Whispers – Daily Mass Quotes begins after this Intro.
Please scroll down. Latest entry is the first in list.
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 . . .
Link to
Scriptures by Date
To find Quote sources, click on the Link above, select Today’s Readings or pick date from calendar.
Link to Daily Saints Calendar
Every Picture links to a video, website or literature
for more information.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10-31-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 31, 2016
St. Paul instructed the Church at Philippi, “Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.” Phil_2:1-4
This “humility” of Christ is the one unifying force which can finally bring us all back together. The question is, how willing are we, each and every one of us, to let go of past hurts, to let go of being number one, being on top – so that we may ALL be ONE and ‘on top’ TOGETHER. The result would be better than winning the largest lottery that ever existed. It would be better than being the richest person on earth, the most famous and the most powerful. And there would finally be the peace that we’ve been seeking for eons. It would be the “Peace of Christ” serving as His Body, as One Body in Christ.
10-30-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 30, 2016
(31st Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Zacchaeus the hated, chief tax collector, was intrigued by Jesus and went to extremes to see Him. After Jesus invited Himself to dine with Zacchaeus, the little man vowed to pay back any money he extorted and change his life. Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk_19:1-10
Whatever it is, beloved, that we might be mixed up in, be it illegal or immoral, that thing that might bring us momentary happiness but immeasurable grief; whatever it is, Jesus is calling us back to repentance. We CAN turn back. God WILL forgive. And salvation can be ours as well. Lost never has to be permanent, beloved. Let Jesus find us and we will be saved!
10-29-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 29, 2016
The Psalmist wrote: Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God? Ps_42
And yet we remain and we recognize the face of God in so many of you, brothers and sisters in Christ. And . . .
As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Phil_1:18b-26
10-28-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 28, 2016
(Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles)
St. Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” Eph_2:19-22
Ever move to a new town, beloved, and find yourself a total stranger. Don’t know anybody. Don’t even know where the grocery store is. And yet somewhere in time it becomes as familiar to us as the backs of our hands. We know where to go and where to avoid. We know the best restaurants and begin to form family with our new Church.
This is what St. Paul is telling the Gentiles of Ephesus. Though we used to be estranged as Jews and Gentiles, we are now brothers and sisters to one another through Jesus. Jesus unites us. Jesus soothes our differences. Jesus bonds us all together in His LOVE. When we come to know Jesus and others through that bond, there are no longer any strangers, no matter where we live or visit or even just pass through. We are His Church, the Body of Christ to the world.
10-27-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 27, 2016
St. Paul said, “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.” Eph_6:10-20
Hold your ground, beloved.
The fire is kindled!
Keep the Faith!
10-26-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 26, 2016
Jesus told a parable about salvation into God’s kingdom:
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
He concluded His lesson saying, “people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Lk_13:22-30
This Gospel passage always scared me, because I would put myself in the place of that person who thought he knew God, but when God and I finally came face to face, He would chase me away, and I’d never know why.
So we have to put a little perspective on Luke’s account before we go jumping to any incorrect conclusions.
To begin with, we hear that Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem. You see, in Jerusalem, Jesus had already been rejected by many of the Jews, especially the religious leaders, and they were trying to kill him. So these might be the first group of believers in God, but non-believers in Jesus who would be rejected in that final judgment.
Next, there were the Samaritans, who also believed in God, but hated the Jews. And since Jesus was going to Jerusalem, they knew that He must have been a Jew too, and so they disliked Him as well. And since they also believed in God, but rejected Jesus, they too would be rejected in their final judgment.
Then there were those who dined with Jesus, like the Pharisee Simon, who liked to listen to Jesus, but in his heart of hearts, he did not believe strong enough to actually follow Jesus’ teachings. He would be the one who raved about knowing Jesus, but God would reject him as well, because He didn’t really believe in Jesus either.
And that’s the scary one.
Now, I myself, am pretty far from perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. But when I see someone wearing a crucifix around their neck and cursing like a sailor, or gossiping about how bad their neighbor is, or supporting abortion or capital punishment, I just have to wonder what they really know about Jesus, what they really know about their Faith.
You see, Jesus is looking for relationships. And the best way to build relationships is to learn all we can about what the other person stands for. And the best relationships are those in which we share beliefs.
When Jesus said – “the first will be last and the last will be first,” what He was implying was that the Jews, who were the first to really know God through all their experiences in the desert with Moses, and the Kings, and the Prophets, those Jews, actually never understood anything that God had tried to teach them, since they refused to believe in Jesus. So, because of their unbelief, they would wind up being last.
