The seeds that fell on rich soil.

"Some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 13: 8 - 9).

Sunday 12th July 2020, 15th Week in Ordinary Time.

Today the Church presents us a key parable in the Parable Discourse of the teachings of Jesus.
A sower goes out to sow and encounters four types of soil:

#1 Pathway.
#2 Rocky ground.
#3 Thorny Shrub.
#4 Rich soil.

The Responsorial Psalm 65 reveals how God carefully prepares the ground for sowing:

"You [God] have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s watercourses are filled; you have prepared the grain.  Drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers,
blessing its yield."

God cannot be blamed for the hardness of heart found in soils that failed. It is a mystery that out of the four types of soil, only one produced a harvest. The harvest of a hundred, sixty, thirtyfold depend on the understanding of the message of the Gospel and the commitment to it.

Why did Jesus say à propos the Parable of the Sower? "Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Faith comes from hearing the word of God. In the first Reading from Isaiah 55, God promises "My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."
God has promised to be merciful to everyone who seeks Him. That promise will not return to God void.

O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Lord says to us three times today: Do not be afraid.

 “Therefore do not be afraid of them." (Matthew 10: 26).

Saturday 11th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity: St Benedict of Norcia, Abbot. (480 - 547). Italian and founder of the Benedictine Order. How many people do you know that has founded something that has lasted about 1500 years and is still going strong? Or have written a book that is still in circulation after 500 years? That is the true mark of greatness.
St Benedict is the co-patron saint of Europe. His rules for monastic life is still widely used. I am inspired by this rule: "Pray and Work."

#1 “Therefore do not be afraid of them." (Matthew 10: 26).
#2 "And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matthew 10: 28).
#3 "So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10: 31).

Three times Jesus said to His missionary disciples: Do not be afraid. We need to hear this many times a day. Most of us are too ashamed to admit how much fear rules our life: fear of the boss, illness, poverty, loss of job, etc.

God's loving and constant Providence is the overwhelming reason why we should not be afraid.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.  Even all the hairs of your head are counted.  So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10: 29 - 31).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

You can not come down from the cross.

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." (Matthew 10: 16).

Friday 10th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture for today is from the Missionary Discourse of Jesus. Jesus continues to train His disciples for future missionary work. He tells them and us what to expect. They are:

#1 The mission field is Wolfland. Their shrewdness will come from their awareness that they are not alone. "Behold I am with you always."

#2 They will be arrested and arraigned before courts. They should not be anxious about how to defend themselves. "For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10: 20). The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete and Advocate is the Voice that speaks in Court. Be calm and confident and allow Him to do His job.

#3 "You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10: 22).
The missionary is not a baby kissing politician, a movie star or a socialite. He is the ambassador of the One who calls Himself "the Truth, the Way and life." Caesar may be offended by these credentials. So do not expect to be welcomed everywhere with open hands.

Don’t plan to come down from the cross. Once you put your hands on the plough, it is forward march to the very end. Salvation belongs to those who persevere to the very end.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

China continues to oppose the Kingdom of God.

"As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 10: 6).

Thursday 9th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine Zhao, Chinese priest and martyr and 119 of his companion martyrs. China continues to persecute the Church with unabated severity. Does China want to achieve a goal that the mighty Roman Empire failed to accomplish? The Third Reich of Adolf Hitler tried to suppress the Church but was suppressed.  Joseph Stalin died while trying to crush what the Bolsheviks called the opium of the people.

The missionary effort of the Church continues worldwide uninterrupted by persecutions and pandemics.
"As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What is the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven?
Where is it?
Who is in it?
How does it work?

Jesus Christ is the King. Where the King is, there is the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is unlike the Kingdom of David. The Kingdom of David was limited by geography and was temporary. The Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaims is universal and eternal. Jesus today exercises His kingship in the heart and mind of everyone who accepts Him and welcomes Him.

The seed of the kingdom exists in the Church. (CCC 671). The Church is the community of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Church welcomes everyone who presents himself for Baptism. The new Christian is instructed in all that Jesus has taught the Apostles. He is then admitted to the Sacraments of Salvation and begins his growth into the mysteries of Christ.

Our response to the gift of the kingdom should be intense gratitude and full commitment to the growth of the kingdom.
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29).

