Whispers – Daily Mass Quotes begins after this Intro.
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Elijah’s Whisper – My Whisper
Then the LORD said (to Elijah), “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD – but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake – but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire – but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
Why are YOU here, beloved?
Was it to discover magnificent colors? Was it to find colorful music or awesome videos? Was it just curiosity? Was it accidental? Were you really looking for God, for Hope, for true LOVE somewhere in this menagerie we call the web?
Or were you just hiding in a cave, waiting on the Lord to Whisper in your ear – a Word – LIFE! Life, it’s in You! And YOU are beautiful in the Eyes of God, no matter what the world may say or think.
You are Loved!!
Every day the Lord whispers in our ears – Words of HOPE, Words of LOVE, and maybe not even words – just His JOY in our hearts.
Let’s follow the Scriptures of our daily Mass and see if we can catch those Words – simple but beautiful – Whispers to the Wind . . .
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08-31-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 31, 2016
St. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1_Cor_3:1-9
We are God’s field, beloved! God’s building! Molded like putty in the hands of the Master Sculptor. And OH, what a beautiful field it is! OH, what a magnificent building. Allow him to transform us. Allow Him to cause our growth. And we, ourselves, will slowly become the planters and the waterers of new souls who long for what only He can provide.
LIFE!
08-30-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 30, 2016
St. Paul said, “. . no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.” 1_Cor_2:10b-16
And if that makes absolutely no sense to you beloved, don’t fret too much over it, you are in the company of a great many unbelievers or partial-believers. It just may be a sign that a little more prayer may be needed. A little more letting go of “I know it all” to letting God worry about the knowing.
Pray for our hearts to be open to allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us. And all of a sudden we’ll start to see things we always saw, but never imagined their reality. The reality that God’s love is so, so indescribable, that no words of ours can even come close to describing it. And then, the cross will make sense. And then the blood will make sense. And then the suffering will all be as nothing compared to the Glory yet to come!
Pray for an open heart beloved. And God will fill it, until you feel like you’re going to just burst with His Joy!
That’s the Spirit of God!
08-29-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 29, 2016
(The Passion of St. John the Baptist)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Mk_6:17-29
Ever feel down, beloved? Ever feel down enough to say, “OK, Lord, I’ve had just about enough. You can take me away now!”? And yet, are we down because we feel persecuted? Are we persecuted because of something we’ve done for ourselves? Or are we persecuted because we’ve been standing up for the Lord, because we have been righteous in His sight (not ours)? Jesus says blessed is that persecution because of righteousness for God. John the Baptist was persecuted exactly for that reason. Blessed is he and blessed can we be too, beloved, when we devote our lives to being righteous in God’s sight.
08-28-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 28, 2016
(22nd Sunday Ordinary Time, C)
Jesus said in a parable, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Lk_14:1,7-14
Give without banking on the reward!
And the reward will be banking on YOU!
My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. Sir_3:17-18,20,28-29
Give without counting the cost (or the embarrassment.)
And the Glory of the “favor” of the only one it matters to, God, will be yours!
Italian firemen save life of child buried
underneath earthquake rubble.
08-27-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 27, 2016
(St. Monica)
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. 1_Cor_1:26-31
Not our doing, but God’s. Not our wisdom but God’s.
Not our lives, but God’s. Rely on Him, beloved, above all else!
08-26-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 26, 2016
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1_Cor_1:17-25
How strong is our faith, beloved? Is it strong enough that we would be willing to be fools for God?
St. Paul said, “Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.” ibid.
Believe, beloved. For we will be the last to shed a tear for the loss of those who didn’t.
08-25-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 25, 2016
Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Mt_24:42-51
That could mean death. It could mean the end of the world for all. We just don’t know. But what we can know is our own readiness. If we were to face God within the next 5 minutes, would that face be red with embarrassment, or would it be smiling ear to ear in excitement to meet our Creator and Maker and Judge? No greater feeling is there than to be ready for the coming of Jesus – not by what you did, but by who you are!
08-24-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 24, 2016
(St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Jn_1:45-51
Unlike the first ‘Israel’, Jacob, the son of Isaac, who was duplicitous in his deception of his father to receive the blessing that rightfully belonged to his brother Esau. This non-duplicitous Nathanael is also believed to be the one named Bartholomew, today’s saint.
