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:
10-31-12
Jesus used similes and metaphors, parables and allegories
to describe the Kingdom of God.
And He also explained some of the requirements for reaching that Kingdom.
It would take preparedness, watchfulness, holiness and belief or faith in Him.
He said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many,
I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
Lk 13:22-30
Ah, yes, but I’m old or I’m weak, or I’m poor, or I’m abandoned, or whatever.
How will I ever be that strong? How will I find that “narrow gate“?
Place your trust in Jesus, beloved! That’s all it takes.
Love, don’t hate. Pray, don’t wander lost.
And give thanks always!
You see, we’ve made it through another month together, beloved.
Praise God!
All my love. . . j
10-30-12
“a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.” Eph 5:21-33
An Inseparable, Indissoluble UNION.
“..Christ loved the Church and handed himself over
for her to sanctify her..” Eph 5:21-33
Just as Husband and Wife sanctify each other in the
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony – with respect and Love!
“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants around your table.” Ps 128
And that is what can be found in a healthy, holy marriage…
FAMILY!
“Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?” Lk 13:18-21
He gave the example through his Life, His Word and His Church.
Family, DYNAMIC, ever growing in HOLINESS!
SANCTIFY one another, beloved, and live..
the KINGDOM!
10-29-12
St. Paul said, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children,
and live in love, as Christ loved us..”
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light.” Eph 4:32-5:8
As Children of the Light, beloved, we are to live lives of thanksgiving,
not whining and complaining, not cursing and belittlement.
Lift one another up and share the HOPE and future
of the Kingdom of God, through Christ Jesus!
10-28-12
(Thirtieth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jeremiah prophesied for the LORD about Israel,
“They departed in tears, but I (GOD) will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,” Jer 31:7-9
God Calls and God Leads!
And O what an honor it is to be called by God!
Yet, “No one takes this honor upon himself, but only when called by God,”
not even Jesus. Heb 5:1-6
You see, “it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him: ‘You are my son:
this day I have begotten you’” Heb 5:1-6
And by example, Jesus’ disciples “called the blind man, saying to him,
‘Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.’” Mk 10:46-52
And on answering Jesus’ call, Blind Bartimaeus was able to see.
He gave up all he owned, his cloak, and followed Jesus.
So what’s it take, beloved, for us to become followers of the Lord?
First we Seek Him, then we Listen for His Call.
We Let Go of whatever is keeping us from answering that call.
And then, we let Him LEAD us.
Jesus IS the Way, the Truth and the Light!
FOLLOW HIM!
10-27-12
Jesus told them a parable about an orchard owner who said,
“‘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 (the gardener) 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
Jesus was emphasizing the gift of second chances that He offers to all.
“Repent!” Discover your transgressions against God and one another.
Ask God’s and their forgiveness. Reform your lives.
And then spread the Good News of God’s love.
BE FRUITFUL, beloved!
You may get ‘picked on’ a lot.
But the reward is ‘out of this world!’
10-26-12
St. Paul, urging the Ephesians to remain faithful,
reminded them of their unity in the Spirit:
“…one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph 4:1-6
Our UNITY in the Spirit, beloved!
10-25-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.” Lk 12:49-53
Two days ago we heard St. Paul talking about the peace and unity
between the Jews and non-Jews available through Jesus.
And yet, Jesus himself said that he did not come to establish peace.
You see, many a devout Jew still remained faithful to his or her God
and refused to believe in Jesus. While many an ‘atheistic’ heathen
still remained faithful to their money or their property or their job
and equally, refused to believe in Jesus.
Those groups may never come to peaceful agreement with Christians.
God gave them all that free will choice through Jesus,
just as He did the Apostles, St. Paul and the early Church,
who were all devout Jews as well,
and just as he did the Samaritan woman, the Roman Centurion and
the many other non-Jewish, Gentiles who did choose to believe.
As Christians, we don’t have that choice.
We must love them all anyway.
Or else, we’re not really true followers of Jesus.
In the end, God will be the Just Judge.
He will separate the sheep from the goats.
The followers from the stubborn independents.
The Lovers from the haters.
And how we pray that few to none are left on that
other side: like the deep sea diver with a cut air line,
like the firefighter with no water,
like the skydiver with a failed chute,
like the fetus with a severed umbilical cord,
so we pray for the sad-lost with no God!
Unfathomably tragic.
Never lose sight, beloved!
IN JESUS
10-24-12
Jesus said to His disciples,
“You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.” Lk 12:39-48
Jesus often spoke of the blessings that would be received by following Him.
But he also, often reminded His listeners of the need to be vigilant.
Even his closest disciples needed to be reminded to be
always watchful of their words and actions.
