"I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do." (John 17: 4).

Tuesday 26th May 2020, 7th Week in the Easter Season is also the feast feast of St Philip Neri (1515 - 1595), Priest. 

St Philip Neri was an extraordinary priest filled with the Holy Spirit and ecstatic joy. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, the religious community of St John Henry Newman. He converted thousands through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He was a great catechist and spiritual director. He was noted for his joyful and cheerful disposition which attracted thousands to him.

Our daily Scripture verse today is the Farewell Discourse.  Jesus Christ glorified the Father through the Cross by overcoming evil.The Father glorified His Son through the Resurrection. The Cross is the ordained means of our salvation.  (CCC 272). Jesus embraced the pain and humiliation of the Cross so that we may be free. Those who are chosen and called for eternal life are justified by faith in the atoning work of Jesus and glorified by the Cross. We accept to embrace the inevitable trials in our lives. Rejection of the Cross is rejection of Jesus Christ.

We adore You O Christ and worship You. Because of Your holy Cross, You redeemed the world.

St Philip Neri understood the logic of Salvation: Sin > Suffering > Salvation. This is why he was a highly gifted confessor and administered the Sacrament of Penance with great skill and compassion.
St Philip Neri pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." (John 16: 20).

Thursday 21st May 2020, 6th Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of St Christopher Megallanes (1869 - 1927), Priest and Martyr and his companions, martyrs. Mexico massacred 21 priests and 3 lay men during the Cristeros movement during the 1920s.

Jesus predicted these events in the Last Supper Discourse: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy." The antagonism to Jesus and His Gospel is more pronounced today than ever. If you are not prepared today to bear witness to Jesus, what is the likelihood that you will be ready tomorrow? The Scripture says: O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." (John 16: 13).

Wednesday 20th May 2020, 6th Week in the Easter Season is the feast of a great preacher and Evangelist, Franciscan priest, St Bernardine of Siena (1380 - 1444). The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gave Bernardine a great love for the name of Jesus. Bernardine made spreading this holy Name his core ministry and converted thousands of his fellow Italians.

Have you noticed that the theme of the Holy Spirit has dominated the Last Supper Discourse these past few days? No accident! Today Jesus reveals that "When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." Now what does the Spirit of truth means? You think immediately of the Spirit of falsehood as the opposite. Satan is the Father of Lies. He is also a murderer, especially a murderer of truth.

The greatest threat of the world today is not nuclear bomb or Corona Virus. The greatest threat to civilization is falsehood and lies. The contrepoint to this threat is the Holy Spirit. We have this consolation of the Scriptures:
"The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1: 5 NLT).

Pentecost Novena 2020 starts Friday May 22 all over the world. Do not miss the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, May 31. Remember: This is the biggest Gift of the Father. This is a Gift you ask for and you receive immediately. No delay. No rationing.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"I will send you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will lead you to the complete truth." (Cf John 16: 7, 13. Gospel Acclamation).

Tuesday 19th May 2020, 6th Week in the Easter Season.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He leads and guides the Church to the fullness of truth. Let us observe how the Spirit leads and guides Paul and Silas in Philippi in the first Reading (Acts 16: 22 - 34).
Paul and Silas were thrown into the maximum security jail in Philippi with their feet secured to a stake. The Spirit of truth and power inspired them to pray and sing hymns to God. A severe earthquake shook the jail and the doors were thrown open and the prisoners' chains were unshackled. No prisoner escaped. The jailer  thought every prisoner had escaped and wanted to end his life. Paul prevented this.

Paul did not file charges against the city administration for treating a Roman citizen like a common criminal. All these events led to:

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They told him, ‘Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too."

The Spirit of Jesus led and guided Paul and Silas to Philippi and directed all their actions which led to the conversion of the important government official and his family.

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. And your family too.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"The Spirit of truth will be my witness; and you too will be my witnesses." (John 15: 26,27).

