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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12-31-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 31, 2018
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. 1_Jn_2:18-21
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Jn 1:1-18
The Light will not be overcome!
We pray for all those who have lost it!
It IS still here!
Happy Birthday, my son!
My love for you will never, ever leave!
Carl!
Happy New Year!
12-30-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 30, 2018
(The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
After being lost from his parents, Jesus – went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. Lk_2:41-52
God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Sir_3:2-6,12-14
Family! The microcosm of life. All about respect, obedience and communication. Words that are either the epitome of repulsion or the staple of peace, not only in a family but in all relations between coworkers, bosses, government leaders and nations.
If those words are repulsive to you, beloved, your life will be one struggle after another. But if they are the staple of your life, you will understand them from both the point of view of offering them to those above you and those below you – parent to child, child to parent, siblings to one another. You see, those words involve humility, control of emotions, compassion and maybe even love. And when we can live WITH them, just as God does with us and Jesus did with His Father and mother – we will be blessed with God’s peace even when confronted with those who disagree.
May our loving God bless you and your families today and always!
12-29-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 29, 2018
Simeon blessed them (Mary and Joseph) and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Lk_2:22-35
Contradiction, irony, revelation, hypocrisy!
What do we have when a consecrated priest commits a heinous act of sinfulness? What do we have when the Jewish religious leaders who are insistent about strictly following the Laws of God don’t follow them themselves? What do we have when evil and hatred lurk about in our own hearts, especially when we know that everything Jesus taught was about love? What we have, beloved, is contradiction, irony, hypocrisy and the revelation of lies by those we thought we trusted (including ourselves).
Simeon already knew the end of Jesus’ story or at least the end of His physical life. And if Simeon knew anything, he also knew that there would definitely be more to come with this Jesus. The prophets spelled it all out. And even the least knowledgeable Jew knew about the prophesy of a Messiah. But it would be the secrets of the heart that would lead to their fulfillment.
It all reminds us again, beloved, to keep a very close leash on our thoughts and desires. And to make them all begin and end with love!
12-28-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 28, 2018
(Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs)
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. . . . When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under Mt_2:13-18
What a sad tale of greed, jealousy, hatred, anger and evil! Jesus came, beloved, to free us from all that is evil. But that doesn’t exclude us from falling victim to that same scourge in others. Then, it’s up to us to convert these people, through His love, so that they may never perpetrate such deeds upon us or others. Show His love always! Not just to those who show His love to us, but especially to those who don’t. We may never know how many innocent lives we may have saved through one simple act of kindness, peace or love.
12-27-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 27, 2018
(St. John, Apostle and Evangelist)
Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life — for the life was made visible; 1_Jn_1:1-4
. . . and His name is Jesus.
Within three days, we’ve jumped from the new life of baby Jesus in the Christmas incarnation to the glorious martyrdom of His disciple Stephen, and today to the testimony of John, concerning the “new” and eternal life of the resurrection.
After all they had been through, the ups and the downs of: Jesus’ miracles, His teachings, His healings, and then His passion and death, their feeling of abandonment and finally His resurrection, ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit – the Apostles and those who closely followed Jesus were totally changed.
And we, beloved, are simply left with their testimony alone. Do we, can we, believe in simply what we’ve read or heard? Can we believe in the testimonies of others who have experienced miraculous events in the Name of Jesus? Have we had those experiences ourselves? Maybe we have and maybe not.
But if we just look at the choices of “final outcome”: belief equals eternal life and denial as simply an end of this life (or for those who believe – eternal exclusion from the presence of God), we wonder how anyone could choose the latter.
And yet, if this life experience has been our only example of what life means, and if that experience has been totally miserable, then why would anyone want to have THAT – eternally?
And that’s where it’s up to us, beloved, to convince them that Jesus wasn’t talking about eternal suffering! The eternal life that Jesus promised would be anything BUT suffering: peace, health, hope, fulfillment, joy, love, non-judgmental community. If that’s something we seem to be missing in this life, then all the more reason to believe. All the more reason to hope!
