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:
Also for – 01-31-13
Today I discovered a new album by one of my favorite
Italian Composers/Pianists, Ludovico Einaudi.
This YouTuber put together quite a beautiful slideshow
to go with it. Hope you enjoy!
(P.S. Watch at 360p or 480p quality for best pics)
01-31-13
(St. John Bosco, Priest, visionary)
Jesus said, “For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.” Mk 4:21-25
For the Salvation of Souls!
Prayer of St. John Bosco:
My God, fortunate is he who has tasted how sweet it is
to work for the salvation of souls!
He is not afraid of cold or heat, hunger or thirst, offenses or insults,
no, not even of death.
O Lord, give me crosses and thorns, persecutions of all kinds,
if only I can save souls, and my own among them.
Give me souls, Lord, and take all the rest.
Only when I know that the devil has given up plotting against souls,
shall I cease trying new ways of saving them from his deceits and snares.
O Lord, I wish to make a complete sacrifice of my life to You,
to work for Your glory until I draw my last breath,
bearing patiently all adversities and contradictions in my work.
Help me to spend all my strength for the salvation of souls.
AMEN!
01-30-13
Jesus said, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that
they may look and see but not perceive, and
hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted
and be forgiven.” Mk 4:1-20
OH, when nothing in the world seems to make any sense any more.
That is when we know that we’re no longer on the outside, beloved.
Hear and listen, look and perceive – You’re not the crazy one!
For the Holy Spirit and the Scripture writers testify:
“I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write
them upon their minds,” Heb 10:11-18
You see, it’s been written on the INSIDE, all along!
Follow your heart!
01-29-13
Jesus said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mk 3:31-35
“Behold, I come to do your will.”
Heb 10:1-10
01-28-13
(St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church)
In response to an accusation by the Pharisees, Jesus said,
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.“
That “kingdom” be Country, Family, company, Church,
even our own thoughts and feelings within.
Ever hear the saying “divide and conquer?”
That’s Satan’s goal.
Never let him get a foothold!
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes
against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” Mk 3:22-30
And that’s pretty serious, beloved!
So, stand UNITED, and always respect the HOLY SPIRIT.
He/She gives us LIFE!
01-27-13
(Third Sunday Ordinary Time C)
St. Paul said, “. . God has so constructed the body as to give greater
honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy…”
“Now you are Christ’s body,” 1 Cor 12:12-30
And OH what suffering this body – our world – is undergoing.
Pray, beloved, for all the parts, for all the countries,
for all of our Body, suffering,
that Christ’s love will somehow open the hearts
of the hardened ones and allow
compassion to rule,
instead of greed.
Jesus read,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
May it BE!
01-26-13
(Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops)
St. Paul said to Timothy,
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of
power and love and self-control.” 2 Tm 1:1-8
Therefore, be confident, bold and unashamed, beloved.
God will see that all things work to good!
Even if they may not seem to.
FAITH
01-25-13
(The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle)
St. Paul (formerly Saul) testified,
“I persecuted this Way to death…”
‘ THE BOUNTY HUNTER’
“. . . as I drew near to Damascus, about noon
a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’”
‘THE VOICE OF THE LORD’
“I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,”
– BLINDED BY THE LIGHT –
And upon the restoration of his sight, Paul was told..
“you will be His witness before all, to what you have seen and heard.”
‘THE Evangelist par excellence’
“Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.” Acts 9:1-22 and 22:3-16
For Jesus said,
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;” Mk 16:15-18
That Gospel or Good News being, that
God LOVES Everyone
and invites EVERYONE to Come, Believe, and Live!
01-24-13
(St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and doctor of the Church)
“To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!” Ps 40:9
A brand, a tattoo, a Chrism anointing, a permanent mark.
The paved road, the narrow path, the wide open highway.
The joy, the delight to KNOW, beloved,
that we are doing His will, because
it is permanently engraved in our hearts!
