Elijah’s Whisper – My Whisper

Whispers – Daily Mass Quotes begins after this Intro.
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Then the LORD said (to Elijah), “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.”  A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD – but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake – but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire – but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” 1 Kings 19:11-13

Why are YOU here, beloved?

Was it to discover magnificent colors? Was it to find colorful music or awesome videos? Was it just curiosity? Was it accidental? Were you really looking for God, for Hope, for true LOVE somewhere in this menagerie we call the web?

Or were you just hiding in a cave, waiting on the Lord to Whisper in your ear – a Word – LIFE! Life, it’s in You! And YOU are beautiful in the Eyes of God, no matter what the world may say or think.

You are Loved!!

Every day the Lord whispers in our ears – Words of HOPE, Words of LOVE, and maybe not even words – just His JOY in our hearts.

Let’s follow the Scriptures of our daily Mass and see if we can catch those Words – simple but beautiful – Whispers to the Wind . . .

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04-19-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 19, 2019
(Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion)
In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.  Heb_4:14-16;5:7-9

04-18-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 18, 2019
(Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Thursday)
St. Paul wrote, Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1_Cor_11:23-26

The Eternal Reminder.  Jesus gave his flesh and blood in sacrificial redemption for our sins.  Our Eucharist is His sign of a new covenant with God’s children.   It is a covenant of Love, a covenant of mercy, a covenant of eternal hope.  Trust in the Lord, beloved.  And never forget the gift Jesus offered for us!

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04-17-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 17, 2019
(St. Kateri Tekakwitha)
The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.   Is_50:4-9a

No, Lord, I’m too worn out.  I’m too tired.  I’m too weary!  How do we rouse the weary, beloved?  Or maybe it’s even us!  The prophets, like Isaiah, spoke the Word of God and all we seem to hear is how badly they were persecuted.  But we less frequently hear of the arousals.  Yes, there were arousals!  People who had fallen asleep in their pain, in their poverty, in their hopelessness.  Jesus had to endure the same persecution as the prophets, but even to the point of death.  And in His case we know of many, many arousals, healings and conversions.  Jesus IS the Word.  And just knowing and living in Him will awaken us, as well, beloved.  And in that love of Jesus we will find comfort in our suffering.  We will find solace in our loneliness.  And we will find the hope that will arouse our endurance in this world and our thriving in the next.

He IS the Resurrection and the Life!

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04-16-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 16, 2019
Jesus said to His disciples, “You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”  Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”   Jn_13:21-33,36-38

The mind is willing but the flesh is weak.  So pray, beloved, that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to endure the temptations and the trials of the Evil one.  Love the Lord so, so very much that not even death WILL deter you.  For the Lord is beyond death and beyond death is LIFE!  Eternal life!

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04-15-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 15, 2019
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
Is_42:1-7

Just makes us wonder.  Am I that smoldering wick or that bruised reed, not quenched and not broken but left to see what happens next?  Lord, send your Spirit to reignite me, to splint my brokenness so that I can be strong and on fire for you.  And help me to see others the same way.  Help me to enkindle in them the fire of your love, to heal their wounds and to bind up their brokenness.  We are One body in you, Lord.  Let your justice shine in our world!  The justice of LOVE!

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04-14-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 14, 2019
(Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion)
The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.  Is_50:4-7

How well-trained are our tongues, beloved?  There are so many people, all around us (sadly even myself at times), who have yet to learn how to bridle that little demon.  But it’s not just silencing the nasty little bugger, it’s learning how to make it bring peace, bring joy, bring the Lord to others.

The Lord our God has given us all this wonderful gift of speech so that we can bring His love to others.  But it’s up to us to listen for his guidance – when to speak and when to keep silence, when to seek help and when to offer it, but never, never to use it to tear others down.  When we feel that urge coming upon us, know, beloved, that it is NOT from God.  Then choose: do we allow the Evil one to take over those “little buggers” of ours, or do we listen to the Lord and let the Holy Spirit help us to suppress what should never occur from us, as children of God?  Or better yet, turn it into something positive, something encouraging, something complimentary.

Pray, listen and follow – and we will be His Word to the world!

A very blessed Palm Sunday to you,
and a prayerful Holy Week for you and your families!

Blessed be God forever, in Jesus’ Name – we live!

