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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09-30-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 30, 2023
(St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church)
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Lk_9:43b-45
Understanding can be a pretty powerful tool. And yet, sometimes the fear of embarrassment can keep us in the darkness of ignorance. And maybe like the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts (Acts 8:31), we ask, But “how can I understand unless someone instructs me?” And how can anyone instruct me if I refuse to listen? And how can I listen unless it’s something that interests me? And how can anything interest me unless I take my focus off myself alone.
You see, true understanding begins in our own hearts and minds. Jesus came to dwell in our midst, to engulf our hearts with the understanding of God’s eternal love, to take our focus off ourselves and onto Him.
And it was all prophesied through the ages, there for the understanding, if we can find the interest to study those Scriptures as the Ethiopian eunuch did.
Today we commemorate St. Jerome a 4th Century Doctor of the Church. Like Augustine and Francis, Jerome evolved from a young, spoiled, rich rebel into a single-minded lover of Jesus, and all that Jesus stood for.
And all of their transformations began with their encounter with Jesus in the Scriptures. That encounter sparked a relationship, which sparked a revolution, with in Jerome’s case, sparked a whole new translation of the entire Bible, from Hebrew into Latin, which later became the famous Vulgate translation.
Jerome professed, “Ignorance of the Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
Jesus calls us into His light of understanding. And thus we have now been instructed in God’s immeasurable Love for us. Alleluia, Amen!
09-29-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 29, 2023
(Ss. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels)
Jesus answered and said to him (Nathanael), “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jn_1:47-51
So, beloved, do we believe because we’ve read about Jesus in a book? Do we believe because He answered some prayer of ours? Or do we believe because Jesus is with us, truly with us in every moment of our day and in every breath we take? HE IS! Now we begin to believe in everything else He taught us. We believe in eternal life. We believe in the Saints and the Angels. And in particular, we remember these angels, especially Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, who protect us, give us God’s messages and heal us in our infirmities. Blessed be God forever, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!
09-28-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 28, 2023
(St. Wenceslaus, Martyr)
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed . . . Lk_9:7-9
Herod often seemed to be “perplexed.” He was either a great thinker, or was quite stupid. But being in the position he was in, he wasn’t stupid, at least in a worldly way. He knew how to please and he knew how to kill. He knew how to have great parties and he was not beyond eliminating even his family members who were, or seemed to be, a threat to him. But understanding the way of God. Understanding the way of Jesus; the Way of Love, the way of compassion, the way of humility and service, was just beyond his thought processes. So people like John the Baptist and Jesus were very perplexing to Herod. As long as they didn’t get in Herod’s way, as long as they didn’t rile up his people and disturb the “Roman” peace, Herod was fine with these people. He could always imprison them or just have them eliminated like all the rest. Perplexing!
09-27-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 27, 2023
(St. Vincent de Paul, Priest)
The Apostles set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Lk_9:1-6
And HERE is the action part of what the Apostles and we are called to do. Care for the sick, visit the lonely, the imprisoned; LOVE, even if the only place we can do that is at work. Love the disgruntled person on the other end of that phone conversation. Love the coworker who’s only goal in life is to upset you! Love the boss who can only find the negative things we do and never acknowledge the good. This is what we’re called to do for Jesus. And when we do, we just might be amazed at the changes that can happen. Just Love!
09-26-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 26, 2023
(Ss. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs)
Jesus said, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Lk_8:19-21
What and awesome elevation of His followers, Jesus made in this statement. To be called “mother and brothers” of Jesus was truly an honor for those who believed in Him. And yet, that honor didn’t just include following, knowing His Word, but there was also an ACTION part to it. Jesus doesn’t just want us to learn about Him, He wants us to know Him personally through our good deeds to the needy. To be like Him in Action! Blessed are they who follow the Way of the Lord and act as He did!
