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?
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, beloved!!
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 . . .
For Daily Scripture Quotes:
Link to Scriptures by Date
To find Quote sources, click on Link above, select Today’s Readings or pick date from calendar.
Link for information on the day’s saints is at the bottom of this page.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quotes for reflection:
12-31-12
(Seventh day of the Octave of Christmas)
The Apostle John wrote,
“Children, it is the last hour;” 1 Jn 2:18-21
Take a deep breath, beloved. It may be your last.
Is it done in the love of God?
Is it done in the love of neighbor?
If it truly was your last breath, what would you regret?
What would you be proud of having done?
How would those who knew you think of you?
What would God, what would Jesus think of you?
Today is the last day of the year of our Lord 2012.
It’s the day a beautiful baby boy was born to us 31 years ago!
It’s the day Jesus reminds us that we are his beautiful children too!
Never to be forgotten. Never to be forsaken.
As we say goodbye to 2012,
we welcome in 2013 and pray and pray and pray
that some semblance of love and understanding and peace
and respect and rationality wash over our world.
For it and we truly are His most awesome creations!
12-30-12
(Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
After a three day separation from his parents, Jesus was
found in the Temple listening, questioning and teaching the teachers.
His parents were naturally distraught at his being missing, and still,
“He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;” Lk 2:41-52
It’s that old “generation gap”. Neither the kids nor the parents
ever seem to understand each others motives or reasoning.
Yet, Jesus, the divine Son of God was
obedient to his parents.
How obedient are we, beloved?
You know, Surrender includes obedience!
Come visit “Paschal Mystery” for more…
12-29-12
(Fifth day of the Octave of Christmas)
Simeon blessed them (the parents of Jesus) and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Lk 2:22-35
Does Jesus lead to your rising or falling?
Is Jesus’ message a contradiction to your way of life,
or something that brings total peace to your soul?
If it’s necessary, if it’s imperative for us to have total control of everything.
Control (or actually lack of control) of our passions – we call it freedom.
Control of every decision. Control of others to satisfy our own needs.
Sometimes even at the cost of hurting or even killing those others.
Then the message of Jesus is absurdity.
But, IF we can surrender those desires to morality.
Surrender those passions to God.
Surrender to the LOVE of Jesus and one another.
Then His revelation in our hearts is not a contradiction at all,
but a KINGDOM.
A kingdom that no explanation could ever come close to revealing
to those for whom Jesus is a contradiction.
Surrender, beloved, to LOVE, and discover . . .
LIFE!
12-28-12
(Feast of the Holy Innocents)
The Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, in describing the early
childhood of Jesus, noted an incident where King Herod, in trying to eliminate
Jesus, killed all the little children of Bethlehem. This is referred to as
the Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents and was prefigured in the
Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
“Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.” Mt 2:13-18
In the wake of the loss of many young school children and teachers
in Newtown, CT at the hands of a psychologically ill young man, it sad to see
how evil in the world could take over the souls of people
to cause such tragedy. And yet even despite the evil,
God loves all of us unconditionally.
And though God mourns for our loss and sympathizes with our sorrow,
He nonetheless welcomes the martyred souls
who come to join Him
in Paradise!
12-27-12
(St. John, Apostle and evangelist)
St. John said, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” 1 Jn 1:1-4
COMPLETE,
when, we are ALL in fellowship with one another
and God, the Holy Trinity.
Come on, make my day, beloved!
JOY!
12-26-12
(St. Stephen, first martyr, deacon)
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Jesus warned his disciples,
“You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” Mt 10:17-22
Endurance, beloved!
St. Stephen did, as did Jesus, endured to the very end . . .
out of their incredible love for their fellow man and for God!
This life may not always be easy, beloved.
But with God at our sides and with Jesus leading the way,
by our endurance we WILL be saved!
12-25-12
(Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas)
John the evangelist and Gospel writer said,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.” . .
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.”
and
“to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,” Jn 1:1-5, 9-14
The Greatest Gift the world has ever known..
Jesus Christ,
the Grace, the Truth and the Glory!.
Accept, believe, LOVE and then, truly Live, beloved.
Live as His Children!
The Christmas Anthology
12-24-12
Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) said,
“In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Lk 1:67-79
The psalmist said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me” Ps 23
In HIS tender compassion, with all His mercy and love,
God gave us the ultimate LIGHT. The light of Christ.