And the Gentiles who didn’t know God through any of those experiences, but DID come to respect and believe in Jesus and follow his teaching; they, who were the “last,” would be the first to gain entrance into God’s Kingdom.
They are us, brothers and sisters!
And yet, lest we get too comfortable in thinking that we have any preference in getting to God’s Kingdom, we must always remember to keep following the Way of Love and Life that Jesus taught. When we can keep Jesus, and Love and Life as the center of all of our thoughts, and words, and actions, we will BE those people “from the east and the west who
are welcomed to recline at table in the Kingdom of God.”
And that’s not scary at all.
But it sure is wonderful!
10-25-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 25, 2016
Jesus said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.” Lk_13:18-21
It grows in our hearts. Jesus shows us the “way.” And it all begins with love. Love is the yeast. And then it grows from there. We find God in our own lives. God IS love. And He makes us smile. And He brings us peace. And that smile is contagious! And that love is contagious! The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, all three measures help us to grow God’s Kingdom. It’s there in our Church. It’s there in the people we work with, when we share it. It’s there everywhere we go, when we keep God in our hearts. It’s in YOU, beloved. Stay close, always! And we will meet one day in His Kingdom of eternity! God bless you always!
Well sometimes I guess there could be just TOO MUCH of a good thing! Click on picture to see the full clip.
10-24-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 24, 2016
St. Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,” Eph_4:32–5:8
Live in love!
Kind, compassionate and forgiving!
As a civilized world, can we not do this one simple thing!!
10-23-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 23, 2016
(30th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Jesus said, “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk_18:9-14
Funny, nobody likes a boaster, not even God. Jesus warns us of the consequence of exalting ourselves – HUMILITY. Good thought for the next time we enter Facebook. On the other hand, everyone loves the person who is not boastful, but humble. Being humble doesn’t mean being the dregs of the earth, it just means putting others first. And that’s really not that hard. It all comes down to Love! Love God, Love neighbor, then love ourselves as well. For God created us too, out of His love for each and every one of us!
10-22-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 22, 2016
Jesus says twice in today’s short reading, “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” Lk_13:1-9
God gives us chance after chance to think about what we’ve done wrong to Him and to others and ask forgiveness. God constantly forgives, but it’s up to us to “repent” . . . Say we’re truly sorry, and that we promise not to do it again. All it takes is our recognition of our wrongs and then repentance. And whalah, all that guilt and sorrow is gone. We become a new person, and that’s exactly what God wants – and we should too!
10-21-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 21, 2016
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Lk_12:54-59
Jesus begins the 12th Chapter Luke’s Gospel, speaking with the crowds about the Justice that the Pharisees, their leaders, just don’t seem to have grasped. And yet, Jesus tells them that God sees and knows every little thing that they, that we – say, and do, and think.
And unlike the Pharisees, who knock the people down in order to lift themselves up, God loves us all, and lifts up – even the downtrodden and minorities, like the poor, and the women, and the children of their culture.
Then, in the middle of all of this, someone in the crowd picks up on this topic of justice and complains to Jesus about not getting his fair share of an inheritance. Jesus takes their gripe and moves his attack from the injustice of the Pharisees to their own injustice.
He tells a parable about a rich man who greedily amassed a fortune, and then, of course, lost it all in death. He tells them not to worry about their food or their clothing because God will take care of them, and He tells them that their treasure really is where their hearts are. He tells them that all of this might not be physically easy to do in our material world, but he exhorts them not to lose hope, to keep vigilant and true to God, and God, in turn, will be true to them.
Then in yesterday’s reading, Jesus tells this same crowd that He has not come to bring peace between disgruntled brothers fighting over the silliness of worldly wealth . . . But that He’s actually there to separate them, like a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. Like the prospector separates the gold from the sand, Jesus will be the dividing line between those who believe and those who choose not to.
Then today, we finally come to the crux of the whole argument about living for the world, versus living for God. Jesus, more or less says, ‘What’s the matter with you people? You put all your faith in worldly things like the weather and the stock market and sports games, and even after you’ve been eyewitnesses to all my miracles and all my healings, even after you’ve heard my words and followed me in all my travels, you still don’t believe in me!‘
He said, unless you make the RIGHT choices in life, you will always suffer the consequences of your wrong choices. And then He told them, I am the Right Choice. Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:16)
He said, this worldly life will not always be easy. But that is why God has given us one another. That is why we have Church. Together in Christ, we are ONE.
Yes, there will be divisions, but when we make God, when we make Love BE our primary focus in this life, then, God will guarantee that we will remain ONE forever. And what better inheritance, what better hope could we possibly ever need, when we have the very source of life Himself, living within us!
