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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10-31-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 31, 2022
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. Phil_2:1-4
. . . the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Amen!
10-30-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 30, 2022
31st Sunday Ordinary Time, C
Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people’s sins that they may repent. . . . Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD! Wis_11:22-12:2
Jesus concluded His interaction with Zacchaeus the tax collector turned disciple, with the words, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk_19:1-10
In our God we find boundless mercy and love, undeserved compassion, forgiveness and grace! And in the sight of all that and in our humble recognition of our total imperfection, we come to our Creator and Redeemer and pledge our total commitment, love and undying devotion. We are the lost, beloved, and Jesus is searching and seeking to save us from ourselves. Can we find Him in our brethren, our spouse, our children, ourselves? He’s there, just awaiting our acknowledgement! Come, Lord Jesus, enlighten the darkness of our paths, that we may find You seeking to save us!
10-29-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 29, 2022
In emphasizing our call to humble service rather than boastful pride, Jesus told a parable about the guests at a banquet. The example described a prideful guest who took the front row seat and was embarrassed to be moved to the rear when all the other seats were filled. In comparison, He said: “When you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk_14:1,7-11
The point being – not to hoodwink the host into moving you into the position that ‘you feel like’ you should have had in the first place (making your pride be the primary goal), but instead truly taking that back position because you know there are certainly others who DO deserve those “higher” positions more than you. And if you happen to be moved up to the front – all the better. But if not, not taking offense at sitting where you are, just being happy to be there! It’s all a wonderful and poetic mind game, beloved. We just have to be careful that instead of allowing our situations to drag us down, we can accept whatever may be and find the joy in it!!! Praise be to God!
10-28-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 28, 2022
(Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles)
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. Eph_2:19-22
What an incredible blessing we have been given beloved! To be members of God’s household! To be part of His awesome family: the saints, our deceased loved ones, the purified and those in process. Our God loves us THAT much! Praise be to Him, Praise be to Jesus and praise be to the Holy Spirit our advocate and inner voice! Blessed be God forever. And blessed are you, beloved, for ever!
10-27-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 27, 2022
Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Lk_13:31-35
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Come Lord Jesus!
10-26-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 26, 2022
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “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. 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.’ Lk_13:22-30
The scary truth of salvation! The fine line of righteousness. The narrow gate. The solemn rejection. And the uncertainty of it all. All we can do beloved, is make sure that God DOES know us by getting to know Him. And we do that in our prayer, in our Scripture readings, in our love for ALL, and in proclaiming the Good News of His Love. Be sincere in your love and humble in your repentance and God will surely know where you are from when the time to enter draws near.
10-25-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 25, 2022
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Lk_13:18-21
Like our faith, the Kingdom of God grows within us. But, it’s up to us to feed and nourish it with just the right ingredients. We feed it with the friends we choose, the words we read, the content of the screens we watch and even the songs we listen to. And in a world with nearly 8-billion people there should be lots to choose from. Jesus tells us, ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and all this will be added unto you!’ ref. Mt_6:33 Good soil can turn a tiny seed into a massive tree with a little TLC.
10-24-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 24, 2022
(St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop)
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, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God . . . For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Eph_4:32-5:8
And that means, opening our eyes to the beauty and the needs of our world. Shine your light in the darkness and allow the light of others to build the light in you, and not the darkness of the world. Always stay close to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will keep your hearts and minds safe in His love!
10-23-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 23, 2022
30th Sunday Ordinary Time, C
(World Mission Sunday)
Jesus told a parable: “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity, greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk 18:9-14
Again, as in yesterday’s Scripture, we are called to humble repentance, reflection on our own sinfulness (and holiness) in the eyes of God, and not judgment of others and exaltation of ourselves. We are all sinners, beloved. We just need to find our own faults, humble ourselves in the sight of God and beg forgiveness, to which God will readily and mercifully grant it!
We are a “mission Church” and Pope Francis gives us the three key phrases that synthesize the three foundations of the life and mission of every disciple: “You shall be my witnesses”, “to the ends of the earth” and “you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit”.