No evil may dwell within us when we are LIT by Christ.
And any evil that comes upon us is shattered by that same Light. . .
even if it results in our physical death.
For we know that we shall live FOREVER with Jesus.
May our loving God bless You, beloved, this Christmas Eve
and Always, as we are . . .
together forever in Christ’s love!
12-23-12
(Fourth Sunday Advent C)
Elizabeth cried out to Mary, “Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Lk 1:39-45
Blessed are you beloved and blessed is the fruit of your works.
Loving God and your neighbor with all your heart.
Converting the world, one soul at a time!
Stay faithful, in anxious anticipation of the coming of our Lord.
12-22-12
Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Lk 1:46-56
12-21-12
Mary’s cousin Elizabeth said to her,
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken
to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Lk 1:39-45
How hard is it for us, beloved, to believe and act
on what is spoken to us by the Lord?
Are we listening?
He directs us in right reasoning.
He guides us along safe paths.
He offers us opportunities to bring others to Him.
And when we look close enough, we’ll find
that there are literally hundreds of little miracles in
our lives every day.
Today I lost a 20 year old, 40 foot tall pine tree to an icy wind storm.
It could have fallen across the driveway.
It could have fallen across the neighbor’s driveway.
It could have destroyed neighboring pines or
either or both of two young saplings growing nearby.
It took none of those paths, but instead, uprooted and fell neatly
between the two saplings, only slightly damaging one of them.
If I hired expert tree excavators to drop that tree that perfectly,
it would have been quite a feat.
So, no emergency removal and no one hurt.
Praise the Lord, for every little miracle . . .
even when they sometimes do hurt feelings.
12-20-12
In response to the Angel Gabriel’s extraordinary announcement,
“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.’” Lk 1:26-38
Fiat – a formal authorization.
From the Latin, fieri ‘be done, or made’ – let it be done.
Mary’s fiat opened up the door to salvation
for the entire world . . .
and his name is
JESUS!
12-19-12
“An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,
‘Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive
and bear a son'” . . . “The woman bore a son and
named him Samson.” Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a
“the angel of the Lord appeared to him” (Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah)
“Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.”
“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your
prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.’” Lk 1:5-25
Lots of angel stories, this week before Christmas.
Interesting how the first response of all who ever saw angels was fear.
And if they accepted those angels and their messages, they came to discover
that the message ALWAYS came true: an impossible pregnancy,
the destruction of sinful cities or nations,
the birth of a Savior!
With God ALL things are possible!
Believe it beloved!
12-18-12
The Angel Gabriel said to Joseph,
“do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means “God is with us.”
Mt 1:18-25
Jesus, God, is with us!
Always remember that, beloved.
He is with us always!
12-17-12
“Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.”
and many generations later . . .
“. . . Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” Mt 1:1-17
The genealogy of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
From nomads to kings, from harlots to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
He is King of ALL, fulfilling God’s covenant of
salvation through His ‘chosen’ people.
So “BLESSED” are we, beloved!
12-16-12
(Third Sunday of Advent C, Gaudete)
Rejoice!
“Be glad and exult with all your heart,”
“The LORD, your God, is in your midst,” Zep 3:14-18a
In a world filled with evil, anger, terror and fear,
what can we possibly rejoice over?
John the Baptist brought reconciliation and taught
justice and peace and morality and forgiveness.
Jesus taught LOVE.
In the midst of it all, there is LOVE, beloved.
You are loved so very much, despite it all,
with a love that can overcome even the worst
the world can dish out.
For God IS love!
12-15-12
Of the prophet Elijah the writer said,
“You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end
to wrath before the day of the LORD,” Sir 48:1-4, 9-11
Repugnant is the ‘wrath’ of the current world.
Let not the repugnance of the world adulterate your
blessed hearts, beloved, with hatred.
LOVE through it all anyway!
And pray for the mercy of God,
in compassion for the lost and for
the healing comfort of Jesus for their loved ones…
all over the world.
12-14-12
(St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church)
The LORD said through the prophet Isaiah,
“If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication
like the waves of the sea;” Is 48:17-19
So if we’re not real familiar with that term,
“vindication” means – “clearing someone of blame or suspicion;
showing someone to be right, reasonable or justified.”