L – O – V – E!
01-23-13
(St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr)
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.“
“His name first means righteous king,
and he was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace.
Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life,
thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” Heb 7:1-3, 15-17
Writing after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus,
the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews compares
Jesus to this King Melchizedek, written of in the Book of Genesis.
Little was known of Melchizedek.
Yet, what we do know of Melchizedek is that he was a respected leader of
the pre-Israelite people. For remember, Jacob or Israel was the
grandson of Abraham. From that ancestry came Moses,
followed by the designation of the descendants of Levi
as priests for the Israelite nation.
All leading, much much later, to the religious leaders
in the time of Jesus: the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes.
And yet, here WAS Jesus – that very “Son of God” whom
all the Scriptures constantly referred to,
And not only did those “leaders” not respect Him,
they planned to eliminate Him.
Funny how time has a way of dragging us back to those most
basic evil tendencies. Or maybe it’s just a weakness
in the righteous ones to stand up for their commitment.
We’re rapidly moving in the same direction, beloved.
Maybe it’s time to stand up!
01-22-13
(Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children)
Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mk 2:23-28
Yes, there ARE certain laws of nature that always hold true.
If we don’t rest, as God recommended, we WILL get sick and die
sooner than necessary. And God loves us enough to want
ALL of us to live as long and peacefully as possible.
And that life includes EVERYONE,
even those in the growth process of birth.
Life is God’s GIFT to mankind.
And mankind does not have the RIGHT
(regardless of his ability)
to steal that GIFT from others!
01-21-13
(St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr)
Jesus said, “no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” Mk 2:18-22
And maybe just the opposite of the situation in Jesus’ day,
but, anyone out there just looking for some old wineskins,
‘ cause this new wine is just repulsive
to our common sense,
to moral decency??!
01-20-13
(Second Sunday Ordinary Time C)
No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,”Is 62:1-5
All of our sin, all of our evil deeds and thoughts
washed away by His Blood. All we need do is Return.
And we will be His Delight!
(Link to homily for today’s readings)
01-19-13
Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mk 2:13-17
So who’s the “sinner” in your life beloved?
Are they unworthy of having Jesus as their Lord.
Is Jesus YOUR Lord and not theirs?
Maybe even, just those thoughts put us in their class too.
And who are WE to deserve anything!
But, by the Grace of God,
Jesus loves us all.
And especially those, like us (all), who need him the most!
Open our hearts, beloved, and pray the day doesn’t come
when “they” never got to meet their Savior,
because WE held back.
01-18-13
Jesus said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” Mk 2:1-12
I have no home. Someone’s standing on my mat.
Their mat is prettier than mine. Now that my legs are better
my back still hurts and I can’t bend over.
Arrrrrggggggh!
There was once a man who complained he didn’t like his shoes,
until he met someone who had no shoes.
There once was a man who complained he had no shoes,
until he met someone who had no feet.
There once was a man who complained he couldn’t walk,
until he met someone who was paralyzed from head to toe.
The once was a man who complained about his paralyzed condition,
until he heard of a perfectly healthy young man who took his own life.
There’s always worse.
Instead of complaining, maybe what we need to do
is Praise God for what we DO have.
And when we count it up,
we just might be surprised!
RISE, PICK IT UP and GO HOME, beloved!
For Jesus loves YOU, regardless.
01-17-13
(St. Anthony, Abbot)
“Oh, that today you would hear his voice,
Harden not your hearts”
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that
none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. Heb 3:7-14
Disappointments, tensions, setbacks, losses,
poverty, hunger, loneliness, all of these are a part of human existence.
All of these are things that we all must endure at some time.
But Jesus encourages us to keep heart.
Do not let these passing ‘crosses’ cause us to “sin”
– to hurt ourselves or others.
“Harden not your hearts.”
(For a hardened heart always breaks easier than a flexible one!)
Jesus and GOOD will prevail!
Have Faith, beloved!