1. “You shall be my witnesses” – The call of every Christian to bear witness to Christ
– through our life experiences, through our prayer and through our interactions with others.
2. “To the ends of the earth” – The perennial relevance of a mission of universal evangelization
– EVERYWHERE we go, whether just to the local grocery, or in mission to the other side of the globe – we are to share God’s love with everyone!
3. “You will receive power” from the Holy Spirit – Let us always be strengthened and guided by the Spirit.
– Were we baptized? Were we confirmed? In those sacraments we received the blessings, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Are we recognizing God within ourselves? He’s THERE! Count on Him to give you strength in ALL circumstances, beloved. He will!!!
10-22-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 22, 2022
(St. John Paul II, Pope)
Emphasizing the importance for repentance of our own sins over being the judge of everyone else’s, Jesus told a parable about mercy: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” Lk_13:1-9
You might say it’s a parable about second and third and multiple chances to right our ways before sister death comes and we face the “final” judgment. Jesus is the gardener, we are the fig trees in our Master’s garden. We were not planted to be un-fruitful. The fruit of our lives is to bring God’s love, God’s life to others, especially those in need of mercy, not judgment. This is our calling, beloved! Before we judge others, we might just have a good look at our own fruit, of our own foibles. And then repent and spread hope, not doom, to a world in such need of that hope. The Hope of Jesus! God’s love of ALL!
10-21-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 21, 2022
St. Paul urged his Church in Ephesus to live with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph 4:1-6
In a world where Peace seems so elusive, where Health is declining, even for us, “young at heart,” and where Truth is on the ‘near-extinction list,’ where do we go for Hope? We won’t find it in the newspapers or on the television. We won’t find it in the hearsay or the gossip. We might not even find it in the Sunday sermon.
And yet, if Hope is something we are truly searching for, despite the darkness in our world, Jesus tells us that when we open our hearts, and our minds, and our eyes to HIS Truth, we’ll actually find Hope all around us.
You see, Hope comes in words like Love, and Rest, and Healing, in words like Life, and Light, and Unity, and in words like Salvation and Heavenly Banquet. And where do we find words like that?
Well, just for example, we can find Love and Rest and Healing in places like Hospitals and Nursing Homes and in the Missions of the slums and places of extreme poverty. We find them right there in the midst of the darkness of anxiety and pain and hopelessness. And why is there so much hopelessness, especially in places like hospitals? Well, it’s simply because, our Faith in Jesus has been lost.
You see, Jesus promises Light, and Freedom from fear, and Life beyond death. And it takes an open heart, and mind, and eyes – to find the beauty and the love of God, in all circumstances, especially where it’s least expected; to see the Light right through the darkness, to find the Joy and Hope, even in death, and to CREATE the Unity, rather than wallowing in the hopelessness of a world that emphasizes our differences and sensationalizes our failures.
Instead of stirring up hatred among us, Jesus exalts in the Love that God has for every living creature, even, despite the amnesia of where we actually came from, and why we were created. You see, we know that God created us specifically FOR Love of Him for Love of one another, AND for appreciating this wonderful, and unpredictable, and majestic, and challenging world we live in.
And despite our living in a world that has blindness, and darkness, and evil all around us, we are called to BE – the Light, and the Truth, and the Life – that brings God’s Love back into focus. It truly is the Mystery of God’s Kingdom. And we hold the key!
You see, brothers and sisters, it’s been right there in our hearts, and in our minds, and in our eyes, all along, to shine God’s Love through the darkness, and to bring us all, the Peace and the Unity we so long for.
And we name that Love, Jesus.
10-20-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 20, 2022
(St. Paul of the Cross, Priest)
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. Lk_12:49-53
The refining and purifying fire of baptism. Those who believe in Jesus will find in life many who refuse to believe. And not only refuse, but are determined to destroy all who do believe. We find it in countries, in cities, and even in families. We see it in a world that insists on prioritizing illicit sex over killing the offspring from it, refusing to admit that it’s actually killing another person. We see it in a world that not only prioritizes illicit sex, but illicit sexuality, and God forbid if you should say anything contrary to accepting their propaganda. We have children who have absolutely no idea that what this twisted world is shoving down their and our throats is wrong and bad. In Biblical times God sent burning sulfur and fire down upon towns where this occurred. The day has finally come, beloved, when we are toasting our bread in VCRs and wondering why we can’t see a movie with our VCR tape shoved into a toaster. We’re living in the realization of the movie Idiocracy.