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” ibid
The fig tree is symbolic of Messianic peace. Nathanael may have been peacefully relieving himself. He may have been peacefully praying, or doing something else in what he thought was a totally private place. And yet, Jesus saw and Jesus knew!
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” ibid
And OH, there would be much greater ‘things’ than just the power of vision, the power of knowledge. Jesus would cure the incurable. Jesus would raise the dead back to life. Jesus would walk on water. Jesus would multiply food in a much more palpable way than Moses ever did. And Jesus Himself would walk that stairway to heaven that Jacob only saw in a vision (Jacob’s Ladder – Gn 28:12), with angels ministering to Him.
And he (Jesus) said to him (Nathanael), “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” ibid
John the Evangelist was a very symbolic writer, as we see in this short piece about Nathanael / Bartholomew. And yet it’s interesting to see both Philip and Nathanael professing Jesus as Messiah so early in Jesus’ ministry. While it wasn’t until after his resurrection that they truly understood the truth of that profession.
We may wear a crucifix necklace, we may attend Mass regularly, we may stand up for the lives of the unborn, the peace of our enemies and even give to the poor and needy, but do we truly understand the Messiah. Jesus is and was and will be ALL!
Jacob’s dream (Gn 28:12)
08-23-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 23, 2016
(St. Rose of Lima)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them
in every good deed and word.
2_Thess_2:1-3a,14-17
Amen!
08-22-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 22, 2016
(The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
St. Paul said to the Church of Thessalonians, “We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” 2_Thes_1:1-5,11-12
Oh, what a beautiful prayer. We pray for you too, beloved, in the same manner as Paul prayed for his Church. You ARE his Church. You ARE God’s Church. Blessed are you for seeking His Words in this menagerie called the internet!
08-21-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 21, 2016
(21st Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Someone asked him (Jesus), “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. . . . For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.” Lk_13:22-30
Whenever we get to thinking, beloved, that we are the special ones, we are the chosen one, we are the one without sin who will be the first into God’s Kingdom, then we need to step back and remember these words.
It’s not what we think of ourselves or how much we feel we’re doing for the good of our own self-righteousness, but it’s what God thinks of us. It’s what we do to get others there before thinking about ourselves. Stay on the narrow path, beloved. Beware the pride of self-confidence. And don’t worry about our place in line. Just stay in line!
08-20-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 20, 2016
(St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus called His disciples and the people to obedience to those in authority over them. But He also warned them not to follow their example, because somewhere in their training they forgot to read the Book. They missed the class that taught that the best leader is the one who teaches by example. The Jewish leaders of the time were purely in it for the show and for the glory, regardless of who it may have hurt. Funny, sounds like many of our leaders today!
And then Jesus left them with that nugget of wisdom that summarized it all. He said, “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Mt_23:1-12
You see, beloved, it’s not about the show or the glory. It’s about the wisdom. It’s through the wisdom of God that you will receive all the glory you could ever need – God’s Glory for eternity! Because it’s through the Wisdom that God will be leading others to Himself, through you! And that’s not only humbling, but it’s exalting as well!
08-19-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 19, 2016
The LORD asked the Prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones come to life? I answered, “Lord GOD, you alone know that.” . . .
As Ezekiel followed the LORD’s directions, he heard a noise; it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone. I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them. . . .
And so the LORD commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones and he said: From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them; they came alive and stood upright, a vast army. Ez_37:1-14
The Pharisees questioned Jesus “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Mt_22:34-40
If we gathered from the readings today, just a hint of the topic of Resurrection and Everlasting Life, then, we pretty much got the point.
In our first reading, God uses the Prophet Ezekiel, like all the prophets, to warn the Israelites to keep their focus on the LORD. And even though they had already been exiled to Babylon, God has Ezekiel paint a picture of Hope for those captive Jews.
It was a picture of new life.
It was a picture of resurrection.
But this resurrection would not just be a return – to the bones and bodies of their old lives. It would necessarily include a Spiritual revival as well . . . A whole NEW life, that included a Spirit of Love for the LORD and for one another.
