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.
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Quotes for reflection:
09-30-12
(Twenty-sixth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said, “whoever is not against us is for us.”
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Organizations like Catholic Relief Services, World Vision,
Habitat for Humanity, Food for the Poor and the Sisters of Charity
all help the needy of the world. They may do similar things,
and even though they are not the same organization,
that doesn’t make them enemies.
They’re all serving the Lord in one way or another.
And the world becomes a better place because of all of them.
Jesus is telling us today, that sometimes we have to be careful
that we don’t cut our finger off to spite a different looking fingernail.
And yet, if the fingernail will cause our whole arm to go gangrene
then by all means cut off the finger to save the arm!
AVOID sin – at all cost!
09-29-12
(Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels)
Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jn 1:47-51
Yes, for all those so desperately seeking to find LIFE
somewhere other than here in our visible, physical, sensual
world – it’s in the Bible! And they’re called Angels!
From there, our imaginations can run wild…
Our guardians, our protectors,
our progenitors – come back to earn their wings!
There IS Life!
Believe in Jesus, beloved!
09-28-12
(St. Wenceslaus, martyr)
“There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every thing under the heavens.”
God “has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man’s ever discovering,
from beginning to end,
the work which God has done.” Eccl 3:1-11
Talk about the secrets of Life!!
T I M E
09-27-12
(St. Vincent de Paul, priest)
“Vanity of vanities,”
“Nothing is new under the sun.” Eccl 1:2-11
“For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday,
now that it is past,” Psalm 90
And, Herod “was greatly perplexed…” Lk 9:7-9
Perplexed? Disillusioned? Lost (in time and space)?
Don’t fret beloved!
For “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.“
09-26-12
(Sts. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs)
“Two things I ask of you . . .
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;” Proverbs 30:5-9
Jesus said, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.” Lk 9:1-6
Sometimes we can become so comfortable in our neediness, that we even reject Help when it comes to us. The author of the wisdom writings from the Book of Proverbs knew well this characteristic of our human nature. He prayed not for wealth, but for truth and sufficiency. For he knew that with ‘too much‘ he may no longer need or want the comfort of his Lord. Yet, he also knew that with ‘not enough‘ he might forget his Lord and try to fulfill his needs on his own by dishonest means (falsehood).
Jesus was also very familiar with human nature. He sent his disciples out with the ability to heal both the physical and spiritual needs of the people. And yet, they themselves, went in need of clothing, food and shelter. They really had no choice but to find help for themselves. And the help that they received in Hospitality was returned many-fold over, with the spiritual and physical healing of God’s Kingdom. Yet, there were always those who remained comfortable in their neediness and were neither hospitable nor accepting of the Gift the disciples had to offer. These were the ones left in the dust to wallow in their own self-pity.
Like the Apostles and the writer of Proverbs, Jesus asks two things of us. He asks us not to seek riches but sufficiency and truth. And with our sufficiency, we are to offer God’s Kingdom of spiritual peace and physical comfort to all who welcome us with open hearts and minds. And for that, Jesus promises us, that the Kingdom of God will be ours as well.
09-25-12
“Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.”
Prv 21:1-6, 10-13
The wisdom of Proverbs:
Keep the Law of the Lord!
09-24-12
Jesus said, “No one who lights a lamp
conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand so that
those who enter may see the light.”
Lk 8:16-18
So SHINE, beloved,
with the light of His LOVE,
using whatever talents He has so
blessed You with!
.
09-23-12
(Twenty-fifth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said, “Whoever receives one child such as this
in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mk 9:30-37
I remember when our children were young,
asking at dinner what they did at school that day.
The answer was always “nothing” or “nothing exciting.”
And then I realized something profound when our
grandchildren visited Friday.
Five seconds after entering the front door, Isaac
acclaimed with excitement at least 3 things that happened
in kindergarten that day! All of which I responded to with
equal excitement. But apparently I realized that I wasn’t truly listening
to a word he said, when Mary Ann asked me later
what Isaac did in school that day.
Amidst all the welcoming and “Hi’s,” and “Nice to see you’s,”
I didn’t “RECEIVE” Isaac as much as I was
expecting HIM to receive me.
You see, for me it was ‘welcoming time’, not ‘explanation time’.