But praise be to God, Believers DO still exist and are trying our hearts out to teach an ignorant world the Truth. No, we’re not perfect. But our foundation is the Lord and not the Tube. Oh the anguish of trying to save souls! OH the blessings of the Holy Spirit’s help! Praise be to God! And thank you Jesus!
10-19-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 19, 2022
(Ss. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Lk_12:39-48
Be prepared, always, beloved! God is always watching over us in love. God is trying, always, to direct us in the ways of righteousness, through our friends, our guardian angels and in our study. We are called to never let go of Him, but to more and more, work on letting go of our self-centered nature. Total surrender in Love!
10-18-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 18, 2022
(St. Luke, Evangelist)
Jesus sent seventy-two of His disciples ahead of Him on mission to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God in peace, in healing and in community. He said to them, “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
Ever perform a helpful deed or send out a word of love, of peace to another person, beloved, only to have it thrown back in our faces, misconstrued, as an attack or insult? Does it not give us a feeling that our gift, our peace was stolen from us and has left us with anger and hatred instead? Jesus is telling His disciples and us today, not to allow that to happen to us. Instead, if our gift of love and peace is not accepted, know that God sends it back to us. It’s not our fault. It’s not our failure. And we are called then, to dust off the rejection, to move on and offer it to another. When we do find an accepting recipient, then, we are to welcome their hospitality, and gift them even further with the healing of Christ in their lives. Jesus wants all of us to know His healing love. But it can only be known by those who listen and accept it. Just keep on giving, beloved, and you will live in His peace as well!
God bless you!
10-17-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 17, 2022
(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
So the true secret to life, to eternal life, is in giving. It’s not in acquiring and building and storing and hoarding, but in giving until there is nothing left. And the greatest thing God wants us to give is His love in us to others. Whether that love is given in monetary gifts, in helping hands, in prayer or even in a kind smile to a stranger, we just need to make sure it never stops or turns into gifts only to ourselves. As Jesus said, “guard against all greed.” It’s not in the taking but in the giving that we’ll find true life!
10-16-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 16, 2022
(29th Sunday Ordinary Time C)
Jesus spoke to His disciples about persistence in prayer and proceeded to tell a parable about a persistent woman and a faithless judge. The woman won out in the end putting the fear of life and limb in the eyes of the judge. But Jesus told them: 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
The trick with persistence is not losing faith in the process. Our faith strengthens us to never give up, to hang in there until the need is answered. And maybe the need is just to have more faith. For even that, God will grant us our need, with continued persistence. So persist in prayer, beloved. Set a time and place every day to pray to God for our needs and the needs of the world, according to His will. And in His time we will find resolution, when we stay persistent! Always in the Name of Jesus, pray!
St. Paul wrote, I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. 2_Tm_3:14-4:2
And trust, as the Psalmist tells us,
Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Ps_121:2
10-15-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 15, 2022
(St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), Virgin and Doctor of the Church)
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, Eph_1:15-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. . . . “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 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
We are blessed. We are strengthened, and we are even given what to say when challenges against God come our way. All we have to do is have faith, believe!
10-14-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 14, 2022
(St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr)
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. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” Lk_12:1-7
So when we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, when we take that first step onto the pathway of depression and hopelessness, remember these words. God LOVES us, no matter what! Even if we slip and fall, even if we look down that road that we shouldn’t be looking down, even if our very best of friends in the world seem to be stepping on our head and kicking us in the stomach, God still loves us, despite it all. But do not give up. Do not be afraid when the hard times and the temptations come, and they will. But know that our God has died to the flesh in order to bring us salvation in the Spirit. Trust in Him! Jesus!