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04-13-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 13, 2019
(St. Martin I, Pope and Martyr)
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.  Jn_11:45-56

Mary will always lead us to her Son, Jesus.  When we’re open to look and to listen and to trust, we will believe also, beloved.  So, come to Mary, come to Jesus and believe!

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04-12-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 12, 2019
In response to the unbelieving Jews, Jesus said, “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”   Jn_10:31-42

BELIEVE!

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04-11-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 11, 2019
(St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr)
When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him . . .  Gn_17:3-9

You know what, beloved, sometimes it takes a little humility, a little reverence and a little prayer to hear God.  It’s not always easy to get “ourselves” out-of-the-way.  All the screaming.  All the tasks yet to be done.  All the worry and fear and hope.  Maybe it’s time to suck up some dirt, prostrate ourselves and LISTEN.  You’ll know His voice, because it is the one that has nothing to do with YOU!

(As an interesting aside, here’s what Google had to say about our date 411 – “If you keep seeing 411, it only means that your angels are trying to communicate something important to you.“)

Well, there you go!

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04-10-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 10, 2019
After throwing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the white-hot furnace for refusing to worship his god, Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” “Assuredly, O king,” they answered.  “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”  Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Dn_3:14-20,91-92,95

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   Jn_8:31-42

When Jesus mentioned this “Truth” to Pilate, just before Pilate surrendered to the lie of those same non-believers, Pilate asked Jesus, rhetorically, “What is Truth?”

You see, sometimes “the Truth” can get so lost the world’s lies that we don’t even know what the truth is any more.  And those lies of Satan go all the way back to the days of King Nebuchadnezzar, and actually, all the way back to Eve and the forbidden fruit.

Nebuchadnezzar was so convinced that he and his stone gods were the mightiest beings in existence, that he insisted that everyone else must believe the same thing.  And the people had no reference to anything different. . . .

Until along came Daniel and his three friends, contradicting everything that the people believed to be the truth.  And in the zeal of these three men to submit even their very lives for the TRUE God, Nebuchadnezzar became an eyewitness to the Truth of God.  You might even say he was converted.  In the end, it was all just a prefiguring of the Sacrifice that Jesus would offer for the conversion of the world.

It WAS the TRUTH of God’s unfathomable love, God’s relentless mercy, and God’s boundless might in doing everything in His power to save us from the curse of Satan, without ever taking away our free will.

Do we believe in this TRUTH, brothers and sisters?

If there is any doubt, whatsoever, in our minds, God gave us the Bible to convince us, God gave us the Church and the Sacraments to nourish us in our Faith, and the Holy Spirit still gives us new miracles every day to prove that love of God for us, to prove that Truth.

Jesus IS the Way.

And His Truth will set us Free!

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04-09-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 9, 2019
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.  Where I am going you cannot come.”  So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”  He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.  For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”  So they said to him, “Who are you?”  Jn_8:21-30

Ever talk to someone, beloved, and feel like you were talking to a wall, or worse, maybe they didn’t understand a word you were saying.  This conversation that Jesus was having with the Pharisees sounded just like that.  The two of them were on totally different planes.  And Jesus knew exactly why they couldn’t understand.  They just didn’t believe in Him.

Sometimes we can beat our heads against a wall trying to explain the love, the forgiveness, the salvation of Jesus to a non-believer.  Don’t get discouraged, though.  They’re just living in a different world, “the world,” while we are trying to live in a Kingdom.  Jesus WILL see us through though.  And He’ll never abandon us.  And sometimes, just sometimes, those non-believers may just catch a word or a phrase from us that Jesus will help work into their souls to help them see, to help them understand. And we may never know the results of our sharing His love.

You see, life is not about the world, beloved.  It’s about a somewhere, a something so far beyond this land of “self,” that even our language of love is foreign to those who refuse to believe.   Never give up!  Our reward is certain!  Jesus!

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04-08-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 8, 2019
Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Jn_8:12-20

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil;
for you are at my side. Ps 23

Is He there with you, beloved?
We can easily tell by the darkness!
Jesus overcomes it!
Even when it’s all around us.
His light illumines our way!

Trust in Him!
And Follow.