Monday 18th May 2020, 6th Week in the Easter Season is also the feast of Pope St John 1 (+ 526), Martyr. Pope St John 1 opposed the Arian heresy and bore witness that Jesus is true God and true Man. He was cast into prison where he died of ill treatment.

"The Spirit of truth will be my witness; and you too will be my witnesses," says Jesus in His Last Supper Discourse. Have you ever thought of the possibility that you too will bear witness to Jesus Christ? I winced when I heard preachers say that the world has changed and the age of martyrdom and bearing witness was over. How wrong they are! St Oscar Romero, Archbishop of El Salvador was shot to death while celebrating Mass in the Chapel in 1980.

The English Hierarchy during the reign of King Henry VIII thought that all was safe. They woke up one morning and were asked to deny their faith under pain of death. Only the Bishop St John Fisher resolved to imitate Pope St John I whose feast we celebrate today. The Hierarchy of the Church today does not seem to have a strategy for known historical anomalies like worldwide pandemics. Wake up. Read the Scriptures. Study Church history and pray a lot.

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

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever, that Spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you." (John 14: 15 - 17).

Sunday 17th May 2020, 6th Week in the Easter Season.

Our Savior continues to reveal to His chosen friends the dynamics of the the Kingdom of God that He is entrusting to them. The Church is the seed of the Kingdom on earth.
The Holy Spirit, the Big Gift of the Father is the Spirit of truth. He will lead and guide the Church to all truth and preserve the integrity of the teachings of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will be our Advocate and constant Helper. The one condition for receiving this free Gift is: "If you love me you will keep my commandments," says Jesus.
Pentecost Sunday is May 31st. Novena to prepare to receive this special Gift starts on Friday, May 22. I am excited.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you." (John 15: 18 - 19).

Saturday 16th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season.

Let us remember that the Last Supper Discourse is the Last Testament of a Man that would be dead in less than 24 hours. Every single word counts. No time for beating about the bush. In today's Scripture, Jesus is saying: Christians, you can not dodge persecution. Persecution comes with the territory. What if you promise?  We will lock down our Churches as long as you want. We are good citizens. Will that save the Church from persecution?

Jesus says No!
"Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (John 15: 20).

Finally, let us understand once and for all:
"And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

From the first Reading today  Cf Acts 16: 1 - 10), we learn:
“Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.”

Are the churches growing stronger in faith and increasing in number today?

Persecution comes with the territory. The Name of Jesus which sparks the persecution is also the unconquerable weapon to demolish all the forces of evil aligned against us. History and prophecy are on our side.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"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).

Friday 15th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season is the Feast of St Isidore the Farmer (1070 - 1130). Isidore was a humble Spanish farmer who spent most of his day on the land and managed to attend daily Mass and spend significant time before the Blessed Sacrament. His wife Maria is a canonized saint. His life reminds us that all creation belong to God who requires us to care for the environment that surrounds us. Isidore is the Patron of the National Rural Life Conference in the US.

It is easy and a temptation for some of us who want to be good Christians to think that we woke up one day and chose to serve Jesus. No. No. No! Not even close. Jesus chose us. And more than that: He anointed us to be fruit bearers and intercessors for our family, friends, the Church and the world.

"I chose you from the world to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last, says the Lord." (John 15: 16).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last." (John 15: 16).

Thursday 14th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season is the feast of the Apostle Matthias. (+ 64). The story of his election into the College of the Apostles to replace Judas is the first Reading today: (Cf Acts 1: 15 - 26). Matthias witnessed to Jesus in Palestine where he was stoned to death.

Our Scripture verse is from the Last Supper Discourse. Like the Apostles, each of us is called, chosen and anointed for a specific mission in the Kingdom. This is true whether we are soldiers, teachers, accountants, lawyers or housewives. Your day job is the field for your ministry. What is the appropriate response to Jesus? Let us be guided by the response of the Church:
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23).

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me." (John 15: 4).