10-13-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 13, 2022
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, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. Eph_1:1-10
“Chose us before the foundation of the world” “Blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” that we may be “holy and without blemish before him” I’d call that pretty GLORIOUS beloved! And that’s us! Blessed from before our very conception. So how could there possibly be depression and hopelessness? We ARE blessed! Thrive in it!
10-12-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 12, 2022
(Our Lady of the Pillar)
St. Paul wrote, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.”Gal_5:18-25
Question is, beloved, “What drives us, the passions of the flesh, or the Spirit of God?” This is not easy for the weak of heart. Pray, beloved, for the strength of the Spirit, that we may see and live those “fruit” in our daily lives!
Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral-Basilica, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
10-11-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 11, 2022
(St. John XXIII, Pope)
Jesus said, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” Lk_11:37-41
Horsefly said to the man in a loud voice, “Hey look at me, I’m big and pretty and would love nothing more than to make friends with you,” as he buzzed noisily around the man. None the less, the man took a good swat at him. So the horsefly asked, “Why are you swatting me?” The man answered, “You may be big and you may be pretty, but I know that as soon as I allow you to land on my shoulder, you’ll take a big bite out of me.”
Kind of just like the Pharisees that Jesus was trying to convince of changing. Outside they thought they were “God’s gift to the world.” But inside they were harsh, judgmental and evil. Ever know anyone like that, beloved? Hmmm, am I?
LOVE!
10-10-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 10, 2022
St. Paul wrote,For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. Gal_4:22-24,26-27,31–5:1
Ever feel enslaved, beloved? If you have, and you’ve been baptized, you just might be forgetting about the freedom that Jesus gave us through those baptisms of ours. And yet, it’s not a freedom that can’t be overshadowed by the challenges of our world: incompetent bosses, dishonest media, cultural stigma, guilt led propagandists. All of these can seem to steal our freedom from us. But as St. Paul reminds the Galatians, it’s up to us to stand firm and not allow the world (to seem) to steal away from us something that cannot be stolen. Jesus gave us the freedom to be Children of God. Children who have been bought for a price – the price that Jesus paid for us (His life). Freedom is in our minds and in our hearts, beloved. Remember it and stand firm in the Holy Spirit who strengthens us against all marauders. We ARE free. Time to act like it!
10-09-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 9, 2022
(28th Sunday Ordinary Time, C)
Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy. Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.” Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;” and despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused. 2_Kgs_5:14-17
St. Paul wrote to Timothy, Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.” 2_Tm_2:8-13
Jesus healed ten lepers from a distance 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. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Lk_17:11-19
When a gift is given without any expectation of payment, or even a “Thank you;” when a gift is given, even to those who are more deserving of a punishment than a gift; when a gift is given out of pure love – of God and humanity, we call that gift – a GRACE.
Grace is the unmerited favor of God, freely given, without any strings attached.
And Grace does not demand Gratitude. But Gratitude IS the Spirit’s response TO Grace, when our souls are filled with the Holy Spirit, and not the ‘holy-self.’
Both the Samaritan leper and Naaman, the Gentile leper, in today’s Scriptures, were searching for a healing remedy for their dreadful disease. Neither man was Jewish. As a matter of fact, they were actually, both enemies of the Jews. And yet, when the need is great enough, as we all know, there really are no bounds to where we’ll GO, or what we’ll DO for an answer.
In Naaman’s case, by the hearsay of his wife’s Jewish slave girl, he sought the magic touch of a Jewish prophet for healing. And FOR that Gift, IF it worked, Naaman was prepared to offer a huge sum of money and fancy clothes as payment.
Yet, never in his wildest dreams, could Naaman have imagined that his healing would be cost-free. And, neither did he ever imagine that his healing would be so transformational, so life-changing.
You see, that’s the absolute beauty of Grace!
Beyond the physical gift of healing, Naaman’s Baptism had so filled his soul with the Holy Spirit, that he would forevermore serve and worship ONLY Israel’s God. The God of the same despised people whose fathers Naaman massacred and whose children he enslaved. Funny how that works, isn’t it, beloved?