It’s the perfect example for our Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation . . .
Where, out of our own flesh and bones, that were once Spiritually deprived, God fills us with His Spirit of Love and Life.
Our Gospel reading today begins with the prelude: “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees . . .” But we’d have to read the preceding section to understand what that “silencing” was all about.
You see, many of the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. It was a very controversial topic between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. But using the very Scriptures that the Sadducees reverenced, Jesus made it clear that God “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
It was the Pharisees’ – “Moment of glory.”
And to affirm Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture and the Jewish law, the Pharisees then asked Jesus what the most important commandment, of some 613 Jewish laws, was. It was one of those freebie, extra-credit questions, because all Jews knew that the Love of God must engage the entire person: Body, Mind and Soul.
But Jesus then extended His answer by including the Love of Neighbor. You see if we were to break down the original 10-Commandments into two groups, we would find exactly those two categories: The first 3 Commandments, involve the Love of God, by respecting His Name, His Place and His Day, and the last 7, the Love of neighbor, by treating each other with respect, dignity and equality – as Children of God.
Jesus tells us that all the other 611 commandments are based on these two Loves! And it’s these Two Loves that will lead us to that Resurrection and Everlasting Life.
And you know what, we don’t even have to wait for death. We can experience the Resurrection of new Life in the Spirit of God every day!
All we have to do – is let go
and LOVE.
08-18-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 18, 2016
Jesus again recited a parable about the Kingdom of heaven.
After all the invited guests refused to come, the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ Mt_22:1-14
Of course the direct analogy is to God’s invitation of the Israelites, from whom Jesus, the “Messiah,” had come. Their refusal to accept Jesus then led to the invitation being extended to all the rest of humanity, whom the Jews called, Gentiles.
And yet, in order to enter the Kingdom, the banquet of heaven, everyone must be ‘cleansed’ and clothed in ‘wedding garments.’ So we might then, see the analogy to baptism, where the baptized repents their sins, are cleansed in the baptismal water, are clothed in a white garment (provided by the Church), and are anointed to receive the Holy Spirit.
If the ‘garment’ was freely offered to all of the guests, (the garment being their repentance, belief in Jesus, and acceptance of His, freely given offer of eternal salvation) and someone had entered in defiant refusal to vest appropriately, then, of course, the Kingdom would be refused to that person as well.
We might even consider the repentance, cleansing and vesting as our period of purgatory after death. Just as some people require shoes to be removed before entrance into their houses, just so, we will not be bringing our sinful baggage into God’s Kingdom either. And even though we may find people we thoroughly disliked in God’s Kingdom after our own deaths, we may be assured that they have been through that same ‘antechamber’ before they ever got there too. And that’s comforting! God invites all. Then it’s our choice.
Blessed be God forever!
ALL are Invited!
08-17-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 17, 2016
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. Ps 23
And THERE is our peace!
08-16-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 16, 2016
(St. Stephen of Hungary)
Jesus said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Mt_19:23-30
What is it, beloved, that seems so impossible for us? Is it wealth, or happiness? Is it a job or a spouse? Is it even just death, because we’ve had just about enough of this silliness. Maybe for us, these things ARE impossible, but Jesus says for God all things are possible. And so, we pray and we ask God in Jesus’ Name to answer us. And then we patiently wait.
Maybe it’s not His will right now. Maybe we need a little more work yet, on where we’re at, poor, sad, jobless and lonely. But if there is one thing guaranteed in life, it’s death. And with all perfect expectations there is a much much better life to come.
So keep on praying beloved. And patiently wait!
08-15-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 15, 2016
(The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” Lk_1:39-56
08-14-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 14, 2016
(20th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Lk_12:49-53
On fire for the Lord. On fire destroying evil. On fire bringing light. On fire destroying everything? I think it’s blazing now, Jesus, as we look all around us. Our world is being consumed by greed, death, ignorance, evil. Save us in the baptismal waters of Life, Jesus. Blaze with your love within us and rescue us from those hands that want to destroy you!
Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. Heb_12:1-4
. . . Our Light and our Fire!