Wednesday 13th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season is the Feast of of Our Lady of Fatima. We shall not forget the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917. Or the miracles of Fatima. The message of Fatima is continued conversion to God and dedication to Mary through commitment to pray the Holy Rosary. Do you pray the Rosary? 

In today's Scripture verse, we see that Jesus is still huddled together with the Apostles in the Upper Room presenting to them His Last Testament. Today, Jesus presents to them the secret of productivity in the Vineyard of the Lord, the Church of the living God: Remain in Me as I remain in you. This promise is huge. We shall use the response of the Church as our own response.

"O God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ,
grant your people constancy in faith and hope, that we may never doubt the promises of which we have learned from you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Amen.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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

Monday 11th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season.

We continue with the Last Supper Discourse. We have seen the following themes in the past four days:
#1 Jesus set an example by washing the dirty feet of the Apostles.
#2 Medicine for troubled hearts: Trust in the Father and trust also in Jesus.
#3 The Father: You know Him. You have seen Him.
#4 Today, enter the Holy Spirit: the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Voice that speaks in Court.

Pentecost Sunday is May 31st, is a good time to meditate on the 3rd Person of the Blessed Trinity as we prepare for the Pentecost Novena.

We receive the Holy Spirit first in Baptism. He is the Big Gift. The Promise of the Father. The Lord and Giver of Abundant life. The Advocate and the Voice that speaks in Court for us.
In Confirmation, we are strengthened in this gift and become aware of the importance of His Seven Gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord in the life of a Christian. We also get to know the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit through which we manifest to the world that we are Christians. They are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control and Chastity. These gifts together form the character of Jesus Christ. We can all be like Jesus by receiving these gifts and fruits and nourishing them day by day through:
#1 Prayer
#2 Word of God
#3 Eucharist
#4 Penance/Reconciliation

Jesus Christ is the Way to eternal life.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14: 5 - 6).

Sunday 10th May 2020, 5th Week in the Easter Season.

Let us continue to savor the words of Jesus in the Last Supper Discourses. Most Christians know this saying of Jesus by heart: “I am the way and the truth and the life."
If you understand what it means and apply it to your life, you will be blessed.

Jesus is the Way, the Bridge to Heaven, to Eternal life. In the Bread of life Discourses, Jesus laid out clearly one critical infrastructure of this Way: the Eucharist. Below are other powerful elements of the Way:
#1 Prayer.
#2 Word of God.
#3 Reconciliation

What do you consider to be your greatest need in this moment?

"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart. And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]." (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6).

“I am the way and the truth and the life."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14: 7).

Saturday 9th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Jesus continues this intimate and profound conversation with His chosen friends in the Last Supper Discourses the night before His death. You may call this the Last Testament.

Jesus stated categorically: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” From what we learned from St Augustine and St Anselm of the nature of faith, my response to the Lord Jesus is: "Amen Lord. I know the Father and I have seen Him."
Our great teachers of faith tell us that we believe so that we can understand. We understand in order to believe more. Although I see myself as a poor man, if the Lord Jesus says to me: You are a billionaire. My response will be: "Yes, Lord Jesus. I am a billionaire." Is this what our Sister, Mary did? "Let it be done to me according to Your word." And it was done.

Jesus revealed a lot about the Father in this segment of the Last Supper Discourses but brothers and sisters note how He ended it today:

"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 - 14).
The Father is glorified when He grants us favors in Jesus name.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" (John 14: 1 - 2).

Friday May 8th 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Our Gospel pick for today is from the Last Souper Discourses. Remember that this is the fireside tête à tête that Jesus had with the Apostles the night before He was crucified.

Today, the hearts of Christians are troubled like the Apostles before the clear and present dangers of the pandemics. For us and the Apostles, we are entering uncharted waters. Now Jesus knows about how they and us feel. He says to us:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me."

From the chattering boxes, what do we know about what Christians are afraid of today?
#1 Dying.
#2 Financial loss.
#3 Job loss.

Not much evidence about fears, worries and doubts about their eternal destiny. Yet this is a marvelous opportunity to preach the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus and what it means for us.