10-20-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 20, 2016
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. . . .” Lk_12:49-53
Yeah, but . . . Yeah, BUT this is Jesus! What’s He talking about fire and division for? I thought Jesus was all about “Love and Peace.” Well, He actually is! But, you see, not everyone accepts that. There truly are some unchangeable distinctions between us. There truly are people who will not listen to or believe anything that Jesus taught – no matter how hard we try to convince them. And those people may even be in our own families, our friends or our coworkers. And then there are those innate forces or evil that are fighting against all of us.
When it actually gets down to it, Jesus is the dividing line between good and evil, between heaven and hell. With Jesus we can win against those forces of evil. But without Him we haven’t got a chance. The question is, are we willing to step over that dividing line from me to us, from hatred to love, from taking to giving (even if we feel we have nothing to give)?
When we can allow the Love of Jesus to saturate our entire beings – to love God, to love neighbor, to even love our enemies, then it really doesn’t matter what the world on the other side of that line thinks or does, we have become ONE with each other and with God – forever. And nothing the world can do or say will ever separate us from that LOVE!
10-19-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 19, 2016
(Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs)
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Is_12:2-6
J O Y !
10-18-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 18, 2016
(St. Luke, Evangelist)
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, . . . “Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.” Lk_10:1-9
Peace, beloved! My prayer is that it rests upon you and does not return unaccepted. We need more peace in this world! Let it begin with us. And then let’s pass it on!
10-17-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 17, 2016
(St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr)
Jesus said to the crowd, “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
Yeah, but it makes me feel good! Yeah, but it gives me power over others. Yeah, but are all those rich people really ‘alive’? What makes us alive, beloved? Maybe it’s not the taking but the giving that brings us life. Maybe it’s the love that we give, the love that we share that will really bring us true life – eternal life! And maybe if that’s what we do get to carry along with us after we die, (and not the possessions), it’s all much more worth it than all the possessions, the feeling good and the power that we can ever amass here and now. Just maybe, eternity is worth it all! Believe in Jesus, beloved, and follow His way – in community with one another, in His LOVE – and LIVE!
10-16-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 16, 2016
(29th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary . . . Then, The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Lk_18:1-8
Will, or can we have the persistence to pray without ceasing, beloved? Jesus asks us to never give up. And yet, people are so easily swayed toward instant gratification. “If we can’t get it here, we’ll try somewhere else.” “Will He find faith on earth?” Jesus asks. Be, beloved, one of His faithful. Never give up on God and keep on asking. He WILL respond. And we will receive our due!
10-15-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 15, 2016
(Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said, “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, 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
I recently had the opportunity to sit before a county judge under the attorney’s interrogation as a potential jury member for a criminal case. Haven’t felt that un-Christianly uncomfortable in a long time. And yet there among a mere 50-some potential strangers were three other parishioners from our Church and at least two others I had known from former jobs (strongly Christian men). And we live in a fairly liberal town of, now, over 100,000. I think that’s pretty awesome.
So when questions about drinking habits or support for advocacy groups against DWI came up, I found the Holy Spirit sitting right beside me as I uniquely responded, honestly. Jesus said, don’t worry about what we will say when challenged about any moral righteousness. And no, I’m far from perfect in that arena. But sometimes we just have to stand up for what we believe. After I thoroughly ran myself over the coals for all of those little imperfections and wondered if any of the people selected to serve were morally strong enough to defend righteousness, I decided to leave it in God’s hands and rest in His outcome.
St. Paul reaffirms Jesus’ quote in his letter to the Ephesians, saying, “Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 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
May our loving God bless you and keep you always, beloved, in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus!
10-14-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 14, 2016
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; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.” Lk_12:1-7
And how do we know when to fear ‘that one’? Every time our consciences warn us what to do or not to do – that’s his pull in the other direction. Every time our own guilt tells us that we shouldn’t have…, that’s his victory over us. And every time we feel peace, we feel joy, we feel just – ‘Right’ in our souls, that’s our loss of fear, because we allowed the Spirit to guide and direct us closer to God and away from Satan’s death, his Gehenna. Jesus shows us the way. All we need do is follow!
10-13-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 13, 2016
St. Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, . . .” Eph_1:1-10
That’s a whole lot of blessings, beloved. The blessing of wisdom. The blessing of peace. The blessing of compassion. The blessing of joy! And more! Whenever we get to feeling down and left behind, beloved, when everyone else is something or somewhere and we’re not, remember the blessings that God has given US! We really don’t need to be included in all their (whatevers). We ARE included in God’s. And that’s all that really matters. We are BLESSED! And it’s the world that’s missing out, if they don’t realize it too.