Just because they were His followers, didn’t guarantee the promise
of eternal life in heaven, IF they didn’t follow His commands –
to love God and neighbor – ALWAYS.
Today Jesus warns us too,
to never let down our guard, especially when all the world
seems to be against us. To guard our hearts against
hatred and revenge and selfishness.
And instead, be people of Love and forgiveness and generosity.
Just as He is!
And when that moment comes, be it an unexpected visitor,
or an appointment with our Creator, we too, beloved,
will be ready!
10-23-12
St. Paul said to the Church at Ephesis,
“For he is our peace, he made both one and broke down
the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,” Eph 2:12-22
And Jesus has the ability to continue to bring that peace
to the world. . . if we would all just listen!
10-22-12
Jesus said, “Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich, one’s life does not
consist of possessions.” Lk 12:13-21
Again we get back to that old ‘enigma’ of Life
(see discussion on 10-7-12).
If one believes that all there is to life is this physical existence
from birth to death, then they may argue, why not be wealthy.
Maybe they never met a sad, depressed, bored, unfulfilled wealthy person.
And there are many!
Maybe they never experienced the fulfillment, joy and happiness of giving.
And that giving isn’t necessarily of money or material things.
Sometimes giving is just from the heart!
When we can recognize that true LIFE is more than just birth to death.
And that, this birth to death part of Eternal life is so short,
that it really does matter how we live it.
And that we cannot take all that STUFF with us anyway.
(see discussion on 10-14-12)
Then we’re beginning to understand what Jesus was talking
about when he preached “the Kingdom.”
We can begin to experience that Kingdom here and now
by recognizing what really IS important in this physical life.
And it’s not greedy hoarding,
but GIVING!
May our loving God bless you, beloved, now and for eternity!
And with that, You ARE rich!
10-21-12
(Twenty-ninth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said, “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” Mk 10:35-45
Who is it that we could be missing in the masses?
Among the loud ones, among the famous ones, among the handsome and
the cute, is there someone pushing a cart, or carrying a screaming child, or
just sitting there alone on the park bench, who is waiting for us
to be their savior, or just to offer an ear to listen.
These are the ones, Jesus says, who should be first.
Seek them, beloved. One just may be Jesus to us, as well!
10-20-12
St. Paul prayed for the people of the Church in Ephesis,
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.” Eph 1:15-23
And Jesus said to his disciples that when they were
confronted with challenges about Him,
“do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you
at that moment what you should say.” Lk 12:8-12
Be firm then, beloved, and trust in the Holy Spirit.
He comes through – EVERY TIME!
10-19-12
(Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions, Martyrs)
So what’s so honorable about being killed for a cause?
Nothing, unless that very cause is for the purpose of saving others,
even those who were killing them. THAT’S a Saint!
THAT’S exactly what our Lord, Jesus did for us!
And that’s our God!
Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power
to cast into Gehenna;” Lk 12:1-7
And only God has that kind of power.
So, beloved, just LOVE Him with all your being.
And know that all of that is just a pittance to how much
YOU are loved by God!
10-18-12
(St. Luke, Evangelist)
St. Paul wrote to Timothy,
“everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,” 2 Tm 4:10-17b
That’s the Love and Forgiveness of the Lord
both by Paul and to him!
Jesus instructed His evangelists to say,
“‘Peace to this household.’
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
Lk 10:1-9
The FIRST thing we always do, beloved,
is bring and offer
PEACE!
10-17-12
(St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr)
Here is the HOPE, the REWARD, the Kingdom we receive by living
our lives IN the SPIRIT instead of in the flesh – for as St. Paul tells us, . . .
“the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.” Gal 5:18-25
OoooH – sugar and spice and everything nice!
Ahhh, but maybe not quite??!
Jesus said, “Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,…
Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces…” Lk 11:42-46
That doesn’t sound so bad, so why the woes?
Well, maybe those “fruit” aren’t quite what we think they are.
Maybe love is more than just a roll in the hay or a sweet kiss.
Maybe joy is something other than getting our wish in a birthday present.
Maybe peace is not – “them not fighting,” but something in my own inner gut!
Maybe in order to truly experience love, joy and peace,
I need, in that gut, some true –
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!
And that, it seems, I just can’t do – on my own!
Having patience, kindness, generosity and self-control is not –
my “allowing” that #*$@% to cut me off, without my getting him/her back,
(for that kind of driving truly is – stupid, ignorant, belligerent and dangerous)
but instead, not even noticing that it happened – not placing their
unholy or absent-minded thoughts into my own head,
and becoming them, instead of remaining
as the Spirit who dwells within me
desires – in Peace!
You know that Spirit,
the One who says “Love” and “Forgive” and “Carry that cross…
Can we truly LIVE by that Spirit, beloved?
Just Imagine IF we could ALL – truly Live by that Spirit!
