (someone) very happy : to give (someone) great pleasure or satisfaction."

We can find our delight in the Lord by being happy in the Lord. We can enjoy friendship with God.  Do you enjoy serving the Lord? I see here the idea of companionship.  Before the Fall, God and Adam enjoyed  walks together in Paradise.  Moses enjoyed friendship with God and talked with God as one friend to another.

Mary sings:  “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."  (Luke 1: 46 - 47).

Do you enjoy praying, reading the Bible? These are key activities that cement friendship with God. Do you like hanging out in Churches?  The Sanctuary is a place where the presence of God is felt.

"Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart."  (Psalm 37: 4 AMP).
Remember: God knows exactly what you need and when you need it.

Constantly seek your happiness in the Lord, and the Lord promises to give you your heart's desire. 

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of September.

September 7, 2018 - First Friday in September.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:  Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 9th month of the year 2018, we look at Promise #9.

#9.  "I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."

Do you have an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent place in your home? Are you ashamed to displace it? Or do you consider it a childish devotion?
"Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God." (Matthew 22: 29).

Jesus Christ 100% God and 100 % Man is proud of His human heritage. He wants His brethren to be reminded of this.  So Jesus mandated His image to be rendered by an artist for the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy devotions. The Church approved these devotions and images.

Patronize the ministry of the Catholic Bookstore by purchasing these images there.

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

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

We worked hard but accomplished nothing.

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  (Luke 5: 10).

Today's Gospel shows how Jesus called His first disciples.  There are plenty of lessons for everyone.

"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5: 4).

Where you are and what you are doing now is no accident. You are where you are meant to be.  Jesus sees you.  He knows all about your successes and frustrations.

Jesus tested Simon, a seasoned fisherman to do something that professional fishermen would consider absurd.
"Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”  (Luke 5: 5 - 6).

Mary said to the servants at the first miracle at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you.”  (John 2: 5).  Would you do ridiculous things if Jesus asks you to?
Remembering Peter and the miraculous draught of fish and the servants at the Wedding at Cana would be a great inspiration at your moment of testing.  This sacred memory will be grace to anyone when such opportunity comes. It also helps greatly to know who Jesus is:
"The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it."  (Psalm 24: 1).  Jesus is the Lord of the earth.

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  (Luke 5:  8).  Most of us will react like Peter in the presence of manifest holiness and power.
Let not thoughts of your unworthiness discourage you.  Remember this:
"And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified."  (Romans 8: 30).

"Lord Jesus, You came to set the world on fire with the good news, Your Gospel. You prayed that its flames would race through our hearts. Send Your Holy Spirit upon us to give us the courage to spread the Good News of Your burning love for us.  May all our hearts be open to change as the light of Your love and message reaches every corner of Your holy Church. May it chase away the darkness of sin and lead even those most distanced from You back into Your loving arms.
We pray to You, Lord Jesus through Mary Your Mother whose plea You will never refuse.  Amen."
(Office of Evangelization. Archdiocese of NY).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Not many people appear to be looking for Jesus.

"The people were looking for him." [Jesus] (Luke 4: 42).

Why was everyone looking for Jesus?  Because He feeds them, heals them and teaches them?  Much more than that.  They are irresistibly drawn to Jesus as iron particles are drawn to a magnet.  Historians say that Rome from its earliest history as the See of St Peter attracts tourists.  Spiritual gurus say that holiness draws people to the holy one in the same manner.

Today, not many people appear to be attracted to Jesus.  On the surface, they appear to be more attracted to money, pleasure, leisure, spots.  This is just on the surface.   St Augustine who is great with words summarized the whole of the Bible on human longing thus:  "O God, thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."

How do we know that St Augustine is correct?  Today it is:  Addiction. Addiction. Addiction.  Nothing will ever satisfy the heart of man except God who stamped His DNA on man when He created Adam.

My friend, where do you fit into this picture?  Jesus says:
“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”   (Luke 4: 43).

Jesus has turned over this great Enterprise of evangelization to you and me.
"For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."  (1 Corinthians 3: 9).

"Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard." (Matthew 20: 6 - 7).

You are hired.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Why is His word so powerful?

“What is there about his word?" (Luke 4: 36).

The surprised people of Capernaum asked after Jesus cast out an evil spirit with one word. The answer to their question is simple.  What is there about the word of Jesus? It is the word of God. God is inside His word.

Who else felt the power of this word?
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."  (Matthew 8: 8).

Have you ever asked Jesus to say one word and heal any area of your life?

"For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”  (Luke 4: 36).

A father has authority over his children.  He exercises this authority through his words. Does the word of God have authority over you?

"Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to all He said."  (Luke 10: 39). Mary wanted the words of Jesus to have authority over her. So she listened attentively to every word of Jesus.  (Cf Luke 4: 32).
You can do the same.

One of the most creative words in the Bible is Mercy. The word "mercy" occurs 276 times in the Bible. This is a magic word that the Heart of God cannot resist. Everyone that approaches Jesus in the Gospel and pleads for mercy receives mercy instantly.  Listen to the number of times "mercy" is used in Holy Mass.  We hit God at His softest spot.  How many times do you use mercy in your prayers?

Including the very words of God makes our prayers more effective.