01-16-13
“Because he himself (Jesus) was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.” Heb 2:14-18
St. Paul’s version from 1 Cor 10:13 is
“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” TEV
And that’s one to hang on the wall, beloved!
With the help of Jesus – you CAN do all that is necessary!
01-15-13
“a man with an unclean spirit; (he) cried out,
‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!’” Mk 1:21-28
Three types of people:
1. those who KNOW and refuse to join in communion with Jesus
because they’re having too much fun doing everything they know they shouldn’t,
2. those who Know and fight against joining in communion with Jesus
because they’re on a power trip and will submit to no one, not even God,
and 3. those who Don’t know and are either lost, confused, searching, or
just apathetic to everything and everyone around them. . .
Then there’s YOU, beloved!
Maybe lost, but Found.
Maybe struggling, but Hopeful.
But definitely Knowing – that Jesus IS our Lord and Savior,
now, always and forever!
The question is, are we sharing that JOY of Jesus in our lives with
those other people? Though they may not understand,
they really do need Him, and they need us,
and we need them, as well!
01-14-13
In selecting his earliest disciples, Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Mk 1:14-20
People work as fishermen to make a living for themselves
and their families. Their trade provides food
for other families to eat, to live,
that all might live together as the Human Family.
Jesus called them “fishers of men.”
Their new living is nourishment for their souls and those of their families.
Their “ministry” will provide nourishment for the souls of other families,
so that all might live together as the Family of God,
“The Body of Christ.”
As “fishers of men”, beloved, what are we doing to attract others to Jesus?
He gave us the very best of “bait.”
And it’s not lure. It’s not the false attractant that the world uses.
The very best way to attract others to Jesus is the light already in our hearts,
LOVE!
01-13-13
(The Baptism of the Lord)
After Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist, the
“heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit
descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”
Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
Jesus, the Holy Spirit (as a dove of peace), and the Father (‘s voice).
All of the Holy Trinity revealed in an instant.
Do you ever hear His voice, beloved:
saying, “Go”, “Come”, “Do it” or “Don’t do that”,
“That’s wrong, don’t listen” or “Follow me”?
Or maybe even, “Good job, my child!”
If we have been baptized,
we have a unique and personal relationship with our God.
Jesus is our model and savior.
The Holy Spirit is our peacemaker, counselor and guide.
And God our Father is our Creator and our Life!
In Them, beloved, we too should be “well pleased”.
For we and they are ONE!
01-12-13
John the Baptist said,
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease.” Jn 3:22-30
We the bride, Jesus the bridegroom, John the best man.
And just as with John,
Jesus (in me) must increase, while I must decrease.
If this makes sense to you – you’re certainly on the right road.
If not, just think about how much of everything you do and think
during the day is directed toward the “I”.
If that is a lot, then just start thinking about someone else for a change.
And if that’s hard, ASK Jesus for help.
And the more we ask, the more we’re decreasing the I
and increasing Jesus, increasing LOVE!
Be HOLY beloved, just as Jesus is Holy!
01-11-13
St. John said, “God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.” 1 Jn 5:5-13
Have life? Want life?
Jesus invites us to possess…
01-10-13
St. John continued his letter:
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,”
and
“whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.” 1 Jn 4:19–5:4
Have Faith, beloved, and
CONQUER!
01-09-12
St. John said, “There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”
1 Jn 4:11-18
So what do we fear, beloved?
Is it pain? Jesus is with us in our pain. Offer it.
Is it sickness? Jesus is with us in our suffering.
Is it embarrassment? Jesus said ‘be humble as I am humble’
Is it financial ruin? Jesus said,
‘Give, and it will be returned to you many times over’
Is it death itself, beloved?
For all of those other fears are just roots to that biggest of fears, death.
When we can overcome all of these “fears” with the help of Jesus,
we’ll find that jealousy, envy, greed and hatred (even of our enemies)
just disappear.