Let me share with you the shortcut to the Good Life: Make the Kingdom of God your first priority in everything and the holy life that it calls for. Then believe without a single doubt that God who is so faithful and true will provide ALL your NEEDS. God who created you knows what you need and when you need it. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Israel is a luxuriant vine.

“Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you.” (Hosea 10: 12).

Wednesday 8th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time.

My brethren, has prosperity become a snare for us? The wise say: "Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Man's security is Satan's opportunity." Consider this:
At a time when the richest nations of the world have experienced unimaginable prosperity, less than 25% of the population care to worship God on Sunday. There are significant pockets of poverty in the wealthy nations. The gaps between the haves and have nots continue to widen. This is the profile of Israel when God sent Hosea the Prophet to the nation of Israel to announce that He the Lord will put an end to this nonsense one way or the other.

"Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up." (Hosea 10: 1).

What shall we do my brethren? The Responsorial Psalm in today's Liturgy reminds us that God is a merciful God and that if we humble ourselves before Him, He will relent and restore us to His favors.

It is time to abandon consumerism and seek the Lord.
It is time for the rich man to open his eyes and see the Lazarus starving on his door steps.
It is time to bring an end to the culture of death and embrace the right to life from the womb to the tomb.
It is time to wipe out universally poverty, ignorance and disease.

"Seek always the face of the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!" (Psalm 105: 2 - 3).

The Lord is merciful and gracious.

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Do not sow the wind.

"When they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8: 7).

Tuesday 7th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time.

The Prophet Hosea warned Israel bluntly of the inevitable consequences of their choices and actions: "When you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind." Why is God so displeased with Israel?
"They made kings, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my knowledge." Are we better?

When was the last time you heard about the will of God; what is God's will on this matter? Can we pray to discern God's will on this decision?
I suspect that there were prayers both individually and collectively to ask God for light and guidance before the lock down of Churches? We lost Masses, Confessions, Sacraments and Sacramentals, Holy water, etc. All this happened even before the government woke up to the threat of the pandemics?

St John Henry Newman says that God did not create human beings to be independent. He created man to depend on Him.
"But Israel has rejected what is good; the enemy shall pursue him." (Hosea 8: 3).
If you want a new king, consult your God O Israel. But when you do not,
you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.

The Holy Spirit gives the Church the gift of the Discernment of Spirits to bless the Church with godly and wise decisions.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

My daughter, your faith has saved you.

“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” (Matthew 9: 22).

Monday 6th July 2020, 14th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Maria Goretti (1890 - 1902). Italian. Virgin and Martyr. Maria was barely twelve years old when she was attacked by Alessandro Serenelli, a 19 years old man who tried to rape her. Maria resisted fiercely.  Alessandro stabbed her to death.

Maria forgave him in her death bed. Alessandro spent 27 of 30 years in prison. Maria appeared to him in a dream and brought him flowers. Alessandro Serenelli was in the audience at the Vatican when Maria was canonized in 1950. He later joined the Capuchin monastery.
St Maria Goretti is the patron saint of purity, young women, rape victims and youth.

In our Gospel verse for today, Jesus said to another desperate woman: “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” This could have been said to St Maria Goretti.
Without faith, we can do nothing. "The just shall live by faith."

"What is Faith and why is it so important?
"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." (Hebrews 11: 1 TLB).

Everyone who matters in the Bible from Abraham, David, John the Baptist, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Peter and Paul were not just people of faith but lived by faith. St Maria Goretti bore witness to her faith by accepting her martyrdom.
The woman with the issue of Blood in today's Gospel exercised her faith:
“If I only touch him, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned around and spoke to her. “Daughter,” he said, “all is well! Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was well from that moment." (Matthew 9: 21 - 22).

We are saved by grace through faith. You can start living by your faith right here and now.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The little ones know the mysteries of the Kingdom.

"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will...You have revealed to the little ones the mysteries of the kingdom." (Matthew 11: 26, 25).

The gracious and mysterious will of the Father is to reveal to the "little ones" the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Who are the little ones and what secrets of the kingdom of God are revealed to them? We will take two examples:
St Therese of the Child Jesus popularly called the Little Flower and St Maria Faustina called the Secretary of Divine Mercy.