If we are to RECEIVE Christ in one another and the little ones,
it may not always be – according to our timing.
Are we ready, beloved, to RECEIVE
(to FULLY receive),
at ANY MOMENT, a Word,
be it from a Child or a Friend or even a Stranger,
that just may be coming from
Jesus Christ Himself? !!!
09-22-12
St. Paul speaking to the Corinthians about the resurrection of the dead said,
“What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. (the body)
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible.
It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious.
It is sown weak; it is raised powerful.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.”
1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49
…bottom line is, just don’t worry about it!
Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Lk 8:4-15
’nuff said!
09-21-12
(St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist)
Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me.
And he got up and followed him.” Mt 9:9-13
And he didn’t ask,
How long is this going to take?
How much is it going to cost?
Where are we going?
Should I take anything?
Let me finish this first!
Matthew just got up and went!
And we can read all about what happened in the few years to follow,
in Matthew’s Gospel.
Sometimes we’ve just got to ‘get up and go,’
when the CALL comes from the Lord!
And we are all called “for building up the Body of Christ,”
in peace and unity and love for one another!
Eph 4:1-7, 11-13
May His love fill you with hope and peace forever, beloved!
09-20-12
(Sts. Andrew Kim Taegŏn, Paul Chŏng Hasang and companions, martyrs)
Jesus said, “the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Lk 7:36-50
Of what has God forgiven us, beloved, that we have to be thankful for?
Whom do we love so very much that they would forgive any
transgression we may have committed against them?
St. Paul, as an example, said, “I am the least of the Apostles,
not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.”
1 Cor 15:1-11
And yet Paul was not only forgiven, he was given the mission
to preach about the very One he persecuted – to unbelievers!
God is INTENSELY merciful, beloved.
So, LOVE much and always!
For we are loved beyond our deepest imaginings.
09-19-12
(St. Januarius, bishop and martyr)
“if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor 12:31-13:13
09-18-12
“The dead man sat up and began to speak,” Lk 7:11-17
There is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecc 3:7
some are just a little less conventional!
What better way for Jesus to show the mighty power of God.
Sometimes, even today, God brings us miracles:
cured cancer, survival of a horrendous accident, or
just not being in the wrong place at the right time.
The writer of Ecclesiastes says,
“There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.” Ecc 3:1
Pray always, beloved, and learn to accept the will of God.
And His will is always for LIFE…
even in death!
09-17-12
The Roman Centurion sent a messenger to tell Jesus,
“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter
under my roof. . . but say the word and let my servant be healed.” Lk 7:1-10
That non-Jewish soldier had such strong faith in Jesus
that he knew, without a doubt, that Jesus could heal his servant –
EVEN from a distance, without being physically present.
Not being a Jew, the Centurion also knew that it was forbidden
for Jews to enter the houses of Gentiles.
His request was asked purely out of his LOVE for the servant,
out of his FAITH in Jesus’ divine power and out of his compassionate
understanding of the Jewish laws and regulations.
Jesus was awestruck at his Faith.
St. Paul quoted Jesus as later saying,
“This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
“This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33
Is it possible, beloved, that you and I can have that unquestioning Faith
to believe in the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus in the Eucharist?
These were His words! All we need do is believe!
And then, as we accept his healing presence
in our lives, we offer it lovingly
to the world!
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09-16-12
(Twenty-fourth Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Shortly after Peter professed that Jesus is the Christ,
the Messiah, the long awaited Son of God,
he rebuked Jesus for speaking about His pending death,
just as the prophet Isaiah had prophesied.
Jesus turned to Peter and proclaimed,
“Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does,
but as human beings do.” Mk 8:27-35
Faithless human beings kill to protect, or kill as revenge.
Peter was willing (at least in his mind) to kill for his love of Jesus.
Jesus reminded Peter that killing is not the thinking of God.
Satan is the master of death.
And wherever the death of anyone is caused by another person,
that’s where one finds Satan – in their thoughts and in their actions.
Sometimes NOT acting as a human being, being vindictive and self centered,
could be a heavy cross to bear. Jesus asks us to bear it and follow him.
You see, God’s thinking brings LIFE and Love and Forgiveness.
And Faith in God proves it’s presence through our works.
Thus, with FAITH, human beings CAN think as God does!