And then imagine – what TRUE Love, Joy and Peace really are!
It’s not getting OUT of the world, but getting into it!
Where every new challenge is an opportunity. . .
to discover this incredible KINGDOM,
living right within us…
and we name Him – JESUS!
(And then we SHARE Him!)
Remember beloved,
“With God, all things are possible.”
BELIEVE that,
and then
LIVE!
10-16-12
(St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
St. Paul said, “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1-6
SLAVERY . . .
that’s Political, or Economic, or Human Rights, or Popular Culture,
or the Media, or the Internet, or even our selves.
OPEN our hearts Lord, to vote, to choose, to LIVE
in Your FREEDOM!
10-15-12
St. Teresa of Jesus (of Avila)
Jesus said, “there is something greater than Solomon here. . .
and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Lk 11:29-32
Something greater than the wisest man that ever lived. . . God!
Something greater than the boldest messenger (prophet)
who saved the condemned city of Nineveh. . .
Jesus!
And He’s waiting to KNOW you and I, beloved.
And He came to save us as well.
Did we get the message?
COME!
10-14-12
(Twenty-eighth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mk 10:17-30
BECAUSE – we tend to cling to that which makes us rich. . .
Is it money, or safety, or shelter, or fame, or job, or knowledge?
What is it that we think we’re so rich in . . that we’re not willing to give up
for the KINGDOM of GOD?
His disciples asked, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.” (same ref.)
The moral, being, beloved, “let it go – for the sake of God,”
and IN/WITH God it will be multiplied many, many times over!
10-13-12
Jesus said, “blessed are those who hear the
word of God and observe it.” Lk 11:27-28
Well, beloved, isn’t it awesome being “Blessed”!
Your just being here and reading His Words
is the proof!
10-12-12
Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be
laid waste and house will fall against house.” Lk 11:15-26
. . . and that goes for families, communities, churches,
businesses, localities, states, countries and the world!
I always equated this quote with the picture of two guys
rowing the same boat in opposite directions.
If they each rowed with enough perseverance and fervor,
the whirlpool they would create would be sufficient
to sink them both!
Thus, God gave us communication, cooperation, patience and forgiveness;
that even in division we have the power to become strong;
to unite, by the grace and love of Jesus!
10-11-12
(Initiation of the “Year of Faith”)
Jesus said, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Lk 11:5-13
. . . all done IN THE NAME OF JESUS . . .
IF . . . it be His Will.
Then the question is . . .
Am I asking in accordance with His will?
So the first step is to Ask, Seek and Knock to find out
what His will IS for MY life.
St. Anthony, can you PLEASE help me in this!
Or maybe St. Jude…
Or maybe I’m just another one of those
Galatians, to whom St. Paul exhorted,
“O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you . . .
Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now ending with the flesh?” Gal 3:1-5
And yet, the flesh needs to eat.
And as St. Paul said,
‘whoever does not work should not eat.‘ 2 Thes 3:10
Come, Holy Spirit!
10-10-12
Jesus prayed, “. . forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,” Lk 11:1-4
No ifs, ands, or buts with Luke.
Switch our usual Matthew’s version “as” with “for” and the conditional
“forgive us as we forgive” (and if we don’t, we’re not forgiven)
changes to: “forgive us for (because) we forgive!”
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world!
“OK God, we filled our part of the bargain FIRST, now …”
Well not really first, but wouldn’t it be awesome
if we could do it without the threat!
Do it out of pure –
LOVE!
10-09-12
Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried
about many things. There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part” Lk 10:38-42
Can’t we just hear that same voice calling our name?
– – – – – ♥ – – – – –
“Joseph, Joseph, calm down!
~ ~
It’ll All be OK.”
Trust in Jesus, beloved, ALWAYS.
It’s gonna be alright!
10-08-12
Jesus said, “a Samaritan traveler who came upon him*
was moved with compassion” Lk 10:25-37
(* The man, was a stripped, beaten and half dead assault victim,
whom several others had already passed by.)
The Good Samaritan
Was it a risk? Absolutely. That’s why the others didn’t assist.
The Samaritan could have been attacked himself.
The man may have had some dreadfully contagious disease.
The man may have died and the Samaritan would have been blamed.
Today we have the excuse of cell phones.
We’re sure they already have help coming, because “everyone” has cells.
Well maybe not.
Maybe we could be that Good Samaritan too.
Ever give some crackers, juice, change to one of those street people?
You just may be saving a life!
You just may be Jesus for one of those “beloved” children of His!
Our Neighbors.
10-07-12
(Twenty-seventh Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said, “from the beginning of creation,
‘God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
Mk 10:2-16
In the U.S. Catholic Church, today is called “Respect Life Sunday.”
So I started out searching for a definitive description of exactly what “Life” means.