"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of mercy to all who call to you." (Psalm 86: 3,5).

"The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works."  (Psalm 145: 8 - 9).

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and the whole world.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Manifesto for the Kingdom

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”  (Luke 4: 18 - 19).

Jesus Christ launched His campaign for the Kingdom of God appropriately in His native town, Nazareth.  Everyone in the synagogue including you and me thought they heard this manifesto (Luke 4: 18) somewhere, sometime.  Jesus is quoting from a familiar passage of Isaiah 61 about the Messiah and His mission.  The manner in which He read the passage and concluding words:  “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4: 21) startled everyone in the synagogue.

What does this living word of God mean for you and for me today? We too have been chosen, called and anointed by the Holy Spirit.  Anointed for what?  Anointed to accomplish a purpose in life with the power of the Holy Spirit.

But you may object:  I am too old. I am too poor. I am uneducated. I am too sick. I am too young.  The Lord Jesus answers:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

Faced with this answer, Paul says "I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.  Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 
(2 Corinthians 12: 9 - 10).

Do you trust Jesus or do you prefer to trust your own understanding?  (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I sympathize and pray for Archbishop Viganó

Why I sympathize and pray for Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó

Archbishop Viganó has succumbed like most of us to the great temptation of today:

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."  (Romans 12: 2).

He sowed the wind. Now he is reaping the whirlwind.  (Hosea 8: 7).

Many prelates, priests and lay people who have stopped reading and believing the word of God, who have stopped praying believe that journalists and the ways of the world are wiser than the Scriptures and the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Pope Francis prophetically writes about this below:

"Inner strength, as the work of grace, prevents us from becoming carried away by the violence that is so much a part of life today, because grace defuses vanity and makes possible meekness of heart. The saints do not waste energy complaining about the failings of others; they can hold their tongue before the faults of their brothers and sisters, and avoid the verbal violence that demeans and mistreats others. Saints hesitate to treat others harshly; they consider others better than themselves"
(cf. Phil 2:3).  Gaudete et Exultate #116.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

You can feel secure about your gifts.

"Dearest brothers and sisters:  All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change."  (James 1: 17).

I have received emails that have in the subject line: "Information that you can use now."  The Scripture from James 1: 17 is Scripture that we can use right here and right now.  In the hustle and bustle of life,  we need to pause to consider the source of the blessings we enjoy: good health, family, great job, strong bank account, etc.  How do you feel when you read that all your blessings actually come from God?
Sacred Scripture wants us to count our blessings:

"Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who fills your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."  (Psalm 103: 1 - 5).

If every good gift we enjoy comes from God, then we should feel very secure about the gifts we have. (Cf Romans 11: 29).

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  (John 13: 17).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

Congratulations My good and faithful servant.

"Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability."  (Matthew 25: 14 - 15).

Have you ever met a human being with zero gift of time, talent or treasure?  No! God gives to each human being a gift of some time, talent or treasure "each according to his ability."  That is, each according to his predestined purpose.

No matter how long it takes the Master to come, be assured that there will be settling of accounts sooner or later.
"After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them." 
(Matthew 25: 19).

Those servants who have made good yields on the investment will be congratulated and promoted. Losers will be severely reprimanded and punished.
"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy."  (Matthew 25: 21).

To be faithful is to be steadfast, constant in a task. Mary is faithful to prayer.  Mother St Teresa of Kolkata says that God does not expect us to be successful but expects us to be faithful.

"Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters."  (1 Corinthians 1: 26).
Who are you before the Master employed you?  Never forget why you were chosen, called and anointed.

Although we started off being nobodies and having nothing, we have been richly endowed, resourced and placed in good positions to yield rich harvest for our Master.

SeekFirstcommunity.com

I do not know you, madam.

"Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."  (Matthew 25: 12).

These are the words of the bridegroom [Jesus] to the Five Foolish Virgins. God forbid that anyone of us will hear this sharpest of rebukes on the Last Day. Yet the Foolish Virgins behaved very foolishly.  They were duly warned.  Be prepared.  The Bridegroom has a reputation for being delayed. Expect this. They failed to heed the warning.

Here is another warning:
"Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.  But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."  (Matthew 10: 32 - 33).

Those who are perishing call such warnings foolishness but to us who are being saved it is the wisdom and mercy of God.  (Cf 1 Corinthians 1: 18).

"Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  (John 18: 37).
Do you belong to the truth? Do you recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd?

"Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."  (Matthew 25: 13).

SeekFirstcommunity.com

You also must be prepared.

"Jesus said to His disciples: 'Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come."  (Matthew 24: 42).

Two lessons I learned as a Boy Scout have served me well:
#1. "Be Prepared."
#2.  "Fortune favors the brave."  Or "Fortune favors the prepared mind."

Thank You Jesus for these nuggets of wisdom that have blessed us so much in life.  Make us ready and well prepared every moment for everything as we joyfully wait for Your coming.

Jesus wants us to be prepared for His coming anytime.
"So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
(Matthew 24: 44).

St Augustine writes:  "If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."  Prayer is core to all preparation.
My brethren, "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mark 8: 36).

"My master is long delayed." 
(Matthew 24:  48). Wrong attitude!

Here is a comforting promise:
"He [God] will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1: 8 8 - 9).

SeekFirstcommunity.com