I CANNOT SAY: FORGIVE ME MY SINS AS I FORGIVE THOSE THAT SIN AGAINST ME, IF I CONTINUE TO HARBOR A GRUDGE AGAINST ANYONE.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who ­trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
(Matthew 6: 7 - 15).

Thursday 16th June 2022, in the 11th Week of Ordinary Time.

Why did Jesus conclude the teaching on Our Father, the Lord's Prayer by stating unequivocally a precondition for the forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with the Father? This is obviously an important theme for Jesus because He taught it in Matthew 18:21–35, which concluded thus: "Then in anger his master handed him [the unforgiving servant] over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

Reconciliation is crucial to enjoying the privileges of filial adoption. A girl who ran away from home and lived a lawless life for a couple of years may be hesitant as she approaches home. The prodigal son understands that there are consequences to vagrancy and knows the importance of Reconciliation.
Many people claim that forgiveness of the other is hard. Lessons that help forgiveness:

#1. Forgive at once.

#2. Forgive everyone without discrimination.

#3. Forgive always.

#4. Forgive everywhere.

#5. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Forgive everyone. This step is modeled for us from the Cross.  Jesus forgave in real time those who were killing Him. He did not wait until Easter Sunday when He rose from the dead to forgive.

#6.  Pray everyday for all those whom you have offended, known or unknown to forgive you and set you free.
Jesus Christ invites us to a life of continual conversion so that we can pray Our Father (the Lord's Prayer) with confidence.

6. 16.  “May the Heart of Jesus Christ be our school!
Let us make our abode there.
Let us study its movements
and attempt to conform ours to them.
Yes, O Divine Jesus, I want to live there.” (St Claude de la Colombiere, SJ).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

LOVE & FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES.
"YOU CANNOT REMAIN A PRISONER OF THE PAST." POPE ST JOHN PAUL II.
FORGIVE AT ONCE. FORGIVE EVERYONE. FORGIVE ALL OFFENSES. OVERCOME EVIL BY GOOD.

“Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  (Matthew 5:  43 - 48).

Tuesday 14th June 2022, in the 11th Week of Ordinary Time.

The new law proclaimed by Jesus Christ is for children of the heavenly Father. The law inaugurated by Moses is different. "While the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17).

The new law is the Covenant of grace. We become members of the New Covenant through faith. "But to those who did accept him [Jesus] he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God." (John 1: 11 - 13).

Now that we understand that we live under the Covenant of grace, we see that it is not impossible to live the command of Jesus Christ in our key Scripture in our own strength:
"Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."  For we are now sons and daughters and no longer slaves. The Spirit of Abba Father lives in us. The Spirit helps us to take full possession of our inheritance.

Our Father in Heaven makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

Abba Father, make us love all men for Your sake. Father, in Your will is our peace.

6. 14. “The Blessed Sacrament is the Invention of Love. It [the Blessed Sacrament] is life and fortitude for souls, a remedy for every fault, and viaticum for the last passage from time to eternity. In it, sinners recover life for their souls; tepid souls true warmth, fervent souls tranquility…saintly souls wings to fly toward perfection…pure souls sweet honey…” (St Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

O HOLY SPIRIT, SPIRIT OF TRUTH, COME INTO OUR HEARTS: SHED THE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR LIGHT ON ALL NATIONS, THAT THEY BE OF ONE FAITH AND PLEASING TO YOU. AMEN.

“When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.”.....

"When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.... .” (2 Kings 2: 1, 6....4).

Wednesday 15th June 2022, 11th Week in Ordinary Time.

Pentecost Sunday is barely two weeks ago. Our key Scripture is presents us with the theme of a lavish outpouring of the Holy Spirit! In the Bible, there are multiple outpouring of the awesome Spirit. How many outpouring of the Holy Spirit can we expect? Some believe one and others two or three, viz Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.

Actually Scripture shows that we can receive not just a double portion of the Holy Spirit but multiple portions. "With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation." (Isaiah 12: 3).
This water refers to the Holy Spirit who is available for multiple outpouring.

"The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning— great is your faithfulness!
The Lord is my portion, I tell myself,
therefore I will hope in him." (Lamentations 2: 23 - 24).

Do not limit the Holy Spirit God that intends to replenish every morning. God does not ration the Holy Spirit.

"Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him." (John 7: 38).

The Prophet Elisha had a great intimation of God's generous plan for us when he asked:
“May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”

We should come to God in prayer like Elisha:  With bold confidence! Did Jesus not say that the Father does not ration the Holy Spirit?
Elijah replied Elisha: “You have asked something that is not easy." (2 Kings 2: 9 - 10).
For God all things are easy and possible.

Ask and you will receive. I will ask for a double portion of the Holy Spirit. I will ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit every morning because God promises:
God renews His favors every morning because great is God's faithfulness!

6. 15. "I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death." (Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

O DEAR ST ANTHONY, FAITHFUL FRIEND OF YOUR FRIENDS, COME QUICKLY TO MY HELP AT THIS MOMENT OF NEED. I LOST MY KEYS, WALLET, SPECTACLES, BOOK, ETC..
TEACH ME HOW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL GOD'S MERCIFUL LOVE. TEACH ME TOO HOW TO GLORIFY JESUS BY HONORING THE SAINTS. AMEN.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." (Matthew 5: 38 - 42).

Monday 13th June 2022, in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Anthony of Padua (1195 - 1231), Franciscan Priest and Doctor of the Church. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, trained in Italy, his outstanding talent as a preacher took him to Africa and France. Anthony is a great miracle worker and is fondly remembered for his help in finding lost objects. After he helped me find an important object, he became one of my patron saints.

Offer no resistance to one who you know to be a thief, a liar, an oppressor, a violent person, etc. What is Jesus teaching us here? Let us note that it is impossible to go through life without meeting the type of person the Lord calls "evil."

Our key Scripture for today evokes some word associations: Forgiveness, Retaliation, Litigation, etc.
What archetypes of evil does the Bible place the wicked person? "immorality, impurity, licentiousness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,  occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like." (Galatians 5: 19 - 21). In the same passage it says that those with such behavior will never see the Kingdom of God.
Now, if we desire to see the Kingdom of God, we must practice what Jesus teaches: Forgiveness and not retaliation. Reconciliation and not litigation.

When we live as Christians in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will produce the fruits of the Spirit which are:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5: 22 - 23).

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit." (Galatians 5: 25).
This is the core teaching of our key Scripture for today?

6. 13. "We will show Thee our love and gratitude, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, by keeping Thy sacred precepts, by rendering Thee atonement and reparation, by honoring the image of Thy Divine Heart and by confiding in Thine all-powerful assistance."  (DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com