From what we know, every one of Jesus’ apostles suffered the remainder of their physical lives. Most were killed for their faith. Now either they were totally crazy, or they really believed it was all worth it! As for me and my house, we will take their and Jesus’ Word for it, with an invitation for the WORLD to follow!
12-26-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 26, 2018
(St. Stephen, First Martyr)
Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts_6:8-10;7:54-59
Jesus said to His disciples, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Mt_10:17-22
To all the wonder, the glory, the pageantry, and the beauty of our celebration of the new-born babe in a manger; to all the heraldry of the wise men on camels, the surprise of angels appearing to shepherds and the simplicity of a seemingly natural birth of this child, though it was actually rather supernatural; to all of the glory of new life, here we are, the day after Christmas, commemorating a death caused by that very life of Jesus.
And yet, IS it really the death of Stephen that is so significant on this 26th day of December?
Jesus, straight-out told his disciples that because of Him there would be suffering, there would be death, there would be challenges to their faith that they would not even be able to verbally defend, by themselves. We see it ALL in this first example of a very zealous, faithful, young disciple named Stephen.
And it is no different than the struggle, the passion that Jesus, himself endured. And it’s no different than the same struggles that we have to endure in our lives. Maybe it’s not someone confronting us directly, but maybe, instead, it’s our own endurance of some physical or psychological pain.
What is it that we have to endure in this life, beloved, that’s not very pleasant, nor easy? . . .
The loss of a loved one? A sense of loneliness or depression? Abandonment by someone we love for a reason we can’t even imagine? The overwhelming burden of responsibility? Or maybe even the feeling that we’ve been discarded by society and are lost in boredom or uselessness?
There’s an old saying that goes: No one ever said it would be bed of roses. And Yet! And yet, our Master’s whole purpose for coming among us was to show us that it really could be.
You see, just His stooping to becoming a mere human is our best example of God’s enormous love for us! And not only did He come to show us, as adults, the path to His peace, but God chose to experience our entire existence, as a human, from birth to death, in order to prove to us that all of this suffering CAN be overcome – by our faith in Jesus.
And not only did Jesus come, and teach, and leave us, but He sent His Holy Spirit to REMAIN with us all the way up to our very last breath! To give us the answers, to give us the words, to give us the strength to endure EVEN death.
Our celebration of St. Steven today is not meant to dump cold water on a warm shower. It’s not here to remind us that with every Glorious celebration of life there is always the harsh reality of suffering and death. But it IS here to remind us that EVEN in the face of life’s struggles, God’s unfathomable LOVE for us can carry us through even the worst of life’s experiences.
And Jesus IS our proof!
And St. Stephen is Jesus’ model for us, that the Holy Spirit IS alive and just waiting for us to rely on Him.
Mary, Mother of God,
St. Stephen our brother,
and Jesus our salvation,
Pray for us!
12-25-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 25, 2018
(The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Jn_1:1-18
All we’ve been awaiting since, even before, Thanksgiving. All the decorations, all the music, all the trees and all the gifts are as nothing compared to the MOST awesome gift that our God has bestowed upon us this day. It is Christmas. It is Jesus! He has come and now He dwells in the hearts of those who believe in Him. And for those who don’t, He offers an open invitation to “Come!” Come, find the gift that is better than anything we could possibly find under a tree. It is Jesus. It is eternal life and salvation. It is true gift that brings us back into union with God our Father. Come! And truly LIVE!
May our loving God bless you this Christmas and always, beloved!
As we are ‘together forever in Christ’s love!’ (TFICL)
12-24-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 24, 2018
O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 1-more day, beloved!
Radiant Dawn
O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright!
Pour on our souls thy healing light;
Dispel the long night’s lingering gloom,
And pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
_______________________
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Lk_1:67-79
The Dayspring, the Radiant Dawn, the Morning Star, our Peace, our Light and our Salvation – Jesus!
A very blessed, hope-filled and happy Christmas to you, beloved!