10-12-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 12, 2016
St. Paul wrote, Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal_5:18-25
Jesus said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others.” Lk 11:42-46
If we were to make a list of all of the things that we are supposed to do, or are not supposed to do, we could spend our entire lives looking after all of those things, those laws, and forget about the people that they were meant for.
For example, the list tells us not to lie, because it could hurt other people. And even though, we may still do it, thinking that we are saving ourselves from embarrassment or persecution, in the end, not only does it hurt others, but it ends up hurting us, ourselves, even more.
St. Paul goes on with a whole list of things we shouldn’t do today. His point was exactly, that if we spend our lives concentrating on the list, we forget all about the people
that list was meant to help, and most importantly, us!
And then, instead of leaving it there, Paul goes on to show us the benefits of living guided by the Holy Spirit, instead of by that list of the law.
You see, the Holy Spirit guides us by Love.
If Love is the basis of everything we say and do, then unlike the Law that would leave us with exhaustion, helplessness and guilt, the Spirit of Love will leave us with Peace and Joy and Hope.
Jesus reminds the Pharisees and the Scribes of the same thing. These guys were so faithful to the Law, that they forgot all about the rest of humanity living around them. They even, at times, forgot about God, whom their whole lives were supposed to be centered on.
Today, let’s just remember that all of those moral Laws, like: not lying, or stealing, or cursing, or gossiping, or all of those other nasty things that St. Paul mentioned, ARE important. But even more important – is our Love for others, guided by the Holy Spirit. And that can be accomplished, as easily as remembering to ask, before we speak or act, “Is this one OK, Holy Spirit?”
And the answer will be obvious, in either our silence, or our joy!
jmp 10-12-16
10-11-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 11, 2016
Jesus said to the judgmental Pharisees, “as to what is within (you), give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” Lk_11:37-41
Where is our treasure, beloved? Is it in our OCDedness? Is it in our house or our car or our smartphone? Jesus is telling the Pharisees and us today that we need to move it out to the needs of others. And that means, not just giving a little of our extra, as we then go back on to the important business (us). But it means actually making THEM – be our treasure! Let that grass grow another day – it won’t hurt anyone. Leave that dust sit another week (it’s been there for three months already anyway), and go, spread some Good News. What are some ways, WE can move out of ourselves today and treasure someone else?
Maybe I’ll start by sending God’s blessing to YOU!
Thanks for visiting!
10-10-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 10, 2016
St. Paul said, “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Gal_4:22–5:1
Free of sin, free of oppression, free of hopelessness. In Jesus is our Hope! Always remember that beloved. And you will be free!
10-09-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 9, 2016
(28th Sunday Ordinary Time, C)
Jesus healed ten lepers at a distance, and sent them off. As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Lk_17:11-19
We glorify God and give thanks to Jesus every time we partake in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. And we should extend that gratitude for every Gift God gives us, from the very life we have to the next breath we’ve been given, so that we may glorify Him some more.
Blessed be God, our life!
. . . . . . . .
Link to today’s Homily:
In the Footsteps of Conversion
10-08-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 8, 2016
St. Paul said, “through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal_3:22-29
ALL ONE!
10-07-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 7, 2016
(Our Lady of the Rosary)
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” Lk_11:15-26
St. Paul’s has such a wonderful sense of logic. You know, there are some decisions in life that are just as clear as day and night. And then, of course, there are always those difficult ones.
But when we have made the decision to follow Jesus, even the difficult ones become more clear, because we begin to develop the same sense of logic as St. Paul and Jesus.
Today Jesus tells the skeptics that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand. That philosophy works whether we’re talking about a corporation, a marriage, a rowboat or even a country. It makes perfect, logical sense.
Jesus asked his accusers, “Why would Satan want anyone driving himself out of a soul that he possessed?” It truly was a nonsensical accusation.
Jesus then gave two metaphorical examples. And my logic always struggled with both of them, because I was looking at them from the wrong perspective.
Jesus said, “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.” ibid
In the first example, Jesus spoke of an armed guard being overpowered and plundered. And, as the armed guard, I always wondered how I was supposed to protect myself, if according to Jesus, I couldn’t win. But in Jesus’ metaphor, the armed guard isn’t us. It’s Satan. And it’s God who overpowers him! OUR defense is our Faith in God and not in ourselves.
St. Paul wrote, Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal_3:7-14
St. Paul argues with the Galatians over their trust in following the Law vs relying on God – in Faith. You see, Satan loves those 613 Jewish Laws, because it’s almost impossible to keep them ALL. Through them, he really has lots of leg-room to sniper us off.
