AFTER A NIGHT SPENT IN PRAYER, JESUS CHOSE THE 12 OFFICERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH.

"Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

"Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

"And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.

"A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.

"Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all."  (Luke 6: 12 - 13).

Tuesday of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. It is time for Jesus to choose and call His close friends.

After a night spent in prayer, Jesus undertakes one of the most important tasks in His mission: Choosing His 12 Apostles. No nation takes lightly the choice of its leaders. Elections are organized and campaigns undertaken for a couple of years.

We see a variety of gifts and personalities in the 12 men chosen to be close associates of Jesus. All the men were from lower class of society, poor, uneducated, untraveled and timid. Jesus Himself would be their Teacher and Master while He remained with them. Then the Holy Spirit will finish the job of preparing them for their lives' work.

Consider for a moment this stupendous fact:  These 12 chosen men are sent out to convert and transform the world. This world includes the Roman and Greek empires! Are you kidding me? Well it happened. This is to show us that it is the power of God in them, the power of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of the Father that did the job. That same power is still available for you and for me. The chosen Apostles chose to use the power and the seed of the kingdom of God on earth was established.

Pray for your Bishops. They are the legitimate successors of the Twelve. Be careful how you criticize and condemn them because as you judge so shall you be judged. (Cf Matthew 7: 2).

"You are just, O Lord, and your judgement is right; treat your servant in accord with your merciful love." (Psalm 118: 137, 124).

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September 2, 2022 - First Friday of September.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which Jesus made through St Margaret Mary Alacoque to all who honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month. In the 9th month of the year 2022, we look at Promise #9.

#9.  "I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."

Jesus Christ is proud of His human heritage. He wants His brethren to be reminded of this.  So Jesus mandated His image to be rendered by an artist for the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy devotions. The Church approved these devotions and images.

Do you have an image or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent place in your home?
The 9th Promise is a very easy condition to fulfill.  Buy the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture or statue from a Catholic Bookstore or Amazon and place it in a prominent place in your home.  You can also print an image of the Sacred Heart off the Internet or this website. Then tell Jesus: "Bless my home as You promised, Jesus".

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacred Heart devotional prayers and prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

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"A SPIRITUAL GUIDE SHOULD BE SILENT WHEN DISCRETION REQUIRES AND SPEAK WHEN WORDS ARE OF SERVICE. OTHERWISE HE MAY SAY WHAT HE SHOULD NOT OR BE SILENT WHEN HE SHOULD SPEAK." (ST GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH."

“While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

"Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”

"Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” (Luke 6: 1 - 5).

Saturday September 3rd 2022 of the 22nd week of Ordinary Time is the the Feast of St Gregory the Great. It is also First Saturday in September.

We honor today the Servant of the Servants of God, St Gregory the Great. (540 - 604). Pope and Doctor of the Church.  When God chose and anointed David, He exclaimed with delight: "I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be with him; my arm will make him strong." (Psalm 89: 21 - 22). This Scripture can be applied to Pope Gregory the Great. Gregory was the David of his days.

St. Gregory the Great was called from the City Hall where he was the Mayor of Rome to be fisher of men. He left everything and followed Jesus.
He used his wealth to found six monasteries before he was elected Pope. He is noted in history for instituting liturgical reforms and initiating missionary endeavors. It was due to St Gregory that missionaries were first sent to England.

"Meditate daily on the words of your Creator.  Learn the Heart of God in the words of God, that your soul may be enkindled with greater longing for heavenly joys." One of the many wise sayings of St Gregory the Great. 

How do you spend your time on Sunday? The answer should be Praise and Worship and relaxation and napping and reading, etc. The Lord of the Sabbath would approve this plan for Sunday.

"Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy." (Exodus 20: 8). The command to set apart the Sabbath is very important as seen from the way it is treated in Sacred Scriptures. It is the exaggerated concern for the obligation and sanctity of the Sabbath Rest that gave rise to hundreds of minutiae rules concerning the basic command to keep holy the Lord's Day.

Throughout the Christian history, the Magisterium of the Church has not only expounded on the sacred character of the Sabbath but has taught that the Sabbath was instituted for the enjoyment of the People of God. It is a day of Worship of God and Rest.

Sunday must be a day of rest for the whole family from the hustle and bustle involved in making a living. It is a day to enjoy the parks, watch Christian movies. It is a day to visit the sick in the hospital.

The Sabbath Rest is a Rehearsal for Eternal life. One day, there will be no work. By obeying the law of the Sabbath, you build up your faith in this promise of God. God plans to redeem man and creation from the present servitude.

It is more enjoyable to keep holy the Lord's Day than to do anything unlawful on the Sabbath Rest.

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SEPTEMBER IS THE MONTH THE CHURCH HONORS THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AS THE SORROWFUL MOTHER. SORROWFUL & IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, HAVE MERCY ON US.

"While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

"Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water [Duc in Altum] and lower your nets for a catch.”

"Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.

"They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”=

'LẠY CHÚA! XIN HÃY TRÁNH XA TÔI, VÌ TÔI LÀ KẺ CÓ TỘI"

"For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.

"Jesus said to Simon, “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."  (Luke 5: 1... 11).

Thursday 1st September 2022 of the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time.

Our Scripture today is one of my favorites. Duc in Altum as St John Paul II like to call it. "Put out into the Deep" is the call of Jesus to follow Him into Deeper Waters.

My friend, may be the time for the Next & More Step in your life. Or perhaps in your ministry. Are you ready for the ride?

“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. When Mary heard similar words from the Angel Gabriel, she answered: "Be it done to me according to Your Plan."

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.

Note that in this miracle, Peter, James and John recognized that a miracle has occurred. "For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon." Recognition of God's intervention in history is a sign of faith.

Our faith is expressed in obedience. Peter exercised obedience of faith and a big miracle took place. He fished all night and caught nothing. But at the words of Jesus, Peter was willing to try again. He took a second chance. Peter showed a disposition for obedience of faith. Is this why Jesus tapped him for leadership in the Church?

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? Perhaps you think it is not worth the trouble trying a second chance. Our God is the Father of Second Chances.

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."

Some saints who responded to Jesus and put out in Deep Water:
Maximilian Kolbe, Mother St Teresa of Kolkata, Mother Angelica of EWTN, Father Albert Lauer of Presentation Ministries, Maria Faustina of the Divine Mercy and many others.
Jesus is calling everyone of us to intimate friendship with Him in the great adventure of Evangelization.

"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).

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