12-23-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 23, 2018
(4th Sunday of Advent, Yr C)
The Prophet Micah prophesied about Israel:
the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace. Mi_5:1-4a
“He shall be peace.” Beloved, when we can totally rely upon our Lord, Jesus, for strength, leadership, guidance and love – we shall live in His peace! No competition, no ridicule, no prejudice, no anger no persecution shall break that peace. We will be His and He will always be ours, until He returns to bring us home to His Father. Trust in Him, beloved, and He will be your peace!
12-22-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 22, 2018
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 3-more days, beloved!
King of the Nations
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
_____________________
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon 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 remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.” Lk_1:46-56
MAGNIFICAT
12-21-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 21, 2018
(St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church)
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 4-more days, beloved!
Emmanuel
O Come, O come, Emmanuel!
Redeem thy captive Israel
That into exile drear is gone,
Far from the face of God’s dear Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
_____________________
My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! . . . “O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.” Sg_2:8-14
Elizabeth said to Mary, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Lk_1:39-45
As we exit this time of Advent penance and preparation, we can see, we can hear the voice of our Lover, the voice of our Lord, calling out to us, “Awake, Arise, I am here!” Our winter of suffering, our winter of darkness is over, because our Bridegroom has arrived in the brightness of God’s Glory. It’s time to take off our robes of mourning, and put on our best wedding garments, for the banquet is about to begin.
It’s interesting how, throughout the Old and New Testaments, this image of marital love and wedding feast constantly re-occurs. And there’s good reason. You see, God wants us to fully understand the unbreakable Bond, the eternal Vow, and the glorious Celebration that happens in the Love shared between ourselves and Him.
He wants us to understand how, like the Prophet Hosea and his wife Gomer, God will never abandon us, even when WE leave him.
He wants us to understand how, like David and Bathsheba, infidelity hurts way more than just to ourselves.
He wants us to understand how the invigorating life of the Holy Spirit within us will never, ever run out, just like the extraordinary wine that Jesus transformed from ordinary water at a wedding feast.
And He wants us to understand, how that wedding banquet is symbolized for us in every Sunday, and in every daily Mass that we participate in.
And then there’s that relationship between us, ourselves. Just like Mary’s hasty departure to visit her beloved cousin, Elizabeth; so should we depart from our lives of separation from God, to hastily visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
And just as there was an immediate and invisible Bond between John in the inner womb of Elizabeth and Jesus in the inner womb of Mary, so there is an invisible and immediate Bond between our souls and the Spirit of Jesus in the Sacrament of our Mass, and in our Union with one another.
And what is this Bond, this Marriage, this Feast, this Union all about? It’s all about LOVE! St. John tells us that God IS Love. And where there is Love, there is God!
Jesus, then, is Love Incarnate.
For there, in that little manger, THERE is Love.
And there in that touch of a leper, there is Love.
There in the calming of a storm, there is Love.
And there, in that beating, and in that nailing, and in that dying, there is Love.
And there, in that neighbor, in that grandchild, and in that stranger; wherever there is Love, there is our God.
Today, Jesus, our Lover, our Bridegroom is calling us to awaken from our slumber of self and to open our eyes to the Light of His Love – all around us.
Listen for His Voice, beloved . . .
It just may be there, in the most unexpected of places, like a dove in a cleft, or a baby in a cave!
12-20-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 20, 2018
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 5-more days, beloved!
Key of David
O Come, thou Lord of David’s Key!
The royal door fling wide and free;
Safeguard for us the heavenward road,
And bar the way to death’s abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
In Isaiah 22, we discover one of the tasks of the prime minister of the Davidic Kingdom (called the al bayit in Hebrew) is to “carry the keys,” symbols of authority over the house of David. This sacred stewardship allowed the vicar of Judah’s king to open what others had shut and to close what had been opened.