But IF we rely on God – in Faith, if the only laws that we need to know are Loving God and Loving our Neighbor, then it’s a lot harder for Satan to attack – only those two precepts, knowing that God is there to back them up. It all makes perfect – ‘Jesus sense.’
Jesus said, “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.” Lk_11:15-26
But then, I also struggled with this second metaphor of Jesus. Again, because it always made me wonder about our Sacrament of Reconciliation. If I was the “house” that just got itself all cleaned out in Reconciliation, then, why would I want to be invaded by 7-more demons, when I could have just kept the ONE I had?
Ever wonder why we have that thing called Penance, after we’ve just been all cleaned up in reconciliation? Well, here’s the reason. It could be really easy for us to walk out of the Sacrament, and just go on with life – as usual. But it’s not just a car-wash. The dirt WILL come back. And the only way we can keep those 7-demons away is to fill the void (that was just cleaned up) with God.
THAT’s why there’s Penance.
That’s why there’s Prayer, and the Rosary, and the Eucharist.
And that’s why we continue to return to Reconciliation, just like our regular dental or medical maintenance visits – to make sure that void stays clean and filled with God.
Jesus said that ‘Every Kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.’ And we can be sure that God’s Kingdom, in which WE have placed our Faith, will stand forever!
10-06-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 6, 2016
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
If you ever had a bee fly into your mouth. If you ever had a door slammed in your face. If you ever had a job taken away, a spouse leave you, a house burned down, a child run away, a parent die, an accusation made in your innocence – then you tend not to ask or knock any more. But Jesus doesn’t reference any of that in his parable.
Sometimes it take a little more than one knock. Sometimes it takes a little more than just a bee to shut us up. Keep up your persistence, beloved! God will answer! It just may take a little more death before that resurrection. A little more explanation before that ascension. Just know that God IS listening – and we are His “beloved!”
10-05-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 5, 2016
“. . . for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, . . .” Lk_11:1-4
Of all the ‘stuff’ we’re asking God for in the Lord’s Prayer, this is the ONE thing that WE are promising to DO!
This may be the absolute hardest thing we’ll ever have to do in our entire lives. God loves us beyond measure. And how little of that love can we give in return by forgiving others? It’s truly something to work on, beloved! I know I struggle with it every time I get into the car. Forgive, Forgive, Forgive!
10-04-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 4, 2016
(St. Francis of Assisi)
Jesus told Martha, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Lk_10:38-42
St. Francis, too, chose the better part. Rather than taking the easy path, the path of wealth and comfort, Francis chose to live in community with the poor, the leper, the needy. Francis chose the path of Jesus and that path led him to hunger, sickness and even the very wounds of Jesus on his own body. Francis suffered so that many, many, could live. Follow him along the pathway to Jesus and we will live, in eternity, with Him!
10-03-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 3, 2016
Jesus tells a parable about a compassionate foreigner. After none of the locals would help their mugged compatriot, it took a foreigner to stop and assist the half-murdered man. Jesus tells us that he was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. Lk_10:25-37
Yeah, but I was late for a meeting. Yeah, but I couldn’t get my hands dirtied. Yeah, but maybe they’ll mug me next. We have so many excuses not to bend down to pick up that piece of trash, not to give that beggar a quarter, not to stop and smile or say hi to someone in the dumps. It really doesn’t take that much. And they’re ALL our neighbors. Who knows, just maybe next time around, it may be me on the side of that road!!!
10-02-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 2, 2016
(27th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Lk_17:5-10
If your father asks you to take out the trash and you do it, you shouldn’t expect a reward for your obedience, it was expected. If you take out the trash without your father asking, you shouldn’t expect a reward for what is expected of a productive member of the family, it’s what is expected of every member of any society. But if you go beyond all of the common expectations. If you offer your very life for the good of others, if you die in the giving of yourself to help others to live, then you will receive the reward of a truly exceptional son or daughter.
Jesus asks one thing of us: to love one another. Anything less than that is not obedience. Anything equal is merely obedience. And anything beyond is the exceptional: loving enemies, forgiving sins committed against you, loving even the unlovable. Afraid we just can’t do that, beloved? With just a little faith, faith in Jesus, we can move mountains! Have Faith in Love! And your reward will be all the love you ever imagined, and more!
10-01-16 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 1, 2016
(St Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and 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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Lk_10:17-24
And so it was said. And so it is done – in your hearing, beloved.
Praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, whom YOU know!
_____________________________________
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“
Link to Previous Month’s Whispers
Link to Next Month’s Whispers
Link back to Whispers to the Wind
Link to Saint of the Day
(also in Time page, under Liturgical Seasons section)
______________________end of page
Whispers to the Wind 