09-25-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 25, 2023
Jesus said, “For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear.” Lk_8:16-18
Hmmm, “light,” “hiding,” “secret,” “visibility”?! It’s a call to recognize our own visibility to God and to the world. No secrets! It’s also a window to the truth (or untruth) of the world. When we live God’s Word, that truth is obvious! It’s also a call for us to be very careful in how we are hearing what others are saying. Are we putting our own bias, our own prejudgments, our own answers to questions before we even hear them in entirety? Jesus tells us today to take care of how we listen, how we hear. When we hear the Words of Jesus, the Word of God, we are called to be His light to the world around us by using those words to enliven that world, not judge it, not blast it like a laser, but with compassion, with love, allow them to feel, to learn themselves, the compassionate love and mercy of our God!
09-24-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 24, 2023
(25th Sunday Ordinary Time, A)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. Is_55:6-9
So, although I do it all the time, we shouldn’t even try to think, what God would do, how God would act. But it surely seems to be, not the way we think and act. The best we can do is imagine LOVE to the extreme of extremes. And in that world, there is no competition, there is no revenge, there is no selfishness, there is no greed. As Jesus tells us, there IS mercy. For all we do and think wrongly, our God forgives and loves, beyond any kind of love we can even imagine!
09-23-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 23, 2023
(St. Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest)
Explaining a parable to His disciples, Jesus said, “the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” Lk_8:4-15
All good things take a little work to obtain, beloved. And if there is no work to gain it or obtain it, then it usually just gets forgotten or neglected. The same goes for our receiving the kingdom of heaven. With a little work, sometimes, even a lot, it will be well worth it and will gain a high place in our hearts. But if simply given to us, we’ll find that we just never quite reach it. Perseverance is the key!
09-22-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 22, 2023
But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1_Tm_6:2c-12
Hold fast to the Faith, beloved, and all these things will be yours as well!
09-21-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 21, 2023
(St. Matthew, Apostle)
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 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 . . . Eph_4:1-7,11-13
Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mt_9:9-13
Thanks be to God:
for the peace, the call and the mission!
My song for the day . . .
09-20-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 20, 2023
(Ss Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs)
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ . . . But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” Lk_7:31-35
When it all makes total sense; that nothing we hear in the world makes ANY sense, then we’re beginning to be filled with God’s wisdom. “They” cry about the environment “the climate”, while they destroy it themselves. They cry about the life of the animals while they insist on killing unborn humans. They cry about who’s better, “vote for me,” while they themselves can’t get along, can’t reason and don’t really care about anyone but themselves. If it all seems to be non-sense to you, beloved, praise be to God who gave you the wisdom to understand! Pass it on. Jesus is the ONLY answer. Follow Him!
09-19-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 19, 2023
(St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr)
Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.” Lk_7:11-17
Although most of the people I associate with are some 20+ years older than I, as I approach the cusp of another decade, I’ve often wished, and wish, that I could be with my own mother again (50-years gone). That unconditional and almost smothering love, that I, so did not deserve. Yes, of course we know that it’s the love of God in human form, but that’s the love that God intended for us, in giving Eve to Adam. And yet. And yet! Dead man, wake up! It’s not ours to desire. It’s not ours to seek. It’s not ours to even ponder, but only to give. And yet, if not to receive as well, then what is heaven? God’s love may fill our souls with the joy of heaven, but we, somehow, still have to survive this, this, whatever it is! God help us, the dead, to find life, even in the midst of death!
09-18-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 18, 2023
St. Paul wrote, For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. 1_Tm_2:1-8
When we recognize these facts; when we recognize our need for God; when we humble ourselves in His presence, which is constantly among us; and when we have faith in His desire and ability to heal us, then we are on the right track to living with Him forever. Jesus didn’t “give himself” just for the fun of it. He gave Himself purely out of love for us. And so we should love Him in return with all our hearts and all our souls!
09-17-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 17, 2023
(24th Sunday Ordinary Time, A)
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Mt_18:21-35
In lay terms, that’s ALWAYS!