Centuries later, Jesus will have a fascinating conversation with his chief apostle, Peter, and entrust to him the keys of the renewed kingdom of David (Matthew 16:16-19), giving him the power to bind (close) and loose (open). Since Christ’s kingdom is eternal, these decisions made by Peter on earth are also recognized and ratified in heaven (Matthew 16:19). As the Gospel is preached by Peter and the first apostles, they carry forth the work of the Messiah, “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
What binds and blinds the human family is not a cement prison cell, but our sins. And the apostles not only announced our liberation but were given the “keys” from the Key of David himself, to effect that forgiveness we need. In John, the Resurrected Jesus breathes on them and says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:23). Every step Mary took to Bethlehem was one step closer to giving the world the Key of David which would set us free – Jesus Christ! (from Thomas Smith Biblestudyforcatholics.com)
In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Lk_1:26-38
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
12-19-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 19, 2018
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 6-more days, beloved!
Root of Jesse!
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall graze, together their young shall lie down; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the viper’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. They shall not harm or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the peoples— Him the nations will seek out; his dwelling shall be glorious. Is_11:1-10
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel!
12-18-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 18, 2018
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 7-more days, beloved!
Adonai!
___________________
O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times didst give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Adonai
Adonai means Lord (thus the translation, “Sacred Lord of Ancient Israel). It was one of the titles used when speaking of or to God in the Old Testament. It was Adonai who led the Chosen People out of captivity in Egypt “by the mighty arm of his power” and gave them His law on Mount Sinai.
Similarly Christ Jesus, our Lord, has led us out of our captivity to Satan by dying “with outstretched arms” on the Cross of Calvary; and He has given us His law of love. We beg Him to come at Christmas and redeem us completely from slavery to sin; and to give us the power to live more fully in obedience to His law.
12-17-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 17, 2018
O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O come, O come Emmanuel . . .
O-nly 8-more days, beloved!
Wisdom!
___________________
The “O Antiphons” of Advent
The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
The O Antiphons, also known as The great O’s are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are also used as the Alleluia verses on the same days in the Catholic Mass. They are referred to as the “O Antiphons” because the title of each one begins with the vocative particle “O”.
Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:
- December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
- December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
- December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
- December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
- December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
- December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
- December 23: O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)
In the Latin Catholic rite, the O Antiphons are sung or recited at Vespers from December 17 to December 23 inclusive. The hymn O come, O come, Emmanuel (in Latin, Veni Emmanuel) is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.
Acrostic “Ero Cras”
The first letters of the titles, from last to first, appear to form a Latin acrostic which translates to “Tomorrow, I will be [there]”, mirroring the theme of the antiphons.
If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one
– Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia
– the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, Tomorrow, I will come.
Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us,
Tomorrow, I will come.
So the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.”
12-16-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 16, 2018
(3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday)
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! . . .
the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, . . .
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! Zep_3:14-18a
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel! Is_12:2-3,4,5-6
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. . . . The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, Phil_4:4-7
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” . . .
Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. Lk_3:10-18
The overarching theme of all of today’s Scriptures – is 3-fold, and St. Luke sums it up nicely with the words of John the Baptist, as: “the Good News.” So what is this “Good News?” Well, if you were to ask my fifth-graders, they would immediately answer, that: “The Good News is that – God loves us, no matter what!”
And if we had never heard those six – simple words before: “God loves us, no matter what!” our natural response might be: “Yeah, but what about . . . ? What about suffering and death, what about sin and punishment? Or we might be thinking: “If that’s the case, then why do so many bad things just keep on happening?” . . .
And right there, you see, if that’s our response, right there, we are putting God in our own, restricted, little, human box. And if our God is restricted to OUR primal way of thinking, if our God is restricted to OUR self-directed way of acting, then, He really is NO God at all. He’s just another idol that we can put on the shelf when we walk out of Church, or when we go to the movies, or when we get lost somewhere in the world of our little “pocket gods.” (smart-phones)
You see, brothers and sisters, God is MORE than anything we can possibly imagine. More loving, more forgiving, more understanding, more powerful, more peaceful more present, more totally immersed in us than we can ever possibly be in Him, or in one another.