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04-07-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 7, 2019
(5th Sunday of Lent, C)
The Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.  Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.  So what do you say?” Jn_8:1-11

In His testing by the Pharisees, Jesus was presented with a moral dilemma.  The fifth of the Ten Commandments demand us not to kill another person.  And yet the Pharisees tell Jesus that Moses himself stated that the penalty for adultery would be death.  And they knew that Jesus respected the dignity of ALL life.  So, who is the rightful judge and executioner when the sin is proven and the laws are contradictory.  The legalistic Pharisees believed that the Mosaic “Amendments” overrode the “constitution.”  And to test Jesus they presented this “lose-lose” situation for His own self-condemnation.  But Jesus, of course, being God, knew the evil of their hearts and “one-upped” their trap by mirroring it right back to them.

He responded, “Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Jn_8:1-11

You know what, beloved, EVERY sin is abominable in God’s sight, from the very smallest to the absolute worst.  So WHO IS the judge of anyone else’s imperfections?   We’re all sinners in one way or another.

Jesus could not have presented His case any more concisely and pointedly!  They say that, with every pointing finger of ours there are three others pointing right back at us.  So the next time we feel quick to judge, quick to condemn and quick to punish, maybe we need to look inside first and make sure all of our own ducks are in order!  And even then, we’re still not the designated Judge, only God is!

And thanks be to God, He’s a merciful, forgiving, loving God!

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04-06-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 6, 2019
The guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him? (Jesus)” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”  So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?  Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”  Jn_7:40-53

So who’s the outlier?  Is it the one driven by emotion, or the one driven by common sense.  Do all the rules go out the window when fanaticism strikes?  Is it not the same thing today?  Is our world driven by common sense, by life and truth, by the model of Jesus?   Or are there a few fanatics driven by greed and ignorance who lead the masses of sheep in our world into the pit of destruction?  Which one are we beloved?  I don’t believe it’s the latter!

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04-05-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 5, 2019
(St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest)
Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from.  Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.  I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”  Jn_7:1-2,10,25-30

What DO we really know, beloved?
Or what is it that we THINK we know?
We must be very careful with what we profess!

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04-04-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 4, 2019
(St. Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said, Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.  For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”  Jn_5:31-47

Faith takes a little trust and a lot of letting go!

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04-03-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 3, 2019
Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”  Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. Is_49:8-15

In all of our distress, in all of our loneliness, in all of our hopelessness and even in our sinfulness, know this, beloved, God will never and has never forgotten us!  His love is even greater than the love of a mother for her own flesh and blood children.

Jesus tells us, “I am the resurrection and the life,” says the Lord; “whoever believes in me will never die.”  Jn_11:25a,26

A love so great that God not only came to live among us (as Jesus), but He suffered and died just for YOU and me (in total obedience to the will of His Father).  Believe!  And all else in this world will simply be trivia!

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04-02-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 2, 2019
(St. Francis of Paola, Hermit)
“Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.  Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”  Ez_47:1-9,12

When we are fed by the sustenance of the Lord, the Word and the Eucharist, either daily or at least weekly, we become those trees, whose leaves never fade nor fruit fail.  And our fruit, be it our service, or prayer, or simple words to others becomes their food and their medicine.  Never allow the world, beloved, to keep you from your spiritual nourishment.  It not only sustains you, but it keeps the world ALIVE!

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04-01-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

April 1, 2019
Thus says the LORD: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create;  Is_65:17-21

Oh, if we could only forget all the nastiness of the past and just remember the Good!  The Lord does make all things new!  With every new day, with every new moment, with every new experience (as we had at Epcot last month), God brings to us new life, through new people, in a new world.  We savor those moments, but we don’t dwell in them.  We dwell in the Lord: in His mercy, in His compassion and in His Love!

And IN those, we share with others the newness of US!

Rejoice, Beloved in the newness of Jesus
– EVERY day!

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03-31-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 31, 2019
(4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday)
After entering their “Promised Land,” the Israelites:  On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.  On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.   Jos_5:9a,10-12

Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 2_Cor_5:17-21

After Jesus was chastised for fraternizing with sinners in a meal, Jesus told them a parable that had to do with His Father’s love and mercy for his two sinful sons.  The younger son (the Gentiles), longing for independence, departed from His father, while the older son (the Jewish leaders) was seethed with jealousy, anger and hatred for both the younger son and the father.