Yeshua Ben Sira, the writer of the Book of Sirach wrote, “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.” Sir_27:30- 28:7
Now there’s a good reason for forgiveness, for mercy! Not only does vengeance come back to us, but mercy does as well. And it’s mercy we need! Blessed be God forever!
09-16-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 16, 2023
(Ss. Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs)
Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit.” Lk_6:43-49
What kind of tree am I?
09-15-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 15, 2023
(Our Lady of Sorrows)
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them 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_2:33-35
When we speak of Mary as the Mother of God, as the Mother of Jesus, as the Mother of the Church, we’re actually uniting ourselves with God, with Jesus, through Her, Mary, OUR Mother. And that unites US together, as well, as we are all Children of God and brothers and sisters to one another, through Mary and Jesus.
And yet, beyond uniting us with Mary and Jesus’s perfection, with their perseverance, and with their obedience, the Human and Divine as ONE, we also recognize that great ‘Sign of Contradiction’ that Simeon prophesied of Jesus to Mary.
Of course, we all know that this life in the flesh is not all, or always, filled with joy and happiness. Jesus knew it through His opposition by those who should have known better, and eventually through His own bitter passion and death. A death that should have been a royal crowning and exaltation instead. A true contradiction.
And Mary experienced that contradiction, as Simeon’s own predicted “Sword” piercing Her precious Heart of Love. A love of Jesus, and a love for us, torn in pain in this life, but Sacred and Immaculate in the next. Another true contradiction.
Jesus reminded us of that contradiction when he proposed for us the nine ways that God Blesses us, in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor . . .” (not the rich, famous or powerful, that the world would profess) Mt 5:3-12
And we’re also reminded of the human sorrows that our Mother Mary suffered through her Son’s persecution in contradiction to the pride she should have held in her Son’s exaltation as the Son of God.
Today WE can exalt in those sorrows of our Mother, Mary, because they strengthen us through our own human sorrows. They strengthen us with a sword that points to the Hope and the Glory of our eternal and divine life yet to come. And we pray unceasingly to Jesus through His and our sorrowful and yet, most Glorious Mother, Mary!
09-14-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 14, 2023
(Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
In their arrogance against Moses and the Lord, the Lord sent serpents to bite the people in punishment. And many of them died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” Nm_21:4b-9
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Jn_3:13-17
As we’ll see tomorrow, Simeon will predict the contradictory nature of the Savior, whom he held in his arms, to Mary His mother. Today we see that contradiction in an instrument of death being employed as a sign of healing and life. The staff of Moses (Nehushtan), as a ‘type’ of the cross of Jesus, both lead the believer to salvation. While the Nehushtan of Moses leads the observer to salvation from mortal death, the cross of Jesus leads the believer to salvation from immortal death and into eternal life. How blessed we are, beloved, to be graced with the choice to accept or reject such a gift. The gift offered to us by the passion of our Lord and Savior. All praise and thanks be to Jesus, as we exalt the wood of His cross, that instrument of our salvation!
09-13-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 13, 2023
(St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.” Lk_6:20-26
The Lukan Beatitudes. Not as extensive as those described in Matthew’s Gospel, but unlike Matthew’s, Luke’s are followed with a list of “woes.” If we’re not poor, hungry, sorrowful or persecuted we just might be over satisfied with what will only bring temporary happiness, rather than eternal joy! Strive for the greater things, beloved. LOVE!
09-12-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 12, 2023
(Most Holy Name of Mary)
St. Paul wrote, “See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him,” Col_2:6-15
Not the news, not the social media, not the movies, not even a good portion of all the religious hype we hear should “seduce” us. Only Christ in us, only His Word, His life and our lives according to those designs are what should captivate us. How can we be more like Him in prayer, in action, in love? This is what we should always be striving for, beloved. His “fullness!”