And the Good News – is that
THIS God loves us, NO MATTER WHAT!
Now, drawing from that most basic understanding of our God, let’s explore this 3-fold Theme of today’s Scriptures.
Of course, we all know that today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is called Gaudete, which means Rejoice! So our First Theme is JOY!
We see it in Zephaniah’s prophesy to the Judeans, just a few years before their Babylonian exile: “Shout for Joy, O daughter Zion.”
We see it in Isaiah’s exultation from our Psalm: “Cry out with Joy and gladness…”
And we see it in Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
But what is IT
that we have, to Rejoice about?
Again, Zephaniah, Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist tell us in our Second Theme. Our reason for Rejoicing is because “the Lord our God, is IN our midst!”
You see, He’s not just the God of Sunday mornings. And He’s not just the God of help when we’re sick or struggling. Our God loves us, NO Matter What, AT all Times, and FOR all Time. Our Lord DWELLS among us!
And in that Mutual Love of God for us, and We for Him, our Third Theme, is the elimination of all FEAR.
You see, even though the Judeans were witnessing the fall of Israel, their northern neighbors, to the sword of the Assyrians, Isaiah was telling them and us that despite the threats and despite the challenges, we are to be Confident and Unafraid,
when the Lord is in our midst.
And even though, 100-years later, when the Judeans, themselves, were about to be decimated by Babylon, Zephaniah tells them – NOT to FEAR.
And, even though the Philippians faced persecution because of their Faith in Jesus, Paul tells them to have NO Anxiety, because the Lord was with them.
You know, sometimes Life might make us feel as if we were being chased by an army of cannibals, with just seconds to cross an aged rope bridge, over a 1000-foot gorge, with an arrow in one leg, and alligators snapping below us.
And yet, even with a history of acrophobia, we would still have NO Fear, because we would know that the Lord our God, is always with us! We would know that “All things are possible with God.”
You see, we really do have NO reason for Fear, because our Lord, Jesus Christ, has already Saved us. And THERE – is our reason to Rejoice! There, is our Good News, that God Loves us, no matter what!
For there, in that little cave where the beasts would dwell, the Lord, our precious God, would come into our beastly nature, out of His unfathomable Love for us.
And from that little trough that was used to feed the beasts, the Lord, our incarnate God, would feed us with His Word, and His Sacrament, and His very blood, out of His immeasurable Love for us.
And IF we can wrap our simple, little, human minds – even part-way around the immensity of that Act, the immensity of the Love, that we will celebrate in just 9-days, despite the threats, and despite the challenges, and despite the chasms we may have to cross, we will know – without a doubt – that our God LOVES us No Matter What!
So now, just like the crowds, and the tax collectors, and the soldiers in today’s Gospel, we too might still be asking: “But what should WE do?” And the answer, beloved, is right there in our own hearts!
We Share, Jesus Cleanses, the Holy Spirit Purifies, we LOVE and then, we Fear-less-ly Rejoice!
For the Lord our God:
Loves us . . . no matter what!
12-15-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 15, 2018
the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Mt_17:9a,10-13
The prophesies fulfilled . . .
12-14-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 14, 2018
(St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ . . . But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Mt_11:16-19
Hypocrisy!? Hmmm, sounds just like some statements – comments of our own day! But what about us?
St. John of the Cross professed minimalism; minimalism or asceticism for the sake of placing ourselves 100% in the hands of God. And that’s really something to think about in our day of dependence on technology and creature comforts.
WHAT IF – I didn’t have that cell phone? What if I didn’t have the washer and dryer? What if I didn’t have so many clothes. What if I didn’t have that car or refrigerator? What if I didn’t have this house, this computer, this electricity? There are many, many people who do not! Can we literally let go of all the “stuff” that makes up what we call our lives? Can we place 100% of our dependence on God, just like a little child does on us?
Maybe we can start with some baby steps ourselves. Skip some meals. Give away some of those clothes that never make it to our backs. Wear what we have until they really do need cleaning. WALK a little more. (Now I’m speaking to myself as much as anyone else who this might apply to.) And that’s probably all of us if we have a computer to read this with.
