"After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men."   (Matthew 9:  1 - 9).

Thursday 30th June 2022, in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the
feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church. In 64 AD, before the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, the vicious Emperor Nero set Rome on fire.

To escape the wrath of the Roman people, he blamed the Christians. Then he ordered all Christians arrested and be put to death. We celebrate today the witness of the multitude of Christians who demonstrated astonishing courage to perish for faith in Jesus Christ. This event happened so early in Christian era in the persecution of Emperor Nero. Many who witnessed the courage of the martyrs became Christians. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity." (Tertulian).

Jesus was ministering in a room packed with people.  The friends of the paralytic man lowered him from the roof and dropped him in front of Jesus.  Their action is the "faith" that Jesus saw.  So we can see faith.
The bigger theme of the Gospel of today is the sin of the paralyzed man.  Since Jesus came to suffer and die for sin, He dealt first with the root and source of illness.  “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9: 2).  Jesus was immediately attacked for forgiving the man's sins. “This man is blaspheming.” (Matthew 9: 3).

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world knows more than anyone the intricate connection between Sin, Suffering and Salvation.  He proves it:
"Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”  (Matthew 9: 5 - 6). For God all things are possible. All things are simple.

"Lord, send your mercy and your truth to rescue us from the snares of the devil, and we will praise you among the peoples and proclaim you to the nations, happy to be known as companions of your Son."  (Psalm Prayer, Lauds).

6. 30.  Today is the end of the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"INDEED THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST RUNS THE RISK OF BEING DISBELIEVED PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS SO INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL." - (ST CYRIL, PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA).
EXACTLY. SO IS THE MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST. TOO WONDERFUL TO BE BELIEVED BY PEOPLE OF WEAK FAITH.

"When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8: 18  - 22).

Monday 27th June 2022, in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Cyril of Alexandria in Egypt. (376 - 444). Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Cyril played a crucial role in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to defend the oneness of the person in Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. If Jesus is One Person, then the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God (Theotokos).

St Cyril listened to the words of Christ, meditated long on them.  During the crisis of faith that engulfed Christiandom in the middle of the 5th century, Cyril did not collapse from the virulent and battering attacks of heretics. His house "had been set solidly on rock."

Yesterday, Sunday 13th Week of Ordinary Time, we had proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus' call to ministry to three men from the Gospel of Luke. Why is the story being repeated today from the Gospel according to Matthew? The Call to Ministry is very important in the plan of salvation. These three men in the story are types of you and me: the men and women in the pew. In the course of his inspired sermon on the Gospel this Sunday, our pastor prayed for all those present in the Church to heed the call of Jesus.
"O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts." (Psalm 95).

St Cyril of Alexandria heard the call in the late 4th century in Egypt and answered the call with generosity. What about you?

6. 27. "My Sacred Heart is divinely sensitive to the coldness and indifference of My priests. I ask you to make reparation to Me for them. Allow Me to love you as I would love each of them. Allow Me to heal you, to comfort you, to sanctify you, just as I would heal, comfort, and sanctify any one of My priests. I love My priests—but few of them believe in My love for them. You, believe in My love for you. I am your Friend. I have chosen you to be in life and in death the privileged friend of My Sacred Heart."  (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

"ERROR NEVER SHOWS ITSELF IN ITS NAKED REALITY, IN ORDER NOT TO BE DISCOVERED." - (ST IRANAEUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH). IRANAEUS UNMASKED THE HERESY OF GNOSTISM WHICH TAUGHT THAT THERE ARE TWO GODS IN THE WORLD: THE GOOD GOD AND THE BAD GOD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE EVIL IN THE WORLD. THIS HERESY WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BEFORE THE 4TH CENTURY. IT CAME BACK AGAIN IN THE HERETICAL SECT CALLED JEHOVAH WITNESS.
CHRISTIAN BEWARE OF WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.

"As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 23 - 27).

Tuesday 28th June 2022 of 13th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast  of St Irenaeus (125 - 203). Bishop and Martyr and Doctor of the Church. St Polycarp was instructed in the faith by St John the Apostle. He, Polycarp instructed St Irenaeus who became a Bishop in Lyons in France. Note the date of Irenaeus life and you will understand why France is called the Eldest Daughter of the Church. St Irenaeus is an early Church Father. God called Irenaeus to uphold the revealed truth of the faith and bring peace to the Church. Pope Francis declared him the 37th Doctor of the Church on January 21st 2022.

What is the legacy and of St Irenaeus? Irenaeus defended the Church against the poisonous heresy of Gnosticism. This heresy was so thoroughly defeated that it disappeared. About 100 years ago, it reincarnated itself in the heretical sect called Jehovoh Witness. They claim that there are two gods governing the world: a good god that causes good things and and evil god that causes bad things. They deny that Jesus Christ is God. They deny the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. They target especially Catholics who have little knowledge of Scripture.
Beware of them. They are wolves in sheep clothing. We need a new St Irenaeus for our day to deal them final mortal blow.

Two famous quotes of St Irenaeus:
1. “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” ...

2. “Error, indeed is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected."

The Apostles with Jesus in the stormy sea faced another type of threat to life. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was deep calm. The Apostles did not realize that the presence of Jesus with them in the boat meant that they were safe. Jesus asked them at Caesarea Philippi "Who do you say that I am?" They followed Jesus but did not know who He is?
“What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8: 28). They wondered after the calming of the storm.

Do you personally know who Jesus Christ is? This knowledge in crisis could be the difference between life and death.

"God's faithful promises are our armor and protection." (Psalm 91: 4). The Holy Scripture is filled with these promises. They are for you and your children. Invest some time in learning them. "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St Jerome).

6. 28. "Listen to Me and I will speak to you. My Heart overflows with love for you, and when one loves, one has much to say—and then there is a communion in love deeper than all words, in the silence that unites souls to Me. I will give you that silence too." (IN SINU JESU).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

COME AND FOLLOW ME. DO NOT BE AFRAID. LOOK AT THE BIRDS IN THE SKY. MY HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. YOU ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN THE BIRDS.

"When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.......

"As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus ­answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

"And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 51 - 62).

Three enthusiastic would be disciples of Jesus received similar answer to their application to follow Jesus:
You must count carefully the cost of discipleship.  How far and how long are you prepared to follow Me? What will you do when the going gets tough?  I will show you what a prudent and faithful disciple looks like.  That disciple followed Me from the beginning of my ministry to the end.

Are you called to serve the Lord? The marching order is intimidating. Don't waste time about who died and burial rites. “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” On another occasion, Jesus commanded the disciples:
"More than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well." (Matthew 6: 33 CEV).

Pope St John Paul II writing on faithfulness says:
It is good to be faithful for one day.
It is better to be faithful for ten years.
It is excellent and blessed to be faithful day after day to the end.

Will you quit if the cost of discipleship becomes unbearable?  Jesus had no apartment or home.  He did not have a servant or income. He had no horse or donkey.

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9: 60)
"Come and follow me."

6. 26.  "Holding His Heart in His hand, Jesus once said to St. Gertrude: “Behold My most magnificent Heart, the melodious harp whose notes ravish the Holy Trinity. I give It to thee, and as a faithful and diligent servant It will be at thy disposal to supply for all thy powerlessness.”  (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com