When we can understand that death is just a gateway.
That on the other side of that gateway is LIFE,
more magnificent than anything we can imagine now.
And that the key to that gateway is LOVE.
Then we’re beginning to understand perfection.
Then we’re beginning to understand God.
For, as John said, “God is Love.”
And IN Him, there is no fear.
This is, beloved, I believe, one of the most beautiful,
most FREEING verses in the whole Bible.
If we can unclutter our entire lives from everything but LOVE.
Then we will be living in that “Kingdom” that Jesus spoke of so often.
Blessed be our God!
Fear
01-08-13
St. John said, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God,
for God is love.” 1 Jn 4:7-10
And true Love is the perfection of God.
Jesus said, “So be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:48
And Jesus has the power, beloved, to get us there!
TRUST in Him!
01-07-13
“This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.“
“You belong to God, children,
and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 Jn 3:22–4:6
So don’t let the world get you down, beloved.
Believe!
01-06-13
(Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord)
The magi, “were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house they saw the child
with Mary his mother.” Mt 2:1-12
The Star, the magi, the universality of the EVENT.
Jesus came for the whole world, not just the Israelites.
And tightly connected to it all is Mary, His mother.
There would be no Jesus without Mary.
There would be no Salvation without Jesus!
“We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.”
The Gloria
Link to Homily: 2013-01-06, Epiphany, The Mirror on an Airplane
01-05-13
(St. John Neumann, Bishop)
In yesterday and today’s Gospel readings according to St. John,
Jesus is gathering His disciples, both by His own selection and
through friends bringing other friends.
It is pure evangelization, just as we “evangelize” a good book or a movie.
Nathaniel, a friend of Philip, was skeptical however, at first.
But when Jesus convinced Nathaniel that He is much more
than just another guy from Nazareth, he added
to Nathaniel’s elation these words,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see the sky opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jn 1:43-51
Maybe a little reminiscent of the Israelite Patriarch Jacob’s
vision of a “Stairway to Heaven.”
Maybe a little reminiscent of the angels appearance to
the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus.
And maybe prefiguring His Baptism, Resurrection and Ascension.
Jesus truly is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ,
who was to come into the world for it’s salvation!
Now it’s up to us, beloved,
to Believe!
01-04-13
(St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)
As John was baptizing in the river, he saw Jesus walk by and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.” Jn 1:35-42
Jesus is the Lamb of God.
The sacrificial lamb, the victorious lamb,
the Paschal Lamb.
Mary’s Lamb and Our Lamb.
01-03-13
(Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus)
John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down
like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.”
“‘he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” Jn 1:29-34
John’s baptism brought reconciliation.
Jesus’ baptism brought union with God through the Holy Spirit.
“See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.” 1 Jn 2:29–3:61
In our baptisms we are Reconciled and United with God as HIS Children.
Beloved, WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD!
One and ALL!
01-02-13
(Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church)
John the Baptist said, “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Jn 1:19-28
So then the question is, “Where are the curves in our lives,
that need to be made straight?” What is it that causes us guilt?
God put his law of morality in our hearts and minds.
We know when we’re creating curves.
They ring out in our consciences.
With every decision we make, with every act we perform,
every time we think before acting and then act
out of love, and respect, and caring,
then we’re making the curves straight.
Then we’re inviting the Lord into our Hearts, our Lives.
And it will show in our attitudes, our joy, our peace.
It will bring a blessing to every person we meet, friend or stranger.
And that blessing, that “Word” will do exactly what God planned for it.
It will increase His Kingdom in our world.
Living our lives as they were created to be lived!
01-01-13
(Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God)
“The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!”
Nm 6:22-27
Abba, Father; Jesus, Lord; Holy Spirit,
blessed be the Name of the Lord!
May you be blessed, beloved, in our New Year and always!
You ARE Loved beyond imagination!
. . . . . . .
Happy January of the New Year 2013, beloved!
Please stop by and visit December’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 