John of the Cross gave it all. And in the process he even got to the point of questioning whether God Himself was really still there. They call it the “dark night of the soul.” And it happens to us all. Yet, GOD IS still and always there, beloved! We must believe that – even when that minimalism, that asceticism is forced upon us by others. GOD LOVES US – NO MATTER WHAT! No matter what!!!! (And Jesus is our proof!)
12-13-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 13, 2018
(St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr)
I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Is_41:13-20
Have NO fear, beloved, we are in God’s hands!
12-12-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 12, 2018
(Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas)
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, Zec_2:14-17
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. . . .
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. . . .
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” . . .
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Lk_1:26-38
If there’s one thing that’s challenging about this human life, it’s that sometimes we have a really hard time separating our devotion to the Lord from all those emergencies, those priorities, that we think are so dreadfully important. We seem to feel like we need to make sense of everything. And that sense is all based on our own feeble knowledge of ourselves and of our God.
It’s funny because, even the Blessed Virgin Mary, herself, questioned the Angel’s proclamation, when she asked, ‘How can I possibly have a child when I don’t even have a husband?’ And in the back of her mind, she also understood that IF she got pregnant without a husband, it would certainly result in her own death – by her not-so-understanding neighbors and the Jewish authorities.
And then it came to her! . . .
That it was really NOT her will, but it was God’s Will that would, in the end, be done. And in recognizing that fact, Mary understood that she didn’t have to worry about any of it, for it WAS all – IN – God’s hands! And isn’t it – just that thought, that brings us to rejoicing too!
In God’s hands, beloved,
we don’t have to worry about anything!
Some 1500 years later, after all that Mary had been through:
– raising a good Son,
– watching Him devote his life to healing and saving and bringing joy to others, and then
– seeing Him so unjustly executed;
– from a long way off, and yet, so very near by, Mary watched our own suffering: from persecutions, to wars, to enduring all the evil a human heart can imagine.
And after all that, 1500 years later, it was now Mary’s turn to intervene. You see, just like the angel who had appeared to her a millennia and a half earlier, Mary appeared to a simple Mexican native by the name of Juan Diego.
And just like her own questioning of human wisdom versus God’s supernatural reality, Juan and his bishop questioned the authenticity of this miraculous vision. Juan even tried to avoid an encounter with the “Lady from Heaven” when the illness of his uncle required his attention. Of course, Juan felt that it was simply a matter of human priorities. And Mary, as usual, took the back seat, the second place, so that Juan could drive.
And just like the Angel Gabriel’s perseverance with Mary’s Annunciation, Mary persisted with Juan Diego.
In the process, not only was Juan’s uncle healed by God through Mary’s intervention, but Mary left such an indelible sign with Juan, that scientists, even today, are astounded by the miraculous properties of the image Mary left on Juan’s white overcoat.
487-years later, that flimsy cloth still survives. And the incredibly detailed and symbolic image of our Holy Mother, on Juan’s tilma, remains unscathed, surviving time, smoke and even an explosion.
Ever since Mary’s apparition to Juan Diego and his uncle in 1531, there have been millions upon millions who have converted to the Catholic Faith because of it.
You see, God just cannot be out done.
And the ONLY thing we need fear is that we lose our faith to trust in Him. Mary’s “yes” is our encouragement. And the sacrifice of Jesus is our salvation.
All we need do is – Trust in Him, FIRST of ALL, in everything!
And then listen very carefully for when our Mom speaks to us!
12-11-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 11, 2018
(St. Damascus I, Pope)
A voice says, “Cry out!” I answer, “What shall I cry out?” “All flesh is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever.” . . .
Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. Is_40:1-11
The grass withers and the flower wilts, but WE stand on the Word of our God, our Jesus! He comes to us, not like the demanding tyrant, not like the overtaxing capitalist, but like the loving shepherd, leading us to His Father. Blessed be God forever!