09-10-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 10, 2023
(23rd Sunday Ordinary Time, A)
To Ezekiel, God said: Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.” Ez_33:7-9
St. Paul wrote: The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Rom_13:8-10
Jesus outlined to His disciples a process of reconciliation between adversaries and concluded: “Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Mt_18:15-20
Today’s Scriptures present us with a pretty solemn and serious aspect of Life – Relationship. It’s something that can, at times, be difficult to live with, and yet, even more difficult to live without! Relationships!
And God knows, we’ve had our challenges, right from the start. From Adam and Eve’s weakness with obedience, that expelled us from paradise, to Cain’s imbalance with pride, that led to the first murder, we’ve been riddled with Relationship issues for a long, long time.
And, it’s not that God hasn’t tried to teach us, over and over again. From the iron fist of Noah’s flood, to the subtle confusion of languages at Babel, God has tried. And yet, we still, found it so hard to just cooperate with one another.
So, God tried “reverse psychology.” IF He could develop a close relationship with just ONE person, a person God named, Abraham. And Abraham, with God’s help, could grow a family, and then a community, and then a nation, who would all – love God and one another, then maybe some of the rest of the world, despite, and even IN their pride and jealousy, might want a Relationship just like that, as well. And then, we would be Fixed!
But we know, in retrospect, that that wasn’t quite the answer either. Instead of a desire for unity and peace and love, all the world seemed to want – was power, and wealth, and fame. And the only way that they believed they could reach those goals was through lawsuits and murder and war. “Eliminate the competition!”
So, God gave us some RULES. He outlined for us TEN different ways to get along better. To get along with Him, and to get along with one another – to LOVE! And, well, maybe He should have been a little more careful in teaching them how to READ first, because I’d bet, that even today, 50% of us couldn’t even recite all TEN of those Commandments.
So, God began to send them Prophets. Prophets who would BE God’s mouthpiece, figuring that since the people couldn’t read, maybe they could HEAR instead. Yet, He found, that in their stubborn, rebellious, hardness of hearts, they squelched every last one of those Prophets. Those beautiful people who gave up everything they owned and risked their very necks every day to bring God’s LOVE into their world, to build – RELATIONSHIPS!
Those Prophets, our “Watchmen,” like our Pastors, like our Parents, and even we, ourselves, were CALLED to be ACCOUNTABLE to God – for assuring that our loved ones KNOW the cost and the benefits of their own free will choice. The free will choice that God has preserved IN us, despite our incomprehensible difficulties with Relationship. A choice to LIVE, or to burn, to BELIEVE, or to be left behind, a choice to RELATE, or to die in isolation.
You know, it’s one thing to preach Love: To love those who love us in return; To help the needy; To comfort the hurting. All those works are truly important to life, as Jesus has taught us. And they make us feel good, besides. But when we are called: “Accountable” to confront those who hate us, those who have hurt us, or even those whom we have hurt ourselves, then this whole topic of Relationship becomes a little bit more challenging.
And How do we do that? How do we influence the thoughts and actions of the prideful, the greedy and the arrogant?
Now, keep in mind that God didn’t tell Ezekiel that he was accountable to CHANGE his adversaries, just to make sure he let them know the problem, and how to fix it. We are not called to take anyone’s free will away. It’s ALWAYS their choice. But everyone should know the rewards and the consequences of their choices and their actions.
Today Jesus gives his disciples and us, the step-by-step Guide to conflict resolution. And it’s not about badmouthing, and gossip, and Facebook defaming. And it’s not about lawsuits and the destruction of a person’s dignity. And it’s not about starting wars, or genocides, or mass murders, to get our way, or to prove our point. The Guide that Jesus teaches us is all about, actually LIVING God’s Ten Commandments. Actually living the LOVE that we profess, even with our enemies.
And it proceeds in 3 – Simple Steps:
Number 1: we COMMUNICATE directly and confidentially, one–on–one with our adversary. Maybe it was all, simply, a miscommunication, and that will be the end of it.
But maybe not, and, IF NOT, then we move to . . .