"In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" (John 14: 1 - 2).

Believe. Stop doubting!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it." (John 13: 16 - 17).

Thursday 7th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season. We enter one of the most consequential conversations of Jesus with His disciples: The Last Supper Discourse.

The first thing Jesus did as He gathered the disciples to celebrate the Passover in the Upper Room which became the Last Supper was to wash the dirty feet of His disciples. What is the lesson for them and for us?
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it." (John 13: 16 - 17).
Jesus the Christ came to serve and not to be served.

We become saints not by the amount of knowledge or degrees we have but by imitating Jesus. As we become little by little like Jesus every day we start to imitate his actions.  Jesus promises that this is the secret of the ultimate blessings and happiness in this world and the next.

Saints are the happiest people on earth. Why not start by desiring to be a saint?

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life." (John 8: 12 Gospel Acclamation).

Wednesday 6th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Today Jesus speaks of Light and says bluntly that He is the Light of the world. In the city where I live, we have enjoyed almost three weeks of blasting sunrise since Easter Sunday, April 12. I step out in the driveway in the morning with my dark glasses to gaze on the sunrise. It reminds me of the Transfiguration. But later I came to see the only sun in the world as a strong symbol of Jesus the only Unique Son of the Father.

What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world. The contrast between light and darkness comes to mind. We also know about:
Light and the Holy Spirit.
Light and illumination.
Light and truth.
Light and knowledge.

As for darkness, we know about darkness and sin; darkness and unbelief.

When the Franciscans arrived in Aztec country in the 16th century, human sacrifice was rampant. Decades after, it was wiped out and replaced by the the Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the living God. This has been the inevitable outcome of the the light of Christ all over the world from the beginning of Christianity.
Slavery, ignorance, disease and poverty have been abolished in many parts of the world. The battle for a healthy environment is on and will succumb to the light of Christ shortly.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?" (Psalm 27: 1).

You fear nothing and nobody only if the Lord is your light and your salvation. Go for light!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.  But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep." (John 10: 25 - 26).

Tuesday 5th April 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

Our key Scripture deals with the ugly and stubborn sin of Unbelief. Throughout Scripture, Unbelief has riled God. The Israelites witnessed a series of tremendous display of power that led to their deliverance  from Egypt. They were stunned and incredulous when they marched through the Red Sea. They drank clean water from the rock. They were fed of manna. Yet, they never believed or trusted God.

Jesus Christ came and performed all the miracles foretold by the prophets. The people saw all these and did not believe or trusted Jesus. We know why they did not believe. "They are not among my sheep."
Brethren, be careful so that Unbelief does not deprive you of your eternal inheritance. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul."

How do you detect the festering sin of Unbelief?

#1 Is your heart cool to the word of God? "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St Jerome).
#2 Are you scornful of the Sacraments?
#3 Do you prefer to listen to how science can extend life so that man lives for 300 years instead of the promise of Eternal life?
#4 Do you consider the Second coming of Jesus Christ a myth for fools?

"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me." (John 10: 27).

“Blessed is the man who does not lose faith in me” (Matthew 11:6).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10).

Monday 4th May 2020, 4th Week in the Easter Season.

The Good Shepherd Gospel of Sunday is repeated today because of its importance. From it, we pick our daily Scripture verse:
"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10). Most people know this Scripture. They like it because we all like to enjoy abundant life. It is possible to enjoy abundant life here on earth. But it is not what you may think: great health and no sickness; flawless family and zero feuds; always financial peace and stability; great skills and top jobs; high quality and top of line tools and possessions.

What then is the Abundant life promised in John 10: 10? What is promised is 100% better than all of the above. The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, the Big Gift of the Father and His special promise is what is promised. For good measure, Scripture teaches that the Father does not ration His Holy Spirit. What you receive will be in direct proportion to your desire and your capacity to receive.

Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and that door shall be opened to you.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"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

"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

“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

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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.

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"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

"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

"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

"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

 "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