12-10-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 10, 2018
Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. . . . Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee. Is_35:1-10
Isaiah and the Prophets leave the Israelites and us with a picture of hope. For the Israelites it was the hope of return to a homeland they were banished from, like “the good old days,” but even better. For us it will be our heavenly return. No more mourning and grief. No more work and pain. Jesus will lead us down the road to hope. Here is your God!
12-09-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 9, 2018
(2nd Sunday Advent, Yr. C)
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil_1:4-6,8-11
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Lk_3:1-6
The road to salvation is not always an easy one, beloved, as we well know. That “flesh” of ours is constantly trying to drag us back to the wide path, the easy path. Jesus tells us that it is the narrow path that leads to His Kingdom. And John shows us how to straighten out that path: repentance, reconciliation, cleansing ourselves of sin, and walking in the light of holiness. Jesus is our “WAY.” All we need do is follow, just like those Philippians!
12-08-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 8, 2018
(Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. Eph_1:3-6,11-12
The Holiness of God simply cannot dwell within unholiness. Thus, in time, when God chose Mary to be that dwelling place for His Son, she was conceived in pure holiness. She was conceived devoid of the effect of that sin of our first parents, which we all “inherit.” Mary IS the Immaculate Conception, the pure ark, the dwelling place of God, the Mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Lk_1:26-38
Some years later Jesus fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” Mt_26:39
It’s God’s will, beloved. The best we can do every day is to keep these dwelling places of ours as holy, as pure as we possibly can. That we make a place for Him within our hearts to dwell. And that we understand – It is God’s will that we be so blessed – and who are we to argue!
12-07-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 7, 2018
(St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. Mt_9:27-31
There’s something about the dynamics of these last two sentences of today’s Gospel that really makes us wonder. As a carry-over from Mark’s Gospel, Matthew and Luke will often quote Jesus as requesting secrecy after a healing. The Scripture scholars call this the “Messianic Secret.”
And it always bothered me, how almost always, immediately after the request, the healed person runs out and spills the beans. It just sounds like such a direct disobedience of Jesus, of God. It sounds like Adam and Eve all over again. And maybe its just God giving us another glimpse of our own human nature.
Yet, imagine if YOU were those blind people. Would it not be near impossible to go back home and make-believe that you were still blind, when, for the first time in your whole life – you could actually see! Would it not be near impossible not to SHOUT it out to the world! “I CAN SEE!!!” So why would Jesus ask anyone to do such a difficult task?
The Scripture scholars confess that they really don’t know the exact reason for the Messianic Secret. But they generally propose two hypotheses:
They tell us that Jesus likely didn’t want the wrong image spread about Him. He wasn’t out to glorify Himself by His healings, but to glorify God His Father. And He didn’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest of sick people and others who would want to make Him King, all to the consternation of the Romans and the Pharisees, who were armed to put down any kind of rebellion. You see, it was not about Jesus, the new Rock Star Idol, so it had to be toned down, it had to be kept Secret.
Then the scholars’ second, hypothetical reason for the Messianic Secret was that Jesus was not yet ready to reveal Himself as the Messiah, because the Apostles still had much more to learn about Him. Besides the fact that the time for His Passion, Death and Resurrection was not yet due. It was just too early! So again, it was all done in secret.
In the end, who knows, maybe Jesus was just using reverse psychology, knowing our human natures, in order to get the word out even more.
Or maybe the true point of it all was that those healed men, never really understood that it was THEIR Faith that healed them.
If we were to compare Matthew and Luke’s (Lk 18:35-43) versions of this same story, we’d find that, in both stories the blind men acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah, prophesied by Isaiah, by calling Him the “Son of David.” And they also knew that the Messiah would have the ability to heal.
And yet, after their healing, Matthew’s TWO blind men went off and LEFT Jesus – to follow their own human nature and divulge a secret. Their faith in the prophesy healed them, but it was not great enough to drive a conversion of heart, a conversion of love for Jesus.