Number 2: we bring in a neutral, third party – to validate both of our understandings of one another, still keeping the matter confidential from the public.
And IF resolution is still not possible, Jesus tells us to bring the matter to the Church; not to the lawyers, and not to our fists. So, Number 3: is to chat together with a priest or a pastor. He will address our issues from a Pastoral, Scriptural and Grace-filled viewpoint, always keeping LOVE in the forefront of our discussions.
And remember, just like the advice God had for Ezekiel, we’re not called to change others, but to inform them. If resolution, still, cannot be accomplished, then we place it all in God’s hands. For God is the Just Judge of all. And He doesn’t want us to have to suffer the guilt and the pain that comes with retribution and revenge.
You know, sometimes, in our stubborn refusal to recognize the immense importance of Relationship, we and others can knowingly or unknowingly commit ourselves to the living fires of hell. And THAT’S something we neither want – for ourselves, or even for our worst of enemies!
Of course, our continual and final recourse is always PRAYER. We talk it over with God. We listen for His answers through the Scriptures. And we Pray as community, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, and with one another.
And Jesus reminds and consoles us, that where two or more are gathered together in His Name – THERE, and Here He IS: on our altar, and IN our hearts, and in all of our Relationships – of LOVE!
jmp 09-10-23
09-09-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 9, 2023
(St. Peter Claver, Priest)
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me. Jn_14:6 Alleluia Verse
When we pray to God, our Father, we pray through Jesus. The Holy Spirit enables that prayer. Without either Jesus or the Holy Spirit, the second and third persons of our Trinitarian God, we would have no access to God our Father. The ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus redeems us from our sinfulness and allows us access to the Father. Jesus is the ONLY Way, He is the truth and only through Him do we truly have – LIFE. Praise the Father for the Grace of sending Jesus into our lives. Praise the Holy Spirit for the connection – of Love!
09-08-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 8, 2023
(Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Mt_1:1-16,18-23
The Birth of Mary, the Mother of God
(Click Here for link to page)
09-07-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 7, 2023
Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. . . . When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Lk_5:1-11
Sometimes, right there beneath our own noses we find that the Lord has been with us all along. And sometimes, we have to “put out into the deep.” And then, in our reluctant unbelief, in our unsuspecting astonishment, the Lord will give us witness to His deepest self. He is with us IN ABUNDANCE, all the time! What is it, beloved, that we have received, in abundance, today? Was it food, our shelter, or safety, or even the words of another’s sharing? He is in it all! And then, is our response like Peter’s – Get away from me Lord for I am too sinful to even be near to your presence? Fear not, Jesus tells us. For I am with you always, until the end of the age!
09-06-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 6, 2023
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Lk_4:38-44
As much as we’d like to hang on to Jesus and make Him our own private possession, Jesus, though He does love us immensely, didn’t come only for us, but for everyone. Yes, He is ours. And yes, He will never leave us. But yes also, we need to share Him and His love with everyone we meet. Jesus loves everyone and they all need to know that too!
09-05-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 5, 2023
Jesus left Nazareth, from where his friends and neighbors just wanted to kill him, and went to Capernaum: In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. Lk_4:31-37
Funny how the friends and neighbors are easy to reject out of presumptuous judgment, while the demons, whom Jesus was rejecting, knew well His authority and power. It doesn’t mean that we should become sinners in order to get to know Jesus better. But recognizing our weakness to temptation, our weakness to allowing the demons to possess us, should all the more inspire us to stay close to Jesus, not reject his promptings, and be amazed at His authority. As the news of Jesus’ great acts spread, do you think, beloved, that those who rejected Him in Nazareth ever “converted,” ever felt any guilt about what they almost did, ever felt remorse for what eventually happened to their own brother and neighbor?
“What is there about His word?” they asked! Two things: LOVE and LIFE! And THAT’s something we all desire to the very depths of our being. We can find both in Jesus, in God our Father, in the Holy Spirit who dwells within – if we allow him!