Therese had uncanny insight into the mystery of Divine Providence.
The Little Flower is a Doctor of the Church. She became a Doctor of the Church by teaching the little ways to Heaven she learned from God. Paragraph 274 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in my opinion echoes her teaching:

"Nothing is more apt to confirm our faith and hope than holding it fixed in our minds that nothing is impossible with God. Once our reason has grasped the idea of God's almighty power, it will easily and without any hesitation admit everything that [the Creed] will afterwards propose for us to believe - even if they be great and marvelous things, far above the ordinary laws of nature." (CCC 274).

St Maria Faustina brought us the message of Divine Mercy. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is universally very popular in the Church. The summary is below.
The ABC of Mercy:
A: Ask for Mercy.
B: Be Merciful.
C: Confidently trust Jesus for Mercy.

This is all you need to attract Divine Mercy.

"Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will...You have revealed to the little ones the mysteries of the kingdom." (Matthew 11: 26, 25).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Feast of St Elizabeth of Portugal.

"I will restore my people Israel, they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits." (Amos 9: 14).

Saturday 4th July 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 - 1336). Elizabeth married King Denis of Portugal when she was very young. She set an example of Christian charity in the court and was the peace-maker between her husband and the children. After her husband died, Elizabeth became a Franciscan tertiary.

July 4th is marked in the United States of America as Independence Day to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.

The message from Amos in the first Reading predicts an era of restoration. This nation needs peace and unity. God has given us abundance of material goods. Without peace, unity and justice they count for nothing.

Father, help us to serve each other in justice and mercy and share what we have for the welfare of all men and women. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Stop doubting Thomas.

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20: 5).

Friday 3rd July 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Thomas, Apostle, missionary and martyr. Christians remember Thomas as the "doubting Thomas" but also as the Apostle who brought us that profound expression of faith: "My Lord and my God." Thomas ministered to the Indian people who made him a martyr. Today is also the First Friday in July.

Doubt, unbelief, fear, worry are not from God. They are the instruments of Satan. They are are top tools in the Satanic playbook. No Christian saint is too advanced for Satanic attacks using these tools. St Thomas the Apostle had the benefit of the kindly mercy of Jesus generously extended to him to recover from his unbelief and make progress in faith. Jesus who is Emmanuel is ready to do for us what He did for Thomas. He saw the pleading in the eyes of Thomas and exchanged his doubt with robust faith.

How do we overcome our doubts and unbelief?
#1 Not by stop going to Mass or praying or feeding on God's word.

#2 Not by stop using the outward signs of our faith: genuflection, bowing, kneeling, prostrating, bowing, silence but by intensifying these practices in periods of fear, worry and uncertainties.

#3 Prayer is the activator of power O Christians. Our enemy, Satan knows this and fears the Christian who prays. In the warfare we are engaged in day after day, the Christian who prays has only one method of advancing in the battle field: PRAYER. This is why Jesus calls Prayer, a vital necessity.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Jesus the Lord and Teacher Never commands us to Work Always. But He commands us to pray Always.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

First Friday in July 2020 - Sacred Heart of Jesus.

July 3, 2020 is First Friday in July 2020.

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 7th month of the year 2020, we look at Promise #7.

#7.  "Tepid souls shall become fervent."

What is tepid?  Tepid is defined as lukewarm, slightly warm, unenthusiastic, apathetic, half-hearted.
Listen to what Jesus says about such persons:
"Because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  (Revelation 3: 16).

Are you lukewarm with regards to Jesus, to spiritual things? Regain your fire through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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

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Get up and walk; your sins are forgiven.

“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9: 2).

Thursday 2nd July 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time.

The worldwide pandemics have created the most intense philosophical and spiritual questioning since the Enlightenment. What is the cause? Who is the cause? Why is it happening? The religious narrative was greatly weakened in the society after the experience of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Now many pastors are wary of sharing their true reflections openly and publicly. Listen to the bland and meaningless chatters on public media on the pandemics.

The word of God cannot be chained. “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
Sin causes suffering and suffering leads to repentance and salvation.
Jesus can forgive sins. Jesus wants to forgive sins. If we say we have no sins, we call God a liar. (1 John 1: 10). Therefore we must confess our sins of thought, word, deed and omission.

Reconciliation with God is the deepest need of man. The Lord is full of mercy. "Your sins are forgiven. Get up and walk."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Seek good and not evil.