But Luke’s ONE blind man, who was also healed by his Faith and his knowledge of the prophesy, was so thoroughly converted by his experience, that He immediately followed Jesus, giving all the Glory to God. And this time, instead of Jesus entrusting a secret, we hear how, “ALL the people gave praise to God.” Which is exactly what Jesus wanted them to do.
HIS actions,
prompted By THEIR Faith,
pointed them TO the Father,
and brought about their conversion of heart!
And there’s our message for the day!
As we come to the close of the first week of Advent, we might ask ourselves:
“How have I relied on my faith in Jesus to help heal me, to guide me in accomplishing things I wasn’t quite sure of, and in the process, grow closer to God our Father?”
“And IF I just happened to experience some saving work of God in my life this week, did I give HIM the glory?”
“Did I give thanks to Jesus? And did I follow Him in love?”
“Or did I just wander off to the next whim of my human nature?”
You see, it really is no Secret.
Jesus is just waiting here for us. Not only to ask our needs, in Faith. But to follow Him in complete conversion, of heart, with His Love for everyone!
12-06-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 6, 2018
(St. Nicholas, Bishop)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.” Mt_7:21,24-27
… and on this rock, I will build my Church. Mt 16:18 This is the Rock of our Lord Jesus, upon which is set the house, the temples of our selves – or better yet, the “living stones” that make up our Church, that dwelling place of God. When we can stay rooted on His foundation and then function according to His Call, no wind, or rain, or “big, bad wolf” will ever have a chance against us.
12-05-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 5, 2018
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples . . . Is_25:6-10a
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. . . . Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full. Mt_15:29-37
Jesus will always provide, beloved. Whether it is food or job or companionship or even solitude when we need it. Just reminds us of that old saying, “be careful what you ask for” you just MAY get it – like it or not!. God bless!
12-04-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 4, 2018
(St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor)
Jesus said, “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.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Lk_10:21-24
Jesus revealed His Father and Himself to His disciples and to us through their witnesses. And blessed are we for having those witnesses. And blessed are we for living in the time after Jesus made those revelations. Now, beloved, it’s our turn to pass on the stories of those mighty visions and deeds of Jesus, not only to our own children, but to the whole world. It’s our turn to be witnesses of God’s love of them – through His actions in our lives.
For example, every week for the past 24-years, I’ve been blessed with the honor of teaching classes of fifth graders about that love of God in their lives. And it’s absolutely amazing how much they have taught me through their own witnesses of God in their lives. And doing this wasn’t something that was forced upon me. Rather it was simply an unquestioned answer to God’s call for me to do a little bit more. Sure, it was scary at first. But my love for God had grown so much through my own learning and experience, that I was just bursting to share it. And you know what, beloved, that call is there for you as well. There are so, so many ways a little volunteering can make a huge difference in our lives. All it takes is a listening heart and an answering mind! It’s totally up to you!
12-03-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 3, 2018
(St. Francis Xavier, Priest)
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Mt_8:5-11
When the need is great enough, beloved, we will come back to God. When we realize that there is really no power on earth great enough to satisfy our deepest needs, then we will rediscover God. We will find the greatest satisfaction we could ever have – true love. No, we may not be worthy enough for His mercy, for His love, but by His grace He offers it to us freely. “By His stripes, we are healed!” If we seem to be missing something, beloved. If we just can’t find the satisfaction, and we may not even know what it is, come back to God. For it is only by the Word of Jesus that we will be healed. Trust in Him, and be filled!
12-02-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 2, 2018
(First Sunday of Advent, C)
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, . . . so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus, Amen. 1_Thes_3:12-4:2
Beautiful prayer for the week
to you Beloved!
12-01-18 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
December 1, 2018
Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Lk_21:34-36
BE PREPARED, beloved!
Not like a boy scout, but like a scout for the Lord!
_____________________________
Happy December, beloved!
God’s blessings always!
Please stop by and visit November’s Daily Mass Quotes too…
Link below.
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EARLIER MONTH’S QUOTES can be found
in monthly subcategories of – “Whispers“
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