Here we have, in the same day’s Scripture readings, three zealous Faith Conversions: Two former enemies of the Jews, Naaman, the Syrian army commander, and the despicable Samaritan leper. And then, in our 2nd Reading, we have St. Paul, a Jew himself, who moved from forcefully chaining up and imprisoning Christians, to voluntarily accepting his own chains, because of HIS zealous Christian evangelization.
All by the GRACE of God.
You see, it just prompts us to ask ourselves, (maybe without the leprosy, or the blinding light, or the chains), How do WE open up our own Souls to recognizing the Holy Spirit within us? The Holy Spirit whom we’ve all received, by God’s Grace, in our own Baptisms?
How do we even begin to recognize the immense amount of Grace that we are constantly immersed in, every day of our lives?
And then, How do we find and express our Gratitude for it all?
______________
Well, to start with, we have to realize that we’re ALL, already in chains. Chains that we’ve put there ourselves. Sure we can name them with things like: our pride and arrogance, like our selfishness, and impatience and irreverence, and maybe even our anger and hatred of others. We all know those SINS.
But, the question is, What are we doing to eliminate them?
Are we receiving God’s Grace of Forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Are we allowing God’s Grace of Humility to erase our pride?
Are we sacrificing our constant Taking with a little Giving once in a while?
Are we exchanging a little Self-pity with Compassion for the plight of others?
Are we listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting – to go back and Thank that cashier, or that nurse, or that car mechanic, or maybe even, going as far as not charging our next customer?
_______________
Are we thankful for the Graces of:
– the air we breathe,
– the job that pays us,
– the house that shelters us,
– the school that teaches us,
– the store that feeds us,
Or are we simply taking all of those Gifts for granted, or thinking that they are – “our just due?”
Are we thankful for the Graces of:
– the earth that fuels our cars? . . .
– the sun that warms us,
– the birds who sing to us,
– the butterflies who enchant us,
– the deer who inspirit us
– the squirrels who entertain us?
Or are they all – just annoyances in our lives?
Are we thankful for the Graces of:
– the child who cries for our attention,
– the parents who protect us with their rules,
– the teachers who endure us,
– the priests who inspire us . . .
– and the Son – who gave His very life for us?
Are we thankful for the God who loves us so immensely . . .
– that we have been GRACED with the total Freedom to CHOOSE – gratitude or complaint.
You see, our whole lives are actually a constant Conversion:
– from hatred to love,
– from enemies to friends,
– from complaint to gratitude,
– from desperation to hope.
And, it’s ALL – our Choice.
By God’s Grace, beloved, we have been Healed, just like Naaman and the Samaritan leper, in our Baptisms!
And now it’s time, as Jesus tells us,
to “stand up and go.”
Nourished in His Heavenly Banquet,
“our faith has saved us!”
10-09-22 jmp
10-08-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 8, 2022
St. Paul continued his discourse on the Law vs Faith with the Galatians, describing our “Justification,” or how we get right with God in the midst of our sins against Him. He said, “the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith (in that law). But now that faith (true faith in Jesus) has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith (in Jesus’s death and resurrection for our salvation) 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. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”Gal_3:22-29
So Paul is saying that through our Baptism, where we all profess our belief in Jesus, our Faith in Him, where we all receive of the ONE Holy Spirit, we actually become ONE in Christ. We are no longer differentiated as Jew (knowing and living by the Law) and Gentile (not even knowing the law); or male and female (and not confusing or confounding the natural physical differences of the sexes as people do today); or slave and free (meaning that even if we still must respect an earthly boss or master, we are most highly bound to God alone). Instead, we are all “one Body of Christ.”
And in this “oneness” we are ALL considered descendants of Abraham (God’s chosen One) which makes us all His chosen ones as well, and heirs to God’s promise to Abraham, of Homeland, Descendants and Blessing. We are HOME, together with one another. We are ALL CHILDREN of Abraham, of God. And we are all BLESSED through our faith in Jesus and justified (sins forgiven) by the death and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation, to bring about this glorious UNITY!
What an AWESOME God we have, beloved, with THANKS be given always to Jesus our Lord and Savior (never forgetting our advocate – the Holy Spirit, as well)!!!