And interspersed within the whole story, Jesus weaved the thread of food.  The rebellious son, having squandered all his money, “longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed.” Lk_15:1-3,11-32  He was so desperate in his hunger that he would even return to his father in full repentance for his scandalous action.  (He would settle for the “manna,”  having left the banquet he never realized he had in the first place.)

The father, meanwhile, never stopped loving his son, despite the harm that son did to him.  So when the son returned, the father REJOICED and held no limits on the banquet he would give to celebrate this “new creation.”  (No more manna, now a Feast!)

And yet, the supposedly faithful older son now hit the limit of his endurance with this merciful and loving father.  His jealousy was revealed when he refused to participate in the banquet, saying, after “all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders.”  To which the father answered, “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.  But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

When Jesus came among us, we were freed from our slavery to sin.  And now, as we wander this temporary “tent,” as St. Paul calls our worldly life, in anxious expectation for the true banquet of eternal life with God, we gladly, and even joyously consume the manna (our Eucharist) until the day when we will feast in the Banquet of heaven.  And we don’t do it rebelliously.  And we don’t do it enviously (of those who still live in sin, yet may one day repent themselves and discover God’s boundless mercy.)  We keep our focus on God our Father, on Jesus our model, and with all the help the Holy Spirit has to offer us, we persevere.  And one day we will ALL rejoice for the great love and mercy of our God, (that we had all along!)

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03-30-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 30, 2019
Jesus said, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk_18:9-14

If we say that Lent is about one thing.  We might say that it’s about humbling ourselves.  Are we sinners?  We’re sorry.  Are we selfish?  We learn to give more.  Are we indulgent?  We learn to fast and abstain.  Do we recognize our own exaltation of ourselves?  We learn to become humble.  And we learn these things, not for a future exaltation, but just because that is what pleases our God!  He’s the God who humbled Himself in becoming like us, as Jesus.  He’s the God who allowed himself to be sacrificed for us, for our salvation.  And He’s the God who wants all of us to be with Him for eternity, when we can follow His lead!

Ours is not to seek out His Glory for ourselves, but to seek out and offer His humility, His mercy and His generosity in our every thought and action.  This is what pleases our God, a loving, humble and all-giving heart!

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03-29-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 29, 2019
Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt.  Take with you words, and return to the LORD; . . .   Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them.  Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.  Hos_14:2-10

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mk_12:28-34

“Let him/her who is wise understand!”

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03-28-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 28, 2019
Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” . . .  “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”  Lk_11:14-23

Come beloved, listen, follow, unite, gather and LIVE
in Jesus Christ!

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03-27-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 27, 2019
Jesus said, “whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” Mt_5:17-19

When we were kids, our parents taught us the rules of the house.  And when we broke those rules, we either hurt ourselves, or others, and usually got in all-kinds of trouble besides.  When we got older there were new rules: rules for driving, rules for voting and rules for behavior in public.  And when we broke those rules we found ourselves with either, great monetary penalties, or else time in jail.

Today’s Scriptures talk about rules that go all the way back to the time of Moses.  You see, just like a caring parent who didn’t want her child hurt by doing something that they might not have even realized could hurt them;  And just like the parent who needed their child to know – that their parent had a lot more experience in life, and so required that child’s respect and listening ear;  And just like the parent who didn’t want their child hurting other children or the property that belonged to someone else;  God gave His children, the Israelites,  ten simple rules to guide their lives . . .

There were rules to show their respect for Him, there were rules to keep them from getting hurt themselves, and there were rules for not hurting others and their property.

And God told them that IF they carefully observed ALL those rules, Life for them – would go pretty well.  Of course we know that there always were, and always will be – those rule-breakers who spoil it for everyone else.  Unfortunately what their rule-breaking causes are more and more rules.  And eventually the world is so full of rules that we can barely breathe any more.

Some of them are important for safety and for the protection of property.  But some rules were just created out of greed or even created to allow the evils of the world to have their free rein.

Jesus told the people of His time that all of those rules could be simply broken down into TWO: Love your God and Love your neighbor.

If we, beloved, can boil down every thought and every action we do TO or FOR others – into those two loves, then every other rule in life will simply fall into place.  Hatred will stop. There will be no more revenge, no more jealousy, and no more anger.

This is the kingdom that Jesus promises us.  We may never see it, to the full, in this life, but it IS guaranteed in the next.

