Wednesday, April 03, 2024

SHALOM, PEACE IS THE GREAT GIFT OF EASTER!

PEACE BE WITH YOU.

"The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

“But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

“Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them,

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24: 25 - 48).

Easter Thursday 4th April 2024 in the Octave 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 and his friend on the road to Emmaus. In spite of all these appearances, the Apostles were still frightened and many questions and doubts agitate them.

Jesus said two weighty and important words to His disciples gathered in the Upper Room the very Sunday of the Resurrection:

Here is My new Home amongst men.

#1. “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24: 36).

#2. "You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24: 48).

Peace is the dominant post-Resurrection greeting of Jesus. Peace here means Shalom, the sum total of all graces and mercies flowing from the heart of God to men of good will who are now fully redeemed by the death and Resurrection of Jesus. No more recriminations or remembrance of denials and cowardly flight from the scene of the crime. All sins are washed away. Enjoy My Shalom!

At the end of His brief speech, the Risen Lord said: "You are witnesses of these things." "You" means we Christians singing the Easter Alleluia are His witnesses. We are to bear testimonies with our life and work to Jesus, to His Good News. As we bear testimony to the power of the name of Jesus with faith, miracles will happen as we hear in the first Reading Acts 3: 11 - 26.

"O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him,

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia." (1 Peter 2: 9).

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

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Daily Bible Verse @

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com

SeekFirstcommunity

Tuesday, April 02, 2024

SILVER OR GOLD I DO NOT HAVE!

SILVER OR GOLD I DO NOT HAVE.

"Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer.

"And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.

"When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

"He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”

"Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.

"When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him." (Acts 3: 1 - 10).

Easter Wednesday April 3, 2024 in the Octave of Easter.

I am inspired to reflect on the key Scripture below:

"Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”

My testimony with silver or gold is this: I have known from my youth that I am not excited by silver or gold. God the Giver of all good gifts did not favor me with silver or gold. Instead He gave me an inquisitive mind especially with regard to eternal truths.

I am most happy in searching for useful facts and information and sharing them freely with people who may need them.

I recognize that some people prefer I give them money rather than information they can use. I became ashamed when I could not. Then the Holy Spirit opened my mind to Acts 3: 1 - 10.

I became thankful with all the gifts God has given me. I envy no one their gifts of gold and silver.

Our Gospel today (Luke 24: 13 - 35) contains a great revelation. I call it:

THE FULL TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

SIN, SUFFERING, SALVATION are intertwined. Sin causes suffering. Suffering creates the condition for Salvation.

"And he[Jesus] 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 Christ 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."

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

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Daily Bible Verse @

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com

SeekFirstcommunity

Monday, April 01, 2024

THE MISSION OF MARY MAGDALENE.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.

"And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

"She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

"Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”

"She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

"Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

"Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her." (John 20: 11 - 18).

Tuesday 2nd April 2024, Easter Tuesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

After asking Mary Magdalene why she was weeping, Jesus said to her:

“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the great commission of bearing news of His Resurrection to the all male Apostles. Mary ran as fast as she could with the news to the Apostles.

Who is this woman, Mary Magdalene?

#1. Certainly not the wife of Jesus as alleged by the silly once popular book, Da Vinci Code.

#2. Probably the woman of Mark 16: 9 who had 7 demons expelled from her. Once released from demonic oppression, Mary clung tightly to Jesus and His ministry.

#3. Jesus and His disciples received no salary, stipends or subsidies for their ministry. How did they survive? Mary of Magdala headed a group of zealous women who supplied the needs of Jesus and the disciples from their resources.

#4. Mary Magdalene stood with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostle John under the Cross and witnessed the agony of the Crucified from the very beginning to the end.

#5. Jesus rewarded Mary to be the first eyewitness to see Jesus after His Resurrection. He commissioned Mary to take the great news to His brothers. No wonder Mary is called the "apostle to the apostles."

What are the lessons from the profile of Mary Magdalene?

Mary has a heart that returns love for love. She never forgets a favor done to her. Mary Magdalene is one of my patron saints.

APRIL - MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings on the Eucharist, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

THE MISSION OF MARY MAGDALENE.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.

"And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

"She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

"Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”

"She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

"Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

"Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her." (John 20: 11 - 18).

Tuesday 2nd April 2024, Easter Tuesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

After asking Mary Magdalene why she was weeping, Jesus said to her:

“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the great commission of bearing news of His Resurrection to the all male Apostles. Mary ran as fast as she could with the news to the Apostles.

Who is this woman, Mary Magdalene?

#1. Certainly not the wife of Jesus as alleged by the silly once popular book, Da Vinci Code.

#2. Probably the woman of Mark 16: 9 who had 7 demons expelled from her. Once released from demonic oppression, Mary clung tightly to Jesus and His ministry.

#3. Jesus and His disciples received no salary, stipends or subsidies for their ministry. How did they survive? Mary of Magdala headed a group of zealous women who supplied the needs of Jesus and the disciples from their resources.

#4. Mary Magdalene stood with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostle John under the Cross and witnessed the agony of the Crucified from the very beginning to the end.

#5. Jesus rewarded Mary to be the first eyewitness to see Jesus after His Resurrection. He commissioned Mary to take the great news to His brothers. No wonder Mary is called the "apostle to the apostles."

What are the lessons from the profile of Mary Magdalene?

Mary has a heart that returns love for love. She never forgets a favor done to her. Mary Magdalene is one of my patron saints.