It is NOT, “vindictive” which means – “showing a strong
or unreasoning desire for revenge.“
So, following the Lord, even if “the world” says you’re weird,
or a “Jesus freak,” or one of those religious fanatics, or
a “goody two-shoes” (following the Lord) WILL, in the end, vindicate you!
You were RIGHT!
Jesus gave a clear example in today’s reading
of the fickleness (frequently changing loyalties, interests or affections)
of people and their judgmental attitudes towards others and replied,
“wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Mt 11:16-19
So, following the Command of the Lord (to LOVE) is Wisdom.
And the ‘works’ that vindicate your wisdom is
LIFE!
12-13-12
(St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr)
Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the
violent are taking it by force.” Mt 11:11-15
Isn’t it the way of the world? If the wings of a butterfly are ripped off,
the butterfly will die and the beauty will be gone.
If a tiny fetus is aborted, the beauty of a wonderful living person
will never be here to help improve our world.
If it is insisted that guns and knives are carried around by everyone,
there’s a higher likelihood that someone will get shot or killed.
Jesus was LOVE, trying to bring more love into the world.
And what was done to him?
St. Lucy was LIGHT, trying to bring more light into the world
And what was done to her?
The violent may take the world, but the Kingdom of heaven is
much, much more than that violent world will ever experience.
It’s better than even the best human being that ever lived
is worthy of attaining.
Yet, Jesus died so that we could achieve it.
So LOVE, beloved.
LOVE – with all your might!
12-12-12
(Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas and the Unborn)
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Lk 1:39-47
The Magnificat of Mary Our Mother!
REJOICE!
12-11-12
The prophet Isaiah said,
“Here comes with power the Lord GOD, . . .
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” Is 40:1-11
While Jesus said,
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.” Mt 18:12-14
Bottom line, beloved, is that WE are ALL very, very
precious in the eyes and heart of God.
Not even ONE would he like to see lost!
That’s TRULY Love!
12-10-12
The prophet Isaiah said,
“A highway will be there, called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make, and
on it the redeemed will walk.” Is 35:1-10
Walking the ‘highway to heaven’.
Jesus said, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk?’” Lk 5:17-26
Yes, sometimes it may be easier to say “Rise” than to forgive.
But Jesus wants us to Forgive. We have been given
that authority to Forgive those who have wronged us.
Pray, beloved, that the Holy Spirit gives us the strength
to accomplish forgiveness. And when we do,
OH, the glory, the joy, the feather-light weight
of having forgiven. Then we are truly walking that “highway.”
And then the Rising is truly a breeze!
12-09-12
(Second Sunday of Advent C)
John the Baptist quoted the prophet Isaiah saying,
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Lk 3:1-6
That’s quite a huge construction project!
And maybe that’s what it takes to prepare our hearts, sometimes.
So bulldoze away Lord!
12-08-12
(Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
First, to make sure everyone is on the same page,
the Immaculate Conception refers to the sinless conception of Mary,
and not the annunciation and virginal conception of Jesus.
The readings for today always bring about confusion, because they
describe that Biblical conception of Jesus. But since the conception of Mary is
not in the Bible, guess this is the best we can do! And with that, there are multiple,
awesome quotes that can be pulled from these readings. Here are just a few…
At the beginning of Biblical time, after the first man and woman
were “caught in the act” of disobedience, and sin propagated like wildfire,
out of their shame and guilt, fingers began pointing, and punishments
were exacted on everyone. In particular, PAIN.
Adam now had to work to eat. Eve would have pain in childbirth.
And Satan, well, he turned into a snake, who, even though
he didn’t have one, was a real pain the the neck!
And yet God, in his infinite mercy and love for mankind,
said to that snake,
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”
Gn 3:9-15, 20
Strange saying, this one. But when we look at it a little deeper,
we find that it really is God’s Promise of Salvation –
through the offspring (Jesus) of (A particular) woman (Mary).
And in order for that woman to be able to produce the
offspring of God, she, herself, needed to be as perfect
as any human being could possibly be.
And so, she was conceived “Immaculately,”
without the burden of Adam and Eve’s ‘original’ sin.
