O THAT TODAY YOU WILL LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR. THE ABC OF MERCY IS THE 3-STEPS TO MERCY:
A - ASK FOR MERCY.
B - BE MERCIFUL.
C - COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6: 36 - 38).

Monday 14th March 2022, of the 2nd Week of Lent.

The message of mercy can never be overstated. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
What is mercy?
Mercy is not judging, not criticizing, condemning. Mercy is forgiving. Mercy is sharing your bread with the hungry. Mercy is generosity.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. The ABC of Mercy is the unforgettable way to do this.
A - Ask for mercy.
B - Be merciful.
C - Completely trust Jesus for mercy.

"I will not abandon or forsake you. I am faithful. I have chosen you and you are Mine. Why do you doubt My love for you? Have I not given you signs of My favour? Have I not shown you that My mercy has prepared for you a future full of hope? Did I not promise you years of happiness, of holiness, and of peace? My blessing is upon you and the designs of My Heart are about to unfold for you. You have only to trust Me. Believe that I will keep you as the apple of My eye." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, February 14, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

MAN'S EXTREMITY IS GOD'S OPPORTUNITY. MAN"S SECURITY IS SATAN'S OPPORTUNITY. ESTHER WAS "SEIZED WITH MORTAL ANGUISH". HER EXTREMITY IS PROFOUND.  (1st READING).

+ I BELIEVE IN PRAYER.
+ I BELIEVE IN THE WORD OF GOD.
+ I BELIEVE IN MIRACLE (DIVINE PROVIDENCE /INTERVENTION).
+ I LEAVE THE REST TO GOD. (TOTAL SURRENDER).

"Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God."  (Esther C:12, 14-16, 23- 25).

Thursday 10th March 2022 of the 1st Week of Lent.

Our key scripture  is from the first reading today, Thursday – First Week in Lent.  I made this note in my Missal about today’s scripture readings for the Mass:  “Ask and Receive Thursday.”  The first reading, the responsorial psalms, the gospel and the antiphons all have one unifying theme:  PRAYER.  This is a rare occurrence.  Before looking at other scriptures in today’s liturgy, let us consider a couple of things from the powerful passage from Esther.

First, note what Esther did when seized by the mortal anguish.  She knew where to seek help.  She had recourse to God in prayer.  Next note her posture of prayer.  She lay prostrate on the ground.  [Like some of those begging Jesus for healing.] Was she alone?  She understands the concept of prayer partnership.  Her handmaids were prostrate in prayer with her.  This is a big crisis.   How long did they pray?  From morning to evening.  How did Esther pray?  After invoking the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (similar today to invoking the name of Jesus), she blessed God.

In Philippians 4: 6-7, we are advised to bring our request to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving.   Esther tells God twice that she is alone and has nobody to help her except God.  She recalls from Scripture that God always helps those who are pleasing to Him.   She pleads to God to help her and reminds God that she is an orphan.  God after all is the Father of the fatherless and orphans. 

Then finally, she was specific about what she wants:  “persuasive words” when she meets the king;  “turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.”
This is a great prayer and a model of prayer in crisis.

The Response verse is very appropriate:  “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”  God answered the prayer of Esther and delivered her people in a powerful way.    The rest of the Responsorial Psalm 138 continues with the theme of gratitude for answered prayer. 
"Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name." (Psalm 138).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the infallibility of prayer.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

IN THE EYES OF OUR FATHER, PURE LENTEN OBSERVANCE IS THIS: SUBDUE YOUR BODY THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAYER, FASTING AND ALMSGIVING. FORGIVE AND YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN.

"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.......
And if you greet your brothers and sisters 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).

Saturday 12th March 2022, in the 1st Week in Lent.

To love your friends and hate those who hate you is a natural behavior. No one teaches a child this crude behavior. The behavior is natural to fallen human nature as lying,cheating, etc. But as Christians, have you not heard? "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."

Jesus challenges us to be different from the unbelieving world:
"Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will." (Cf Romans 12: 2 ).

If you are today conforming to the habits and customs of the world, realize that on your own, you can never break out of this prison. The Holy Spirit, your Helper and Advocate is standing by to help you. He accomplishes this transformation when you ask for His help, become faithful and constant in daily prayer and daily nourishment with the word of God.

How long will it take for this transformation to happen? It depends on the intensity of your desire and the constancy of your prayer and study of the word of God. To those who manifest a great hunger for God, more will be given them and the transformation will be quick. To those who are lukewarm, the little they have will be snatched from them.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

JESUS CHOSE THE SIGNS HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE:
+ BAPTISM
+ EUCHARIST
+ THE CHURCH
EVERY SIGN DEMANDS FAITH. IF YOU SEE THE TRAFFIC SIGN "STOP" YOU STOP BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THE SIGN. OUR FAITH THEREFORE CONTAINS OUR OBEDIENCE. OBEDIENCE RELEASES THE POWER OF FAITH.

"While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation." (Luke 11: 29...32).

JONAH IS LIKE THE TRAFFIC SIGN "STOP!"

Wednesday 9th February 2022, of  the 1st Week of Lent is the feast of St Frances of Rome. (1384 - 1440). Italian. A married woman who raised three children in the way of the Lord.  Frances became a Benedictine Oblate and founded a community of Oblates in the heart of Rome. Besides being a wife and mother, Frances was a mystic and very involved in charitable services in Rome. In Frances, we have a unique example of love in marriage as well as in religious life.

In the first Reading, Jonah preached to the Ninivites and shared the testimony of his stay in the belly of the whale. The people and their king heard the message. They believed and repented.
St Paul preached to the Greeks in the Areopagus. They listened attentively but did not believe.

Jesus told the crowd today:  No more miracles for you. You keep looking for a big sign from heaven to prove that I am the Messiah. But what happened to Jonah is the only sign you will get.

My friends, where are you today in your spiritual walk? Are you still looking for more signs? Listen to what Abraham said to DIVES in the Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus.  The former rich man denied Lazarus the least sign that his life matters.
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16: 31).

The Church is an authentic sign of the existence and presence of God in the world today. During the consistory of November 24, 2007, Pope Benedict said that the gathering of Bishops and people from every part of the world is a sign of the unity and universality of the Catholic Church. It is also a sign that God is with the Church. Such a gathering is not possible by human means.

We have in the Church all the signs we need. The Church of the living God is the sign of salvation. This Church subsists in the One, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ. This Church has visible structures. It exists in almost every country in the world. The Church has one Shepherd, one Liturgy and holds the entire Deposit of Faith.

What is Christ's sign for us today?
+ The Church.
+ The Eucharist and Baptism.

What more are we looking for? There will be no more signs till the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com