APRIL - MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings on the Eucharist, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

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Daily Bible Verse @
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com
SeekFirstcommunity

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Daily Bible Verse @

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com

SeekFirstcommunity

Sunday, March 31, 2024

THE BIG LIE AND THE GOSPEL.

THE BIG LIE ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

"Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.

"And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

"While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

THE BIG LIE!

"The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day." (Matthew 28: 8 - 15).

The Big Lie!

"You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep." (Matthew 28: 13).

Easter Monday, April 1st 2024 in the Octave of Easter.

Many people today are familiar with the term "fake news." These are deliberate falsehood, misinformation and lies sown by the opposition to destroy the truth. The chief priests and elders confronted with the news of the Resurrection of Jesus, bribed the soldiers to lie and sow disinformation that the Body of Christ was stolen by His disciples. This is the Big Lie.

Jesus said that the good seed was sowed by the Sower during the day but the Enemy came at night and sowed tares. Pope Benedict XVI said that one of the great threats to Christianity today is the existential threat to truth. Never before in human history has man been confronted by untruth and falsehood from every quarter in such a large scale.

Although the Church has Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition and Magisterium which work together as deposit of faith and source of truth, the Church is still buffeted constantly by flood of disinformation and fake news even from inside the Church. Every Christian is bound to know the faith in other to bear witness to the truth. Not just to bear witness to the truth but very importantly to protect himself from falsehood. Many Catholics leave the Church because they "discovered scripture and the truth" somewhere.

The Church has great Saints that have combatted heresies and falsehood in the Church and about the Church. These Saints are called Hammer of Heretics. Some of them are:

St Augustine of Hippo and St Anthony of Padua. Pray to them to protect you from the Big Lie and heresies.

Do not believe them when you hear "His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep."

JESUS IS LORD. ALWAYS!

Wednesday, April 03, 2024

"The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

“But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

“Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them,

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24: 25 - 48).

Easter Thursday 4th April 2024 in the Octave 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 and his friend on the road to Emmaus. In spite of all these appearances, the Apostles were still frightened and many questions and doubts agitate them.

Jesus said two weighty and important words to His disciples gathered in the Upper Room the very Sunday of the Resurrection:

#1. “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24: 36).

#2. "You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24: 48).

"O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him,

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, alleluia." (1 Peter 2: 9).

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

++++++++++++++++++++++

Daily Bible Verse @

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com

SeekFirstcommunity

Tuesday, April 02, 2024

"Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer.

"And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.

"When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

"He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”

"Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.

"When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him." (Acts 3: 1 - 10).

Easter Wednesday April 3, 2024 in the Octave of Easter.

I am inspired to reflect on the key Scripture below:

"Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”

My testimony with silver or gold is this: I have known from my youth that I am not excited by silver or gold. God the Giver of all good gifts did not favor me with silver or gold. Instead He gave me an inquisitive mind especially with regard to eternal truths.

I am most happy in searching for useful facts and information and sharing them freely with people who may need them.

I recognize that some people prefer I give them money rather than information they can use. I became ashamed when I could not. Then the Holy Spirit opened my mind to Acts 3: 1 - 10.

I became thankful with all the gifts God has given me. I envy no one their gifts of gold and silver.

Our Gospel today (Luke 24: 13 - 35) contains a great revelation. I call it:

THE FULL TRUTH ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

SIN, SUFFERING, SALVATION are intertwined. Sin causes suffering. Suffering creates the condition for Salvation.

"And he[Jesus] 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 Christ 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."

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

SeekFirstcommunity

Monday, April 01, 2024

THE MISSION OF MARY MAGDALENE.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb ­weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.

"And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

"She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

"Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”

"She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

"Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her." (John 20: 11 - 18).

After asking Mary Magdalene why she was weeping, Jesus said to her:

“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the great commission of bearing news of His Resurrection to the all male Apostles. Mary ran as fast as she could with the news to the Apostles.

Who is this woman, Mary Magdalene?

#1. Certainly not the wife of Jesus as alleged by the silly once popular book, Da Vinci Code.

#2. Probably the woman of Mark 16: 9 who had 7 demons expelled from her. Once released from demonic oppression, Mary clung tightly to Jesus and His ministry.

#3. Jesus and His disciples received no salary, stipends or subsidies for their ministry. How did they survive? Mary of Magdala headed a group of zealous women who supplied the needs of Jesus and the disciples from their resources.

#4. Mary Magdalene stood with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostle John under the Cross and witnessed the agony of the Crucified from the very beginning to the end.

#5. Jesus rewarded Mary to be the first eyewitness to see Jesus after His Resurrection. He commissioned Mary to take the great news to His brothers. No wonder Mary is called the "apostle to the apostles."

What are the lessons from the profile of Mary Magdalene?

Mary has a heart that returns love for love. She never forgets a favor done to her. Mary Magdalene is one of my patron saints.

APRIL - MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL.

For Teachings on the Eucharist, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

THE MISSION OF MARY MAGDALENE.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb ­weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.

"And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

"She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

"Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”

"She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

"Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her." (John 20: 11 - 18).

Tuesday 2nd April 2024, Easter Tuesday in the Octave of the Solemnity of Easter.

After asking Mary Magdalene why she was weeping, Jesus said to her:

“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the great commission of bearing news of His Resurrection to the all male Apostles. Mary ran as fast as she could with the news to the Apostles.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.

"Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.