"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you as you claim.
Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; Then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5: 14 - 15).

Wednesday 1st July 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Junipero Serra (1713 - 1784). Spanish Franciscan Priest who evangelized Mexico and California and firmly established the Church in these regions.

Junipero arrived in the New World and sought good and not evil. He fought for the cause of justice for the native people of the region.

The Prophet Amos in the first Reading is speaking to a people facing a pandemic crisis. He offered them an infallible vacine:
"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you as you claim.
Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; Then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph."

In the Gospel Reading, Jesus confronts the power of evil and conquers them. It is absolute folly for modern man who at the very best has only 20/20 physical vision to downplay the existence of the devil and his activities in the world.

May St Junipero Serra inspire us to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Lord save us; we are perishing.

"They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8: 25 - 26).

Tuesday 30th June 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church. In 64 AD, the vicious Emperor Nero set Rome on fire. To escape the wrath of the Romans, he blamed the Christians. Then he ordered all Christians arrested and be put to death.

The Apostles with Jesus in the stormy sea faced another type of threat to life. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was deep calm. The Apostles did not realize that the presence of Jesus with them in the boat meant that they were safe. Jesus asked them at Caesarea Philippi "Who do you say that I am?" They followed Jesus but did not know who He is?
“What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 28). They wondered after the calming of the storm.

Do you personally know who Jesus Christ is? This knowledge in crisis could be the difference between life and death.
"God's faithful promises are our armor and protection." (Psalm 91: 4). The Holy Scripture is filled with these promises. They are for you and your children. Invest some time in learning them. "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St Jerome).

When I face a storm in life, I repeat several times:
"Jesus Emmanuel I trust in You. I surrender myself to You completely. Take care of everything Your way."
Do you know that the name of Jesus is a full prayer and an armor of protection against evil?

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

"Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus replied: You are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church." (Matthew 16: 16, 18).

Monday 29th June 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

This great feast has been celebrated for Peter and Paul together from the earliest days of the Church. Why?
Peter and Paul are recognized as the principal pillars of the Church. We declare in the Creed: "I believe in the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church." The one only Church founded by Jesus Christ on Pentecost Sunday is built on the foundation of the Apostles. Hence every Bishop in the Church enjoys legitimacy through Apostolic Succession from the original Twelve Apostles.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked the Twelve and you and me:
"But who do you say that I am?"
In the past, I answered this with various faith formulas. Today I answer the question thus: "You are Jesus Emmanuel, the One who is with me, in me and for me always and everywhere." I repeat this formula often daily and it has helped me to draw from the two huge embedded promises in the sacred names of Jesus and Emmanuel.

And you my friend, who do you say Jesus is today?

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Do not be dismayed by the trials that you face.

"Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10: 28).

Sunday 28th June 2020, 13th Week in Ordinary Time.

Jesus so faithful and true did not over promise the rewards and privileges of discipleship. He did not under estimate the cost. The cost of discipleship may entail severe trials in health, family, finances, job and even death. Buyer beware. No need to be terrified. The Holy Spirit who is in you and always with you will help. He is the Helper, Paraclete, Friend, the Voice that speaks for you in court.

How do you activate this awesome power of the Holy Spirit? God has ordained Prayer as the Activator of Power. Use it as needed.
Pray always.
Pray everywhere.
Pray about everything.

"Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will come to free you." (Psalm 50: 15).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Cyril of Alexandria.

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." (Matthew 8: 8).

Saturday 27th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Cyril of Alexandria in Egypt. (376 - 444). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Cyril played a crucial role in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to defend the oneness of the person in Jesus Christ, true God and true Man and the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Theotokos (God bearer). As the Patriarch of Alexandria, he was a capable administrator and theologian.

The centurion said to Jesus in the Gospel of today: "Only say the word and my servant will be healed."
The centurion believed what he heard about Jesus and jumped to the conclusion that just as his word of authority is important in his army command, the word of God is infinitely more powerful.

Mary said to God at the Annunciation: "Be it done to me according to your word." Immediately the word became flesh. What happened when God said in Genesis "Let there be light?" There was light immediately. Or when Peter in the company of John said to the man born lame, "Stand up and walk?" It happened at once.