10-07-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 7, 2022
(Our Lady of the Rosary)
St. Paul wrote, “those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone ‘who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law.’ And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for ‘the one who is righteous by faith will live.’ But the law does not depend on faith; rather, ‘the one who does these things will live by them.’”Gal_3:7-14
Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. . . . Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Lk_11:15-26
If there’s one thing that we’re clearly burdened with in this life in the flesh, it’s Gravity. Gravity makes us enjoy sitting or lying down, instead of exercising. Gravity causes my spilled coffee to stain the rug, instead of the ceiling. And, in order to overcome Gravity, it takes a huge amount of energy to lift a rocket into space, where we could actually be free from its effects. You see, Gravity is one of those LAWS that we just have to live with. And, if we want success, if we want to get anywhere in this life, we have to deal with the Laws of Gravity.
And then there’s Faith. Jesus walked on water. The Catholic sailors prayed the Rosary with Faith, in their 16th Century battle against the Ottomans. And they won against all numerical odds. And the Saints healed the unhealable through their Faith in Jesus. Faith, not only – does not depend upon the Laws, but it can even overcome the Laws, IF it’s strong enough.
When I was a young kid in college, I lived on the 5th floor of a 10-story dormitory in Philadelphia. And to get back and forth from my dorm room to our classes, I would take an elevator that would help me outsmart the Gravity of living so high up in the air.
But, you know, that elevator was not very reliable. And there were days when it would get stuck in the middle of the floors. And I would have to force open the doors, and climb up and out of that elevator, in order to get to where I was headed, hoping against hope that it would not start up again when I was mid way, on my stomach, through the door. I’m sure you can imagine, it was scary enough to give me nightmares about elevators for a long, long time to come.
So, the only way around it, if I didn’t want to sleep on the street, was to climb the 130-stairs to my floor and room. And I did that, day after day, for the rest of that school year. I can truly say that I became intimate with the Law of Gravity.
You see, the ‘taken for granted’ Faith that we all have in elevators is kind of like the ‘taken for granted’ Faith that many Christians have in Jesus. But, unlike our Faith in Jesus, faith in the elevator totally depends on it obeying the Laws of Gravity through its mechanical fortitude, that the cables, and the pullies, and the motor, that we CAN’T see, are all in good working order. That faith in elevators all depends on their infallibility with overcoming the Law of Gravity.
Whereas, with our Faith in Jesus, there is absolute Trust, because Jesus has already saved us. . . . And the only possible failure mechanism is our own disbelief, our own lack of Faith.
Today Jesus was dealing with people who refused to believe. And when we refuse to believe in ‘the Truth,’ the only thing left for us, is to live ‘the lie.’
You see, because I lost my faith in the elevator, I was now dependent on the Law. . . . The Law that my legs would have enough strength to go up and down those stairs at least twice a day. The Law that the numbered floor markers were not missing, or stolen, or switched by the mischief makers, and I’d end up on the wrong floor, trying my key in the wrong door, and maybe getting beaten up by someone who thought I was trying to break into their room.
Jesus warned the skeptics that when they lost their Faith in the Truth, they were leaving themselves open to live: lie after lie, sin after sin, and curse after curse, and they would never find the salvation that Jesus offers to ALL of us, by simply having Faith in Him.
And praise be to God, WE DO! We are unquestionably on the right and best elevator to Heaven – and His name is Jesus!
10-06-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 6, 2022
(Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin)
(St. Bruno, Priest)
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. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Lk_11:5-13
And all of this takes Faith. How sincerely do you truly believe that what you ask of the Father He will provide you with? If you don’t really believe it, it likely will not come about. But with faith, as Jesus says, you can move mountains. Believe and Receive and DO!
10-05-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 5, 2022
(St. Faustina Kowalska, Virgin)
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” Lk_11:1-4
Reverence, respect and adoration. Recognition of God’s Kingdom, not ours. And then, supplication: feed us, forgive us and protect us. And we will, in turn, feed, forgive and protect one another!
Simple and beautiful!
Thank you Jesus!