We CAN have the strength to carry those crosses.
FAITH, only possible by the Grace of God!
09-15-12
(Our Lady of Sorrows)
The old man Simeon said to Mary, the mother of Jesus,
“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 2:33-35
The contradiction of the Cross,
death in exchange for eternal life!
The piercing sword of anguish at the loss of an only son.
The revelation of a heart of anger, a heart of hatred,
or a heart of love in us.
Let it always be LOVE in our hearts, beloved.
For no greater Love could ever have been shown for YOU and me!
09-14-12
(Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
Jesus said, “just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who
believes in him may have eternal life.” Jn 3:13-17
Our call: to lift up and to believe!
Our reward: eternal life.
JESUS!
. . . Simple . . .
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.“
. . . so what’s everyone still searching for?
09-13-12
(St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Lk 6:27-38
Yea, yea, we’ve heard it a thousand times before.
The whole “love your enemies” thing.
Yes, we can give and give until there is nothing left to give.
We can forgive those meaningless infractions on our rights or our property.
We know they’re all “Children of God”, our brothers and sisters in Christ!
And we love them and not their actions – “Love the sinner and not the sin.”
But what about those times we’re forced into something that REALLY hurts?
What about when our hearts are crushed into powder?
When our loved ones are hurt unjustly, or we are?
How do we keep up the strength?
And it’s a whole lot easier for one who has never had to confront
those kinds of intense, internal conflicts, to pass on “words of wisdom.”
I just DoN’t KnOw . . .
But from all we’ve learned,
we count on Jesus with all our heart and strength.
THAT’s what we’ve learned.
That’s what we’ve been practicing for all these years.
And we have example after example of the Saints who did…
(loved and gave, despite the hurt).
Beginning with Jesus, who gave his very life . . .
FOR US!
Just hang in there beloved.
And keep on giving and loving anyway!
09-12-12
Jesus said,
“Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.” Lk 6:20-26
And how unfortunate for those people who feel that way.
For they just don’t realize that they are rejecting
the very Creator of themselves.
We pray for their souls!
And we pray for strength in the Lord,
to endure without returning
evil for evil.
But instead, conquering evil with GOOD!
09-11-12
In the presence of Jesus,
“..those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.”
Lk 6:12-19
In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he mentions some
of these “unclean spirits” that can take us over:
immorality, idolatry, adultery, sexual perversion,
theft, greed, alcoholism. 1 Cor 6:1-11
We can extend this list and then maybe wonder,
“is there any room left to breathe?”
Yes! Come to Jesus and see.
There is so, so much more to life than what
the world professes to be so wonderful.
Come to Jesus and be cured.
COME, beloved!
09-10-12
Jesus said, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather
than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Lk 6:6-11
Is there ever a time to do evil instead of good?
Or to not do good because evil is the way of the moment?
It’s not just a question between overzealous legalists and compassionists.
It comes into play everywhere we live, our workplaces,
our schools, our restaurants, our sports, even in our churches.
Just seek out a time to listen to the interactions of our children.
Are they compassionate with one another, sharing, giving?
It’s what they’re learning from us – our TV, our media.
BREAK AWAY, beloved!
There IS a better Way!
And it begins with
JESUS in you and in me!
09-09-12
(Twenty-third Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus, “looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him
(the deaf, mute man), ‘Ephphatha!’ that is, ‘Be opened!’
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,” Mk 7:31-37
Funny thing, speech and hearing. Many people are
gifted with one or the other, but not both. They’re either
good listeners, but just don’t ask them any questions!
Others can chat and chat and chat,
but never hear a word you say!
Ephphatha!
Be opened, beloved, to becoming the very best listeners
we can possibly be,
and then speak only when it can do some
GOOD
for your listeners,
even if they can’t or won’t hear a word!
Like Whispers to the Wind,
Gentle, Kind and Loving!
09-08-12
(The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
St. Paul said, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28-30
Icon of the Nativity of the Mother of God, egg tempera on wood, Central Russia, mid-1800’s. (Photo © Slava Gallery, LLC; used with permission.)
The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the
outcome of the GOOD working through
Joachim and Anna, her parents,
who greatly loved God!
