Thursday 2nd September 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

Our Scripture today is one of my favorites. It deals with all the themes that build me up: Faith, Obedience of Faith, Inspiration and power.

“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter obeyed the command which seemingly did not make sense to an experienced fisherman. Do you remember Mary's counsel to the stewards in the Marriage Feast at Cana? "Do whatever He tells you." They did what Jesus told them and water was made into high quality wine.

Our faith is expressed in obedience. Peter exercised obedience of faith and a big miracle took place.
When God speaks His word to you through the Scriptures, locution, inspiration, prophetic individual and you do not respond with obedient action, what is wrong? You did not believe the word of God. Recognize this. God will increase your faith if you ask Him. How about using the aspirational prayer below.

"O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in me faith, hope and charity."
The key to the effectiveness of this type of prayer is critical mass. That is, say it as often as possible and continue with it until you get result. God wants us to persevere in prayer.

When Peter responded in faith, he received his calling.
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him."

Jesus is calling everyone of us to intimate friendship with Him.

"Priests and religious who are tempted to follow a false philosophy of activism, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, or who waste their time on entertainments and distractions, will suffer God’s loving judgments. He will make bitter their false delights, destroy their enterprises, and weaken the efficacy of their work in order to wake them up to their calling of intimate friendship with Him as the source of happiness and the condition for all fruitfulness." (IN SINU JESU page 266).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Wednesday 1st September 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

At the end of the Gospel for today, Jesus declares His missionary purpose. “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” In another statement of His purpose, Jesus declares: "For this I was sent: to bear witness to the truth."

The Kingdom of God is here and now. The Kingdom of God is the reign and sovereignty of the King over His subjects. Jesus is the King. We are His subjects. To His subjects, Jesus says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28 - 30).

Our King is gentle and humble of heart. This is the Good News that must be proclaimed to everyone. Do not be an outsider. Be involved. Be catechized and sacramentalized. Be and evangelist.

"I am Jesus. Mine it is to save, to heal, to vivify, and to make lovely in the sight of My Father the souls that consent to the operations of My mercy and to the secret action of the Holy Spirit. When you speak to My priests, remind them of the power and efficacy of a single act of confidence in My merciful love. Confidence opens the door to all the treasures of My kingdom. To one who has confidence in My merciful love, I can refuse nothing." (IN SINU JESU page 105).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

----------------------------------------------------

(Luke 4:31-37).

Tuesday 31st August 2021, in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time.

In today's Gospel, people were amazed that Jesus spoke with authority. Authority means power. Jesus quotes no teacher or scholar to back His teaching. Unlike the rabbis or their modern cousins who were constantly quoted doctors and experts, Jesus simply says "I Jesus tell you..."

What is authority? Authority means power. The word dynamite is derived from power. Listen to Jesus in the promise of the Gift of the Father in Acts 1: 8. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes." Only then can you bear witness to Me and do My work. The Holy Spirit power is critical to witnessing and evangelization.

The Holy Spirit is therefore the Spirit of power above every other attributek. The miracles of Jesus which are the works of Jesus like in the Gospel of today are works of authority or power. The words of Jesus in the Gospel are words of authority or power. The words or sayings of Jesus are authoritative. That means they produce at once what they say. The miracle itself or works of wonders clarify the words of Jesus. In Jesus, words and actions form a mysterious unity.  "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19: 10). Whatever Jesus says must happen!

We the Baptized do not have the spirit of fear. Many of us act in fear as if possessed by the spirit of fear. In Baptism, we receive the Spirit of power. This is the Spirit that marks the children of God the Father and not the spirit of cowardice, which is evil and impure spirit.

How then do we activate the Holy Spirit in our lives? Faith acting through Prayer is the Activator of the Holy Spirit. Mary says: "I believe what you have told me. Now let it be done to me according to your promise." (Cf Luke 1: 37 - 38).
Following this declaration of Mary, Jesus became instantly incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus says in IN SINU JESU:
"Be faithful to her Rosary. It is the shield and sword of spiritual combat. It assures your victory over the powers of darkness. Why? Because it is a humble prayer, a prayer that binds the soul who prays it to the victory of My Mother over the ancient serpent." (IN SINU JESU page 59).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com