And that’s something to hope for!

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03-26-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 26, 2019
Then in anger his master handed him 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 your brother from your heart.”  Mt_18:21-35

Unjustly persecuted?  Hurt by evil?  Abused, misused, tormented?  Yes, beloved it hurts.  But it doesn’t give us excuse to do the same to others.  God is filled with mercy and He calls us to be the same.  And when we become those evils in the world that we dislike ourselves, then, knowing better we have no excuse but to be reprimanded until we pay back the last penny!  Pray for strength, beloved, because none of this is easy.  But it IS a part of life!  The Holy Spirit will give us that strength and Jesus gave us the model to follow!

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03-25-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 25, 2019
(The Annunciation of the Lord)
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.” Lk_1:26-38

Oh that we could be as trusting, obedient and faithful to God, beloved, as was Mary.  Today, let’s look at the areas in our lives where our desire for control of the good and the bad might blind us to the love and the works that God has in store for us.

You, beloved, are in my prayers always, as I hope I am in yours!

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03-24-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 24, 2019
(3rd Sunday of Lent, Yr C)
Jesus told the people a parable:  “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down.  Why should it exhaust the soil?’  He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'”  Lk_13:1-9

One last chance!  Sometimes, beloved, we only have one last chance to get right with God.  Maybe tomorrow will be the tornado or the flood, or accident or illness that will call us to that final judgment.  Was He fruitful or not?  Was she compassionate to all, non-judgmentally?  Were they neighbors or aliens to one another?  What will our last day say of us?  Be reconciled with God and neighbor, beloved, now and always, for He will only give us so many last chances!

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03-23-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 23, 2019
The decadent, runaway son came back home after all his wealth was exhausted.  And bowing in humility said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Lk_15:1-3,11-32

What is the condition of our relationship with our heavenly Father, beloved?  Do we recognize our errors in morality, our shortage in giving, our lack of compassion, our sin?  God is anxiously awaiting our return.  And when we do, in repentance, and humility, and respect, He will shower us with His mercy and love, just as the father of the Prodigal Son did in Jesus’ parable.

Come home beloved.  He is waiting!

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03-22-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 22, 2019
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic.  When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.  Gn_37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28a

Does jealousy and hatred scare us away, beloved, from being the best us we can be; from doing the absolute best jobs we can, at whatever it is we are called to do?  Yes, some will reward us with kindness, kudos and even a new coat for our effort and honesty!  But there will always be many, many more who hate us for it.  Let them go, beloved, and keep on doing what God credits us for.  In the end it will all be worth it!

Jesus referring to Himself said, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?” Mt_21:33-43,45-46

There is nothing keeping all of those bitter ones from doing the same things we do, beloved.  Unfortunately, for them, they want the same glory for doing nothing.  And our Father knows the thoughts and actions of all.  Their deception and envy will show through it all.

Have faith and fear not.  God is with us!

(Happy BD dad!)

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03-21-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 21, 2019
Jesus told the Pharisees a parable about heaven and hell, about an impenetrable barrier between the two, and how nothing can convince the stubborn blind that light is just a “faith’s blink” away.  It was a direct assault on those same characteristics of the Pharisees.  And we can see that same stubborn blindness all around us today.  If they can’t even understand common sense, how could we possibly teach them about the supernatural, for our God is both!

Jesus said, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”   Lk_16:19-31

. . . which is exactly what He DID and they were still not persuaded!

But, we’ll keep on trying, beloved, just because we don’t want to see ANYONE have to endure that kind of suffering, even our worst enemies!

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03-20-19 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes

March 20, 2019
Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mt_20:17-28

The disciples were plotting who would be the greatest in the Kingdom that Jesus so often spoke of.  They were looking for a worldly kingdom.  But Jesus told them that the Kingdom He spoke of was nothing like the kingdoms we envision here.  God’s Kingdom would be a state of being where there will be no greater and lesser.  There will be no tyrant authorities nor suffering slaves.  God’s Kingdom would be a place of peace and love.  Thus, Jesus didn’t come to exhibit Kingly stature, but to show through His leadership as a servant, how all people should be equal and caring and giving to one another, even their kings!  It’s an upside down view of the cutthroat world we live in, beloved.  And OH what hope that leaves us!  Blessed be God forever!

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