This was attested by the Angel Gabriel at God’s Annunciation,
that Mary would be that Chosen Mother, when he proclaimed,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
And yet, just as Adam and Eve were given the
free will choice, to which they disobeyed,
Mary was also given the free will choice,
to which she fully consented (in absolute faith)
to do the Will of God.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.” Lk 1:26-38
God’s promise to Adam and Eve, soon thereafter to be fulfilled,
witnessed Satan crushed, and through the offspring of a woman (Mary),
Jesus, offers God’s Salvation to the world.
Now, it’s our choice!
12-07-12
(St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear? Ps 27
What light?
Two blind men implored the help of Jesus and he replied,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened. Mt 9:27-31
.
Do we BELIEVE strong enough, beloved,
that whatever it is we need,
He will provide?
Think about it!
12-06-12
(St. Nicholas)
Jesus said, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell,
the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.” Mt 7:21, 24-27
St. Nicholas may be immortalized by “the masses” as
Santa Claus (save their poor pronunciation),
but we know him as an immeasurably
GIVING person, who loved
with Christ’s love.
He built his house on the foundation of rock!
Listen, Act, Build and Live, beloved,
on Jesus!
12-05-12
The Prophet Isaiah said,
“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide
for all peoples…” Is 25:6-10a
“Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.”
Then He said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,”
And with minimal resources,
“he took the seven loaves and the fish gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.” Mt 15:29-37
A symbol of a symbol of a symbol!
The “mountain” IS the Lord. It IS Jesus.
It is Jesus who was blessed, broken and given, and given, and given.
It is Jesus, Himself, who satisfies!
And ONLY Jesus can satisfy with Truth, and Life, and Love.
Come, beloved, and climb the Mountain of the Lord.
And in Him you’ll find, fullness. You will find,
SATISFACTION!
12-04-12
The Prophet Isaiah said,
“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,” Is 11:1-10
Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus.
Jesus prophesied His own return at the end of time.
“ON THAT DAY…”
Will it be 50 years from now?
Can humanity even last that long without obliterating itself?
Or will it be tomorrow?
We don’t know when the Lord will call us back.
If we have received our Sacrament of Confirmation,
we have received those same “Gifts” of the Spirit that Isaiah
prophesied would rest upon Jesus.
USE THEM beloved, to come closer to God.
And be ready whenever “that day” comes our way.
12-03-12
(St. Francis Xavier)
Jesus said, “many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” Mt 8:5-11
St. Francis Xavier went East. St. Paul went West.
Until the whole world knew of the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ.
And it’s you, who’ve heard and listened and followed,
whom Jesus was referring to here.
I look forward to meeting you at “the banquet”, beloved.
The prophet Isaiah said,
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.” Is 2:1-5
What an awesome prospect.
What an awesome Kingdom!
12-02-12
(First Sunday of Advent, C)
Jesus, in speaking about His parousia, said,
“..the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
He said, there will be awesome, and might, and scary signs.
And those who do not believe may be frightened, even to death.
But to we, who believe, Jesus says,
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent…”
then “stand erect and raise your heads because your
redemption is at hand.” Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
REDEEMED !
Strengthened by the Holy Spirit against fear.
Hopeful in the Love of the Lord.
And knowing…
“Thy Kingdom come!!!”
Click for Link to December’s Homily…
For more on Advent, visit Happy Fall
12-01-12
“John said: An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.” Rv 22:1-7
Hmmm, remember that “Tree of Life” from back in the beginning of Genesis?
“Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was
delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life
in the middle of the garden…” Gn 2:9
That was the tree that was forbidden from mankind because
of Adam and Eve’s sin. Here, in John’s Revelation,
where we get a little peek at heaven,
we see that tree back again.
It truly is the Tree of Life and it brings healing to all.
JESUS.
. . . . . . .
Happy December, beloved!
Please stop by and visit November’s Daily Mass Quotes too…
Link below.
___________________
EARLIER MONTH’S QUOTES can be found
in monthly subcategories of – “Whispers”
entitled “Daily Mass Quotes” (DMQs)
___________________________________
Link to Previous Month’s DMQs
Link to Following Month’s DMQs
Link back to Whispers to the Wind
Link to Saint of the Day
(also in Time page, under Liturgical Seasons section)
Whispers to the Wind 