And I ran across a myriad of definitions and descriptions. . .
Life is: “a characteristic, a quality, a principle or force,
a sequence of physical and mental experiences,
a spiritual existence, a way or manner, an animation,
a period of duration, prosperity, the opposite of death or the non-living.”
Hmmmmm?!
The Merriam Webster Dictionary had 20 entries defining Life.
Biologists define life to include: the capacity to grow, metabolize,
respond (to stimuli), adapt, and reproduce, and sometimes also include respiration.
The Catholic Encyclopedia calls Life an “enigma” and then goes on to describe
that mysterious and difficult to understand entity in the 2o succeeding pages.
So OK, we’re being asked to “Respect” something we totally do not understand,
nor can we even agree amongst ourselves on a definition.
Seems like we found the first problem!
OK, so let’s forget a formal definition.
We do know that Human Beings, plants, animals and many
microscopic entities are living.
So let’s respect them!
Then the next questions are:
how small or how big can that life be, for it to truly BE Life,
or exactly when does life begin?
Let’s look at a plant. A plant is alive.
A plant produces a seed to perpetuate it’s species.
When it’s attached to the plant, is the seed alive? Yes!
When the plant dies and seed falls to the ground, is the seed still alive – Yes!
Can the seed die? Yes!
How do we know if the seed is dead? If it does not produce a new plant.
Yet, the seed doesn’t move, it doesn’t require nourishment. It can actually sit there for years doing nothing. Yet when it is placed in the right conditions
it will grow into a brand new plant!
Sounds like Life!
When we move to people, we can ask “is the sperm and egg of a ‘pre-person’ alive?” Yes.
So then, is the fertilized egg of a human, still attached to the woman alive?
Yes – just like the seed was, when it was attached to the plant.
And when the embryo grows, largely on it’s own, to produce a micro-person,
a fetus, in the womb of its mother, is it still alive – Yes.
Then, jumping a bunch of arguments, what gives humanity
the right to kill any other living human, regardless of its size or age?
What does it matter if that human is microscopically small and still developing,
or 120-years old and 7 foot tall, and still developing?
What does it matter if we fully and completely understand the process of reproduction, growth and development of the human person (which we actually don’t) and have
the ability to interrupt, destroy or replicate that process – for whatever
medical or personal reason – and then we forego all MORAL REASONING
to accomplish those ends.
Ahhh, there’s where “Respect” comes in.
Respect of Life in the Catholic/Christian sense means that
killing by ANY means is NOT morally acceptable.
And beyond not killing, respect of life, means respecting the God given dignity
of every living person, from conception to natural death.
The right to eat and work and live in a safe and sheltered environment.
The right to live without persecution because of race, religion, language,
age, color of skin, ethnic background, financial status, etc.
Today we’re reminded of and we are Always responsible for
respecting this ‘enigma’ of our own existence – LIFE,
as LIVING entities,
as HUMANITY.
. . . And it all begins and ends with
LOVE!
10-06-12
Jesus said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.” Lk 10:17-24
LOVE can be SO simple!
Lord, help us to all be as simple and dependent upon you, as a child.
For we truly are YOUR children. And, just as Jesus, your Son did,
we praise you as well. You ARE our God and our love!
10-05-12
“Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.” Ps 139
Again another call to RESPECT all life,
in thanksgiving to our God
and Creator!
10-04-12
(St. Francis of Assisi)
In the depth of his misery, with the world against him,
and uncertain even about God, Job professed,
“But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,”
“ And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being
is consumed with longing.” Jb 19:21-27
Though his flesh was rotting away from a cause unknown,
Job KNEW, beyond a doubt, that he SHALL see God.
CONSUMED with Longing!
10-03-12
In response to three ‘would-be’ followers, Jesus said,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
And to another “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks
to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Lk 9:57-62
Do we have the fortitude, the gumption, the (blindered) vision
to follow Jesus, to proclaim something so radically better
than anything possible – of the world –
“the Kingdom of God” . . .
. . . that we’d give up sleep, inheritance and our past lives?
10-02-12
(Guardian Angels)
Jesus said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Mt 18:1-5, 10
O, but through the eyes of a child, beloved,
can we see the very Face of God!
10-01-12
(Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church)
After having lost nearly everything and everyone dear to him, Job said,
“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!” Jb 3:1-23
Having passed the first test of his faith,
Job hadn’t yet known the depth of the challenges
ahead of him. Do WE, beloved?
Might prompt us to ask –
“How strong is OUR faith?”
As our year and half old grandson sings,
every time he thinks he may have displeased us,
I – I – I – I LLLL UUUUU VVVVV Youuuuuuuuuuuu!
. . . . . . .
Happy October, beloved!
Please stop by and visit September’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 