Wednesday 20th October 2021, in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Paul of the Cross. (1694 - 1775). Italian. Priest, mystic, Founder of the Passionists. The charism of St Paul of the Cross is a profound understanding of the mystery of the Cross and translating this understanding into a plan of life. The Passionists founded by St Paul of the Cross were noted for preaching and retreat. I have been blessed to attend a Parish Mission preached by a Passionist.

The core theme of our key Scripture is:  "You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” This Scripture will be a perfect delight to the Passionists. The whole point of a retreat is the transformation of life and readiness for transition to the next life. Nobody knows when the hour or the place the call will come. What we know is that it is not negotiable.

What do you do if you can not negotiate your final moment or place of transition from this world? Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray for everything. Scan the word of God every day. Receive the Eucharist as often as you can.
Jesus Christ, the Leader of our Faith has bestowed a lot on His Church.

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

"You did the right thing in coming to Me with your feelings of aloneness. I am here for you, and you, you are here for Me, only for Me, and for no other. Do you think that I will not honour the sacrifice you made in coming to live here for Me, with Me, close to Me by day and by night? Understand just a little the sorrow of My Eucharistic Heart that is utterly forsaken in countless tabernacles all over the world. Why do I multiply My glorious presence in so real and miraculous a way, if not to be close to the souls whom I love with a burning passion and with a consummate tenderness? And I am left alone. Often I am forgotten from one week to the next or, worse yet, I am treated like a thing, like a commodity kept in reserve in case of need. This was not My intention in instituting this Sacrament of My redeeming love." (IN SINU JESU, Sunday, October 19, 2008 Saint Paul of the Cross).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Monday 18th October 2021, in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time.
Today, the universal Church celebrates the feast of St Luke the Evangelist and rejoices in his gift to the Church.

Who is Luke? "A physician from Antioch, he converted to Christianity and accompanied Paul on two of his missionary journeys. He is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke devotes attention to Christ's birth and childhood as well as to the universality of Redemption." (Roman Missal).
St Luke is the patron saint of physicians and artists.

When I first became acquainted with our key Scripture, I was in the midst of a struggle in a corporate company. What struck me was this sentence. "But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength."  I was storming heaven with prayers.  I received strength and encouragement from Jesus.  Since then, I have grown a bit in experience of the word of God and spirituality.

I have learned and I believe that Jesus strengthens us in our tribulations and struggles. The Scripture provides consolidation and counsels:

#1. Do not put your trust in princes or any mortal man.
#2. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and mind and not in your experience, knowledge, contacts. Only God can stand by you come what may.

Jesus inside you and me is the hope of glory. There is nothing we cannot do because of Jesus who strengthens us from the inside. Call it INSIDE JOB. Jesus promises us:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." I don't know about you but these proven promises make my heart palpitate with joy.

"Let every priest present himself as a friend of Jesus, and his ministry will soon take on the efficacy and fruitfulness that characterized that of Saint John, of Saint Paul, and of My first apostles. The friend speaks with the authority that only experience can confer." (IN SINU JESU, March 30, 2008 Sunday of Divine Mercy).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Sunday 17th October 2021, in the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture is from the 2nd Reading this Sunday. I have always liked the message.
Come to Jesus our merciful and compassionate High Priest with trust and confidence to receive grace and mercy at the nick of time. That is, at the very moment you are in need of grace and mercy.

We are told by the Evangelist John that the Law comes through Moses but grace and mercy come through Jesus Christ. (Cf John 1: 17).

How do we get hold of this grace and mercy? That is the lesson that Abraham learned from God. (Cf Romans 1). It is not from our might or hard work but in trusting confidence in God. David the man after God's heart learned too the same lesson.  Prayer is the Activator of Power.

"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."

"Here in My presence I will fill you, not only for yourself, but also for all those to whom it will be given you to transmit My messages of love and of mercy. I want also that you should speak to them of My solitude in the tabernacle. Certain sophisticated minds will laugh at this. They forget that I am not there like some inanimate object. It is My Heart that waits for you in the tabernacle; it is My gaze that, full of tenderness, fixes itself, from the tabernacle, on those who draw near to it. I am not there for My own sake. I am there to feed you and to fill you with the joys of My presence." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, October 29, 2007 - BEFORE VESPERS).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com