The birth of Jesus was the outcome of the GOOD
working through Joseph and Mary, his parents,
who dedicated their lives to God
in accepting one another
and the Holy Spirit’s
intervention.
And your very presence, beloved, reading these
words of the Lord, is a sign of the Good
working through your heart.
Blessed may you be, forever!
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
Mt 1:1-16, 18-23
09-07-12
Jesus said, “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it
will not match the old cloak.” Lk 5:33-39
Common sense, huh?
Well, I myself am a saver. I’m a firm believer in that old philosophy
that if you take care of your stuff, it will take care of you.
Unfortunately, the old stuff, even when you take excellent
care of it will eventually break down. The plastic gets brittle,
the oil gets gummy, the electronics corrode and on and on.
And then, dare try to find replacement parts.
You’ll end up spending more on those, if you can find them,
than the original item cost to buy!
Sometimes it’s just time to give it up.
Israel in the time of Jesus had grown nearly 2000 years
from their ancient ancestors Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob – who was named Israel.
A lot had changed, and yet much of it was just modifications to the old.
From the TEN Commandments of Moses, grew 613 new
laws that specified the exact what, when and where
of every little detail the people did.
Jesus didn’t come to modify the old.
Instead he implied – ‘Let the dead dogs lie.’
There would be no more modification. No more patches.
No more browbeating over minute details.
Jesus is the new!
And the new means Love and Life and
Caring and Helping
and Salvation for ALL
who choose to
Believe!
09-06-12
Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught
nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.’” Lk 5:1-11
FAITH! Even when it doesn’t make any sense.
And after a huge catch of fish,
Simon and the others,
realizing that they were truly
in the presence of God, greatly feared.
But Jesus responded,
“Do not be afraid; from now on
you will be catching men.“
OH to catch a man or woman by the lure of His awesome presence!
OH to be caught up in His LOVE!
09-05-12
St. Paul said to the Church in Corinth,
“we are God’s co-workers;
you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Cor 3:1-9
And Jesus?
“You are the Son of God.” Lk 4:38-44
Always remember that perspective, beloved.
Only Jesus is the perfect One.
So when the world around you seems to be falling apart,
even those you thought were the “model” ones,
always come back to Jesus.
Then, with compassion and forgiveness,
the two of you just may be able
to put it back together again!
09-04-12
St. Paul said, “We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,” 1 Cor 2:10b-16
Within us…
The spirit of the world points inward.
The Spirit of the Lord points outward.
09-03-12
(St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said to the people of his native Nazareth,
“no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” Lk 4:16-30
Funny, even God had to come back as Jesus to be able to finally
be accepted by (just some of) His people. And when they
thought that even He was just another one of them,
not only did they not believe Him, but they
killed Him out of their own jealousy.
Seems to stem out of our own self-disrespect.
If we can’t ever imagine that WE can be something great ourselves,
then how can we ever KNOW that others can be great,
who were once – just like us.
God created us ALL in His image and likeness!
And the seed of His GREATNESS is right there
within us, just waiting to come out!
KNOW, beloved, that you too are Great!
09-02-12
(Twenty-second Sunday Ordinary Time B)
Jesus said to the people,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Now, Jesus was talking about the eating of food in reference to the
strict diet and cleanliness rituals of the Jewish community.
Yet there are lots of spiritual things that can enter us
from the outside to defile our hearts and minds.
Thus, we must always be very careful with
what we watch and listen to.
But what comes out,
comes from our hearts,
and in there can rest many evils,
even though our outside actions
may look so very pious.
The prophet Isaiah spoke about the holiness
of a clean heart and a contrite spirit!
Be Holy beloved, be clean and be pure always!
Link to today’s homily, “What Rules?”
09-01-12
Jesus said in a parable,
“For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Mt 25:14-30
God has given each and every one of us some special talent.
One of our goals in life is to discover what that talent is
and then utilize it to the max towards building
God’s Kingdom.
That means learning who Jesus is, why He came among us,
and how we can be more like Him in building a better world –
bringing others to Him.
All “have.”
And the one who “has not” is the one who has given up!
Never give up, beloved.
Because God LOVES us and will give us all the time
we need, be it just a day or 100 years!
. . . . . . .
Happy September, beloved!
Please stop by and visit August’s Daily Mass Quotes too…
___________________
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 