08-13-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 13, 2016
A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. Ps 51
Lord help cleanse me of all my sin. I am not strong enough to do it myself. Be my inner strength and root out of me all evil. Help me to become like a child, pure and humble of heart. Knowing who to rely upon and whom to fear. Protect me Lord, as I give my whole self to you!
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Mt_19:13-15
08-12-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 12, 2016
(St. Jane Frances de Chantal)
Jesus answered the question about divorce when He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, ‘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, man must not separate.” Mt_19:3-12
The two witnesses: God and Jesus.
God created!
Male and Female!
God joined! Inseparable!
INseparable!
So where in history have we decided that God is wrong? That we can decide to separate just because we can’t communicate well enough to resolve differences. God is there to help us resolve. To help us understand each other. To help us live together, “til death do us part.” And that’s just our trial period. For we WILL live together with God FOREVER! So how can we do that if we can’t even live with our spouse through this short life of ours in the flesh. Practice, beloved, Pray and LIVE!
Oh, Lord our God, we pray for all married couples. Give them the resolve and the patience of compassion. Help them to accept their differences and love one another with all their hearts, just as you love them. And lead them to their eternal home because they are your children. In Jesus’ name we pray.
08-11-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 11, 2016
(St. Clare of Assisi, Virgin)
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Mt_18:21–19:1
So, why must we forgive. Because God forgives us in “huge” ways. So who are we to hold a grudge? Who are we to judge anyone else’s misgivings? Pray for patience, beloved. Pray for compassion. Pray that we may never be judged in the manner in which we judge others. Jesus tells us to forgive unconditionally! Just as we have been forgiven!
________
St. Clare of Assisi
When You have loved [Him], You shall be chaste; when You have touched [Him], You shall become pure; when You have accepted [Him], You shall be a virgin.
Whose power is stronger,
Whose generosity is more abundant,
Whose appearance more beautiful,
Whose love more tender,
Whose courtesy more gracious.
In Whose embrace You are already caught up;
Who has adorned Your breast with precious stones
And has placed priceless pearls in Your ears
and has surrounded You with sparkling gems
as though blossoms of springtime
and placed on Your head a golden crown
as a sign [to all] of Your holiness.
St. Clare of Assisi:
The First Letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague
08-10-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 10, 2016
(St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr)
St. Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2_Cor_9:6-10
Does it hurt, beloved, to give away what you worked hard to get? Does it hurt to lose by theft, something you cherished? You bet, it’s difficult. But turn that resentment around to thinking maybe that person you gave it to, or maybe that person who stole it from you really, really needed it a whole lot more than you did. Yes, it feels good to give away of your extra to make someone feel happy. But when we give away ALL that we’ve got and all that we’ve worked hard for, just imagine, just know, beloved, that God will reward us in even greater abundance; if not in this life, in the next!
Blessed be our God!
08-09-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 9, 2016
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Mt_18:1-5,10,12-14
So one of the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven is humility. It’s not pride. It’s not how great ‘I am.’ It’s what can I do for you. It’s what can I do to make YOU look great, to make you BE great. Be opened, beloved! Allow the Word of God to penetrate your soul. Don’t fight it, but follow it, just like a little child!
08-08-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 8, 2016
(St. Dominic, Priest)
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief. Mt_17:22-27
No, the prospect of death, and even murder is not a joyous one. The disciples were grieved at Jesus talking about his death. But they didn’t catch the next phrase that really should have given them Joy! Death was NOT the end. For Jesus would be raised. And that resurrection would be the greatest thing the world has ever known. Death is NOT the end!!!!
08-07-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 7, 2016
(19th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” . . . “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Lk_12:32-48
God sees what’s in our hearts. We are called to always assure that are hearts are ready, that they are clean and acceptable to the Lord when He comes. Our treasure is God’s Kingdom and our hearts should always be focused on it’s attainment. Be prepared and know, in faith, that God will find us acceptable. And all it takes is Love!
Link to today’s Homily . . . Treasures
08-06-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 6, 2016
(Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord)
Peter said of Jesus, “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.” 2_Pt_1:16-19
Peter declared what his own ears heard and eyes witnessed: God the Father declaring Jesus to be His own beloved Son. And there were no electronic amplification devices in those days. The ONLY place that voice could have come from was God Himself. Believe, beloved, Listen and Live!
