(Romans 8: 18.... 25).

Tuesday 26th October 2021, in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture  highlights the opportunity of suffering. Only Christianity has an answer to the problem of suffering. The Catholic Church has the most complete and inspired teaching on the question of suffering.

St Paul who wrote the Letter to the Romans suffered a lot in the course of his ministry and at the end of his life was beheaded by Emperor Nero.   Jesus Himself predicted the sufferings of St Paul. "For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16)

Suffering may be a mystery to man but not to God. Suffering is in God's grand design for the salvation of mankind.

Everyone must suffer one thing or the other before leaves this earth.
Kings suffer; common man suffers. Popes and priests suffer. Doctors and nurses suffer.

All sufferings come from disease, ignorance and poverty. Ultimately, Sin is the cause of human suffering.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1: 2 - 4).

The Church teaches that all suffering can be salvific as shown above by the Letter of St James to the Universal Church. If you invest in understanding the teaching of the Church on sufferings, you will be happy and enjoy peace and contentment in life.

"You cannot see from where you are in this life now the power and value of sufferings united to My own. Anything given to Me, anything placed in My priestly hands, I lift up and offer to the Father, covered with My precious Blood. It is this that makes your sufferings, even the smallest ones, precious to Me, and precious in the sight of My Father." (IN SINU JESU, Saturday, October 25, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

Sunday 24th October 2021 in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time.

We have the beautiful story of Bartimeus for our reflection.

“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” (Mark 10: 47).

This is the desperate cry of a blind man called Bartimaeus.  First lesson in today's Gospel:
#1.  Man's extremity is God's opportunity.  Man's security is Satan's opportunity.

Jesus encourages Bartimaeus to step forward to his presence. Jesus asks him:
“What do you want me to do for you?”  (Mark 10: 51).

#2.  Bartimaeus did not beat about the bush after he was told:
"Jesus is calling you." (Mark 10: 49). 

Bartimeus had waited for this opportunity since the day he heard the story of Jesus and His miracles from his family. He rehearsed what to do when the opportunity presents itself:
“Master, I want to see.”  (Mark 10: 51).

The ever merciful Jesus never redeems in halves. With Him is always full redemption:
“Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way."  (Mark 10: 52).

The enduring lesson is the faith and persistence of Bartimaeus.

Hand over your extremities to Jesus and see what happens.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Monday 25th October 2021, in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time.

A woman who was shackled by an illness that crippled her for 18 years was set free by Jesus in an instant. The lesson is clear. What Jesus did for the woman, He can do for you. It is sad to note that some people think that the age of miracle is past. Not at all. Do not hide your unbelief by such unwarranted assertion.

In Romans 1 last week we saw that Abraham and David learned how God justified them. God did not declare Abraham and David righteous because of their hard work. He declared them justified because of their faith. In order words, because they trusted God.

In the first Reading from Romans 8, Paul declared:
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”

In the Gospel, Jesus called the crippled woman, "This daughter of Abraham."
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

Why must you be shackled by illness, debt, poverty, joblessness if these conditions are not the express will of God for the daughter of Abraham or the son of God?

Our God is the Father of orphans and the defender of widows and He dwells in His holy place.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
He leads forth prisoners to prosperity." (Cf Psalm 68).
Your blessings are ordained by God. Stretch out your hands and receive them.

"The Blood of my Son brings purity and healing and new life wherever it flows. Implore the power of the precious Blood over yourself and over all priests. Whenever you are asked to intercede for souls, invoke the power of the precious Blood over them, and present them to the Father covered with the Blood of the Lamb." (Mary, IN SINU JESU pg 37).

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Saturday 23rd October 2021, 29th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St John Capistrano.  (1386 -1456). Italian Franciscan Priest. His charismatic preaching brought about great revival in the countries of Eastern Europe. John was one of the few clerics in history who led an army into battle. He did so to defend Europe against the menacing advances of the Turks.

Our key Scripture is the Parable of the barren Fig Tree. This is an allegory for the People of Israel. God wants a good return on His investment in Israel, the Church and in you and me.

How do we bear much fruit? Remain in Jesus.  What is the principle of productivity?  Abide in Christ.  How do we abide in Christ?

We live in Christ through the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a holy exchange of gift. Through it, Jesus shares with us His divine life. Another word for God's divine life in us is sanctifying grace.

Our fruitfulness depends therefore on this dynamic relationship with Christ living in us.
"Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit."  (John 15: 14, 15).

Fruitfulness is not addiction to activity.  It is believing God. It is knowing the will of God for you and doing it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will accomplish the work.

"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live." (Ezekiel 33: 11).

"I am the source of all fruitfulness in the vineyard that is My Church. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. Come to Me, then. Remain with Me. Act for Me, guided by My Holy Spirit, and return to Me with thanksgiving. This is the secret of a priestly life that will be pleasing to Me, will build up My Church, and will glorify My Father." (IN SINU JESU page 103).

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com