The Jews wondered: What is there in this man's word? The creative power of God is in His word. God created man in His image and likeness and gave him the power of life and death through his tongue.
In His ordinary Providence, God has ordained that prayer is the activator of power in man. The man who prays draws down divine power. The man who does not pray is insignificant.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei.

"A leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8: 2).

Friday 26th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Josemaria Escriva (1902 - 1976). Founder of the Opus Dei, a society whose members include men and women, married and single and priests. Unique in many ways among the community of consecrated men and women. Opus Dei believes that it is God's will that people find their path to holiness no matter what your occupation is, viz: doctor, garbage collector, senator, office cleaner, professor, student, etc. The impact of Opus Dei and its spirituality in the modern Church can never be exaggerated. They operate in some 80 countries in the world.
Josemaria is a saint of our time. Died in 1976 and canonized in 2002.

We note the bold prayer of the leper in our lead Scripture for today:
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Do not miss the homage the leper paid to Jesus. The Dictionary defines homage as "special honor or respect shown publicly." Homage can be seen as worship. We know that at the heart of Religion is Worship. This man may be a leper but he knows one or two things about how to treat God.

It is therefore no surprise to anyone that Jesus "stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately."

Jesus Christ is still the same yesterday and today. He is still very much in the healing business. Healing broken hearts and minds, broken homes and careers, broken social order. Healing cancers and diabetes, etc.

Opus Dei helps people become holy in their daily work and activities. Holiness produces wholesomeness of soul, mind and body. The healed leper is now wholesome and can go back to his community to contribute his time, talent and treasure.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

He built his house on a shaky foundation.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock." (Matthew 7: 24 - 25).

Thursday 25th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time.

How is the foundation of your house? Set on reinforced concrete or rock? Or on quickly baked sand and cement? In today's teaching, which is part of the Sermon on Mount Discourse, Jesus teaches us the importance of wisdom in living a life that is solid, safe and secure.

Wisdom deals with Choice - this or that? Build on rock or save money and compromise the foundation. UT Austin or Notre Dame? Marry Sharon or Mary? Do an annual retreat or take a vacation?

Scripture promises:
#1. "If anyone fears the Lord he will show him the path he should choose." (Psalm 25).

#2. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding/ Intelligence/Experience.
Seek/ (Submit/Embrace ) his will in all you do, and he will show/direct you which path to take." (Cf Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 ).

Jesus continues His teaching. Let us re-imagine the text below:

"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.  The rain fell [pandemics], the floods came [pandemics], and the winds blew [pandemics] and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” (Matthew 7: 26 - 27).

True wisdom lies in hearing and doing the word of God. How do we become wise? We have seen that the reverential fear of God brings wisdom. If your children love you and respect you, they will "fear" to do anything that will offend you. You do likewise to friends and people you value.

How do you make good and godly choices become a habit?
#1. Pray for Wisdom every day. You will surely get it.
#2. Read and ponder the word of God daily. It is the source and foundation of Wisdom.
#3. Practice daily examination of conscience. You will see where you have been wise and foolish in the course of the day. You resolve to act appropriately in the future.

Wisdom is listed as the first of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the Promise of the Father. Ask and you receive Him immediately.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist.

"A man was sent from God, whose name was John. He came to testify to the light, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." (John 1: 6 - 7; Luke 1: 17).

Wednesday 24th June 2020, 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Apart from the nativities of Jesus and Mary, John is the only other Nativity celebrated by the Church.

Who is John the Baptist?
The destiny of the great oak tree is contained in the tiny acorn seed.
"Before birth the Lord called me,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name." (Isaiah 49: 1).
John, whose name means "the Lord is gracious" or "God remembers" is the greatest in the line of powerful prophets that include Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

What is the mission of John? To prepare the Way for Jesus. John prepared for his life's mission with singleness of purpose. At a young age, he withdrew into the desert where he lived the solitary life of a hermit till God told him that the time was right for his manifestation to Israel.

John baptized Jesus the Christ in the River Jordan and introduced two of his disciples to Jesus. During his few years of ministry, he stirred consciences with the themes of righteousness and social justice.

John the Baptist paid the price with his life for witnessing to God's law to Herod Antipas.
John is noted for his profound humility. He was praised by Jesus as the greatest prophet.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com