09-04-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 4, 2023
Jesus said to his hometown friends and neighbors who were questioning his authority, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” Lk_4:16-30
Ever find yourself rejected by your own friends and family for speaking out for the Lord, beloved? Seems to happen more often than not. But send someone in with a briefcase and see the autograph books come flying out. And it’s not that they don’t truly have some pretty awesome words to share. But what about that little kid who asked that mind boggling question that you never thought about? What about that priest with the funny habits whom you know, all too well? What about the guy with the stupid intonation to his voice that makes him sound all so self-righteous? Maybe they all have some words, some message that’s coming directly from the Lord. Our goal is not to be presumptuous, not to judge. Just let their words rattle around in there and maybe find their own way into our hearts. Who knows, we just may be listening to God!
09-02-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 2, 2023
Jesus said, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Mt_25:14-30
God blesses us all with talents, with wisdom, with jobs and family and transportation and shelter, clothes and sunny days, rain and love. We are not called to hoard those gifts, but to offer them for the building of His kingdom. And that simply means helping those less fortunate than us. When we do, we find that our blessings grow. But when we hoard, they disappear, as all material and physical entities do. God wants us to live life to the full and that means being productive in the building of His Kingdom, as Jesus reminds us!
09-01-23 Catholic Daily Mass Quotes
September 1, 2023
While waiting for the bridegroom, the unprepared virgins went off to buy some oil for their lamps. But when they returned, they found the door locked. And so they pleaded, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ So Jesus concluded, “Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Mt_25:1-13
Sometimes Jesus’ parables are as clear as day, and sometimes they just leave us shaking our heads with “yeah, buts.” Yeah but, I thought You said that God is kind and merciful, so why were the five virgins locked out so harshly? Yeah but, I thought You said that we are supposed to love our neighbor to the point of going “an extra mile” for them. So why did the wise virgins send their companions off – in the middle of the night, knowing that the stores wouldn’t even be open for another 6-8 hours, instead of sharing their oil?
You see, part of our difficulty in understanding the parable is that we’re 2000-years late. Living in a different time and a different culture, many people today can’t even understand the Truth and Morality that WE’VE lived through in just the past century.
So, when we step back into a Jewish culture of Marriage Covenants and Blood Paths, between a man and a woman, as opposed to paper Contracts between – well who knows what; . . . When we step back into week-long Marriage Celebrations, instead of one-night stands; of unknown times, instead of year-ahead reservations; of oil lamps, and virgins, and town criers, then we get the feel that the process of Marriage back then, was unlike anything we can even imagine.
And when we try to retrofit our experience of marriage with a symbolic parable that pits thousands of years of Jewish heritage, in anxious anticipation of a Savior, against the acceptance of that Savior by foreigners, and His acceptance of them, instead of the ill-prepared and hard-hearted Jewish leaders, then we realize that the questions of Mercy and Sharing are simply moot, not even relevant. . . . Because the point that Jesus was making – had a lot more to do with Preparedness and Vigilance, than it had anything to do with marriage.
You see, our Faith journeys, up to this point in our lives have involved: Learning, and Sacrifice, and Mercy, and Love. And after, closing on a century of life, we’re well familiar with exhaustion. Maybe we weren’t quite prepared for those trials and tribulations, those curvy roads and those insurmountable mountains, but like the wise virgins, we kept coming back, time and again, in Prayer, in Love, in Giving, and in Sacrifice for others – all FOR the sake of God’s Kingdom.
And, you know what, maybe it’ll be another hundred years, or maybe it’ll just be tomorrow, the length of this life of ours, but either way, keeping our Vigilance in Jesus, trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strength, we will be welcomed with open arms when Jesus, our bridegroom, comes to take us home! A wedding feast – for all eternity. And that will deserve one Great – AMEN, Alleluia!
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Happy September, beloved!
God’s blessings!
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Link below.
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