10-04-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 4, 2022
(St. Francis of Assisi, Religious)
St. Paul wrote, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me. Gal_1:13-24
Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 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
You know, beloved, sometimes even just our nasty reputations are enough to Glorify God in the eyes of others, when we can turn those reputations, convert them, into blessings FOR God, for Jesus. For Saul, now Paul, it took a blinding light because of his zealous conviction to God, but disbelief in Jesus being God’s Son. With the “blink of an eye,” or from blindness to miraculous sight, Paul used the same zealous conviction to spread the Gospel, Good News, of Jesus to other unbelievers in his world. And the Jewish Christians knew well the significance of that miraculous conversion.
It just gives us hope, beloved! No matter where we stand in our faith, there could always be additional conversion. And if that conversion is dramatic or drastic, the whole world will see it – to the Glory of God!
Mary, Martha’s sister, understood the importance of listening to Jesus. There will always be dishes to clean, floors to mop and tables to set. But she would not always have Jesus to teach her, to console her, to help her to grow in her own conversion. So too, we place our priorities in the proper perspective.
St. Francis was another one of those dramatic conversions, used by God, by Jesus, to shock the world into faith by astonishment. From rabble rouser to hugger of lepers, Francis found the love of Jesus through the Scriptures and in listening to that inner voice calling him to conversion. And convert he did. From young, spoiled, rich kid to total poverty in imitation of his Lord and savior, giving every ounce of his life to those more needy around him. And when there was nothing left to give, physically, Francis raised them up spiritually through his love. This is what Jesus asks of all of us, in one way or another: to live the Gospel He preached and to preach the Gospel He professed through our LOVE for one another!
St. Francis – Compassion
Canticle of Creatures, Murray Bodo
10-03-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 3, 2022
Jesus told a parable about a mugging, and how several passers-by just ignored the man lying bleeding on the street. You see, they didn’t want to get their hands dirty, or worse, dirty their souls by coming into contact with a dead person, had the man happened to have been dead. And to make the story even nastier, the passers-by just happened to be the religious leaders of the time. Of course religious leaders shouldn’t have enemies since they were models of God’s love. But these people were professed enemies with the Samaritans, and the feeling was mutual. So Jesus inserted a Samaritan in the story, as the one who finally came to the aid of the wounded man.
Now the man who made the inquiry that prompted Jesus’ response with this parable was, of course, one of those religious leaders himself. So Jesus, at the end of the parable, asked the ‘scholar of the law,’ “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Lk_10:25-37
Just makes us think, too, beloved, who have I passed by, not wanting to get my hands dirty, or stop my car, or interrupt my busy routine? Maybe a little mercy is in order in our lives as well. Just think, what if that was me? And there by the Grace of God, it’s not. But you never know!
10-02-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 2, 2022
(27th Sunday, Ordinary Time, C)
Jesus said to His disciples, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” Lk_17:5-10
In answer to the disciples’ question of how to increase their faith, Jesus responds that we must first discover humility and recognize that “I” am not the center of the whole world. As a matter of fact, even when we think we’re doing so much, when we think we deserve so much praise, we are merely, if even that, just doing what we’re supposed to do. And if we expect that level of faith to mean anything, we’re also just kidding ourselves. Faith is recognizing that we cannot do what only God can do. And in that recognition, we pray for God’s strength, for God’s wisdom, for God’s understanding of our ineptitude, His pity, His mercy and His grace. For it’s only by God’s grace that we can do anything at all: live, breathe, eat, work and serve! When we can recognize this, then we’re on the road to faith. And the more of a servant we can be, the more child-like we are, the greater our faith will grow!
Amen! Alleluia!
10-01-22 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
October 1, 2022
(St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said to the seventy-two missionary disciples, “do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Lk_10:17-24
We might think, what greater thing could there be to rejoice about than bringing God’s love, God’s Spirit, God’s healing to another person. And yet, Jesus says that for doing thus with our lives, we will surely have a place in the heaven. This is exactly what God wants of us, to bring a little bit of heaven to the world. When we place our total trust and love in Him, it simply overflows from our lives, just as it did for St. Therese of Lisieux!
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Happy October, beloved!
May God bless you!
Please come visit September’s Daily Mass Quotes too…
Link below.
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