A Church that fights on its knees Never retreats.
Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray about everything.

"In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.

"Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

"So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.

"As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.

"Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

"And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (Exodus 17:  8 - 13).

Sunday October 16th of the 29th week in Ordinary Time. We have great teachings on Prayer this Sunday. Thank You Holy Spirit.

Prayer and not hard work is the greatest gift and tool of the missionary Church.

In the war against Amalek in the first Reading, we see Moses as a type of the priest interceding for Israel to prevail in the war. The "staff of God" represents the offensive and defensive weapons of war. In the tradition of the Church, we can name the Holy Mass and the Holy Rosary as these weapons in the spiritual warfare.

In His teaching on Prayer in the Gospel of today, Jesus asks: "Will not God secure the rights of His chosen ones who call out to Him day and night?"
WHEN WE STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD IN PRAYER, OUR PETITIONS BECOME A RIGHT. GOD PROMISES TO SECURE THE RIGHTS OF HIS CHOSEN ONES. PRAYER NEVER FAILS.

Jesus commanded the Church to pray constantly but did not command the Church to work and to fast constantly. (Cf CCC 2742). Prayer is therefore a vital necessity for the missionary Church. (Cf Luke 18: 1).
Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray about everything.

"Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed." (2 Timothy 3: 14).

God is faithful. Therefore, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. God Never Fails!

10. 16 "If you strive to pray the Rosary daily and devoutly, one of two things will happen: either you will sin less and less, becoming more like Christ—or you will give up on the Rosary. In this way, devotion to the Rosary is a direct battle between grace and sin within us. If we persevere in the Rosary, Mary will prevail." (Cf THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY by St Louis Marie de Monfort).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

"Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the ­promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1: 11 - 14).

Friday 14th October 2022 of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Callistus (+222).Pope and Martyr.

How does history remember Pope St Callistus? From slave to pope to martyr. Pope St Callistus reminds us of our current Pontiff, Pope Francis. A Pope opposed openly by some of his Bishops, clergy and theologians. Why? Because of the uncompromising stand of Callistus that the Church must show mercy and forgive even the worst of sinners. This struggle in the Church with the Rigorist faction outlived St Callistus who was martyred by Emperor Alexander Severus.
Pope Francis faces the same opposition over the sacramental discipline of Marriage, Immigration, Safe Environment, Economic Equity, etc.

Our key Scripture for today from Ephesians 1: 11 - 14, is a wonderful proclamation of the truth of God, of the consolation of Scriptures:
"In Christ you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the ­promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory."

Not only that, the Holy Spirit as the Pledge, the Down-payment that we are children of God and brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus is very real. How do you know that this is true? Very easy!

Do you enjoy praying, reading the word of God, eager to share your faith? Are you excited by the thought of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion? Do you trust in God's Providence to provide all your needs and protect you from every danger especially to your soul?

And when you say Yes to all the above, congratulations for you confirm the testimony of Scripture:

"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.  Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another." (Galatians 5: 22 - 26).

"Trust in the guidance of the One whom I have sent to befriend you, the Holy Spirit, your Advocate. Learn to listen to His gentle leading. The more you follow Him, the more will you understand where and how He is leading you. This is the secret of holiness: to be led by the Holy Spirit in all things. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit actively. Call upon Him, for He is, at every moment, available to you. He dwells with Me and with My Father in the sanctuary of your soul. He is your Advocate against the world, the flesh, and the Evil One, the accuser. He is your Advocate with My Father." (IN SINU JESU, Friday, March 28, 2008).

10. 14  "Pray ardently to our most merciful mother Mary by saying the Rosary during the month of October, as We have already indicated."  (Pope St Paul VI).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“Leave it all to God and leave your interests in His hands. He knows what is fitting for us…” (St Teresa of Avila).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12: 8 - 12).

Saturday 15th October 2022 of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of a great woman: St Teresa of Jesus, popularly known as St Teresa of Avila. (1515 - 1582). Spanish Carmelite and great Reformer and Mystic. She was a great spiritual writer. She is one of the four women to be proclaimed Doctor of the Church.

The teaching of Teresa aims at bringing you to Jesus. She wants you to know Jesus more, so that you can love Him and serve Him more. Teresa cares deeply about Prayer as a means of union with God. Teresa and other Doctors of the Church are very interested in your eternal destiny. The academic doctors of theology are often speculative with little explicit intention to evangelize and catechize.

Jesus concludes today's Gospel with a masterpiece promise:
"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12: 11 - 12).

My personal favorite title for the Holy Spirit is "The Voice that Speaks in Court."  This is because of my experience of the fulfillment of this promise. The Holy Spirit has enabled me to speak with wisdom and courage when I was in a tight corner and needed these gifts most.

Here is one of the great maxims of St Teresa of Avila.

"Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone suffices."  (St Teresa of Avila).

10. 15  "Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"You breathed your Spirit upon the apostles, and gave them the power of forgiveness:
set all men free today from the prison of sin."  Liturgy of the Hours - Lauds on the Feast of Pentecost).

"Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.

"In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

"In Christ we have redemption by his Blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.

"In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth." (Ephesians 1: 1 - 10).

Can you count all the blessings Abba Father lavishes on us the "Beloved" in our key Scripture is through His Son because of the Most Precious Blood of His Beloved Son?

OK. Let's try to count them:
#1. The Holy Spirit.
#2. Prayer, Word of God, Eucharist, Reconciliation.
#3. Peace and Forgiveness.
#4. Our Purpose in life and Power to accomplish it.
#5. His Presence.
#6. Provisions and Protection.
#7. Faith, Patience, Wisdom, Courage and Contentment.

How do I unpack all this from Ephesians 1: 1 - 10?
When you read the Scriptures, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to unpack the meaning. You mix the living word for the day with faith and your personal experience.

Let us bless "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens" for He is a Promise-Maker and a Promise-Keeper.

"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,  which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1: 13 - 14).
Amen.  Alleluia!

10.13  "Cling to the rosary as the creeper clings to the tree, for without our Lady we cannot stand." (St Teresa of Kolkata).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com