"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." (St John Paul II).

"Brothers and sisters: It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman. The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise. Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother. For it is written:

"Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the deserted one than of her who has a husband.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.

"For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." (Cf Galatians 4: 22 to 5:1).

Monday 10th October 2022 of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time.

Rejoice brothers and sisters, we are free. The Son has truly made us free. Free from what?

#1 Free from compulsive habits of sin: pornography, lying, cheating, anger.
#2 Free from crippling fears, worries and doubts.
#3 Free from the spirit of Unbelief that denies us all the benefits of our filial adoption as the children of the Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

Here is how the Son freed me from almost two decades of tobacco addiction?

It was the eve of Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras. A fine Tuesday afternoon. I was amongst friends and suddenly I said: "Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. I have done nothing in Lent for many years. I will not smoke tomorrow. I wanted to observe Lent only for Ash Wednesday." Laughter broke out among my friends. "Impossible! Impossible!" They intoned. I did not smoke on Ash Wednesday. And Thursday, Friday, Saturday and for a whole week. In exactly 7 days, the desire for tobacco was removed from me. The itch simply dried up.

How did it happen? I was saved by grace through faith. For I did not doubt that It was the merciful love of Christ that set me free. At the time, I did not have any "filthy works" I could point to. No regular prayer life. No Sacraments. No corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Jesus did it so that all the honor and glory should come to Him. Also that I could bear witness to His merciful love as I am doing today. I may also add that a couple of years later, Jesus again intervened in my life and set me free completely from dependency on alcohol.

What is your addiction? Whatever it is, the Son wants to set you free.

10. 10 . "It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things.  Oh, that soul would sanctify themselves by this means!" (4th Promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary to those devoted to the Holy Rosary).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.”  (St. Teresa of Avila).

"As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.

"They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

"And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

"As they were going they were cleansed.

"And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

"He was a Samaritan.

"Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”

"Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17: 11 - 19).

Sunday 9th October of the 28th week of Ordinary Time.

The first Reading from 2 Kings and the Gospel from St Luke teaches us the importance of Thanksgiving. “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?" Asked Jesus. Was Jesus hurt that nine lepers who were healed of the terrible malady of leprosy walked away without giving thanks. I bet he was. Here is why:

Worship is at the heart religion. At the heart of worship is Thanksgiving. God does not eat steak, barbecue or drink champagne or wine. He has no need for gold or silver. God feeds on: "Sacrifice of thanksgiving." And again in the same Psalm 50: "Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God." Imperative!

Do not walk away after realizing that your prayers have been answered. You are now pregnant, got the job, home, health, money, etc. Return and Give Thanks.

The Church teaches on the Prayer of Thanksgiving:
"Thanksgiving characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is. Indeed, in the work of salvation, Christ sets creation free from sin and death to consecrate it anew and make it return to the Father, for his glory. The thanksgiving of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head." (CCC 2637).

Do not deny God your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

10. 9  "The Rosary is a meditation and contemplation of the mysteries of our Lord's life in the company of his Mother." (St John Henry Newman).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies." (The Blessed Virgin Mary:  3rd Promise to those who say the Holy Rosary).

"When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”

"Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.

"But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?

"For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?

"Therefore they will be your judges.

"But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

"When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke 11: 5 - 26).

Friday 7th October 2022 of 27th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is known as Lady under many titles: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, etc.  Our Lady of the Rosary celebrates Mary as a powerful intercessor using the instrument of the Rosary Prayer.

In the Gospel of today from Luke 11: 15 - 26, we hear of UNCLEAN SPIRITS, DEMONS, BEELZEBUL and SATAN.

It is obvious that we are in the arena of Spiritual Warfare. "The Rosary is the means by which I attach souls to myself. The Rosary assures souls of my presence and of my protection."  (IN SINU JESU). Yes. Protection in the spiritual warfare raging everywhere today in: families, work places, schools, offices, roads, etc.

We hear of demonic possessions and infestations. Do not take these happenings lightly. The Church does not ignore the many signs of the activities of evil spirits everywhere today. Neither should you. Jesus Christ speaking to one mystic says that the Holy Rosary is one of the most effective offensive and defensive tools against the Enemy of mankind.

Here is what the Church teaches about the Rosary:

"The Rosary is very pleasing to our Mother in heaven; she herself has recommended it. There are two elements of the Holy Rosary: meditation on its mysteries and vocal prayer. The Rosary surely reaches the motherly heart of Mary and moves her to obtain abundant graces for us." (Roman Missal).

Two recent popes, Pope St Paul VI and Pope St John Paul II have highly recommended the Rosary. Most saints since the 1500s have said the Rosary without fail.

"Your Rosary is like a ladder that you climb step by step, drawing you closer to our Lady, which means finding Christ. It is a devotion which leads us to Christ through Mary." (Pope St Paul VI, Marialis Cultus).

For the 15 Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-15-promises-of-mary-to-those-who.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com