08-05-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 5, 2016
(Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica)
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Mt_16:24-28
Nobody ever said life would be a bowl of cherries. And if they did, they probably never told you about the pits.
If we go all the way back to the very first man and woman, even they had to face the challenge of a pretty tough decision. Would it be the easy, feel good, instant gratification choice of sin and death? Or would their path to eternal life involve a little suffering, a little denial, and a whole lot of faith in something totally unknown?
We know the end of the story. Adam and Eve buckled under the strain of temptation. And they choked on the pits before the sweetness of their choice ever faded away. It’s the story of life.
Even St. Peter, who was right there, day after day with Jesus, buckled under the strain of accusation and persecution. He forgot all about that 9th Beatitude that Jesus taught – about the blessedness of being insulted and persecuted because of Him.
Self-preservation always seems
to take priority over principles.
And that’s exactly why it takes a lifetime of discipline . . . Learning how to take up our crosses, sometimes denying that pleasure of instant gratification, sometimes withstanding the pain of illness, or the pain of loss, in order to follow in the footsteps of the Lord.
And ALWAYS knowing, always trusting, in Faith, that it’ll ALL be worth it in the end, or better yet, in the beginning of our Eternity with God.
08-04-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 4, 2016
(St. John Vianney, Priest)
Jesus asked the disciples who the people and they thought He was. Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Mt_16:13-23
Here we have the institution of the Papal authority in the Church. It all began with Peter. And that “Apostolic Succession” continues all the way to Pope Francis and the College of Bishops. Peter was that ‘rock foundation’ who followed Jesus and taught His Gospel message of Love. He held the “Keys” to God’s Kingdom. Jesus then instituted the Sacrament of Penance, our reconciliation with God through the bishops and priests acting ‘in persona Christi’ in the person of Christ, to cleanse us of our sin by His atoning sacrifice. What an awesome Church we have. What an awesome God we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
08-03-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 3, 2016
After observing how easily Peter was distracted from faith in Jesus in the water treading exercise, Jesus was approached by a Gentile (non-Jewish) woman for the healing of her daughter. Jesus threw her a roadblock in saying that He only came for the Jews. But she persisted, upon which Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. Mt_15: 21-28
How are we with roadblocks, beloved?
Oh, it’s cancer. Oh, my dog, or my mom, or my best friend died. Oh I lost that job. Oh I’m not good enough for God . . . ! How can I believe when so much is going wrong? PERSISTENCE!
Hurdles are simply exercise tools to strengthen our thighs, to stretch our faith. What is faith if it is not proven through our actions. If I truly believe, then throw all the hurdles you want at me, and I’ll still believe! Just keep jumping, beloved, for someday the big one will come and God will be right there to cheer us on to our final goal . . . eternal life with Him! I believe in YOU!
08-02-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 2, 2016
(St. Eusebius of Vercelli)
After feeding a multitude through the multiplication of a few loaves, Jesus sent His disciples out to meet Him on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. During the fourth watch of the night, (as the boat was being tossed around by the waves) he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. Mt_14:22-36
OK, how many miracles does it take to finally believe who Jesus really is? It seemed like those disciples were really a little dense, because miracle after miracle, they immediately forgot the divine feats that were performed just moments earlier. And each story ended with something like: “Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’” (ibid), until the next time something miraculous was performed, and they were surprised all over again …
Can we believe, beloved, just by reading the stories. What if something super-miraculous happened in your life? Would you attribute it to prayer, to Jesus, to the love in your heart for Him? Jesus is with us all the time – still. Believe!
08-01-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
August 1, 2016
(St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said, “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Mt_4:4
Sometimes, don’t you wonder why it’s the poor who seem to have the strongest faith in God? Maybe they’ve discovered the truth of the Words Jesus answered Satan, in his temptations. The truth of the matter is, that some food can actually kill us. But when we have the Life of God, when our lives are so filled with His precepts, His advice, His warnings, His hopefulness, then we don’t even need the physical kind of food. And even if we die, we still have the life of God within ourselves. Then, we are TRULY living! God’s Word IS Life!
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Happy August, beloved!
Please stop by and visit July’s Daily Mass Quotes too…
Link below.
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