“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.” (1 KGS 19: 11-12)
Elijah escaped from the persecution and founded shelter in the mountains, expecting to “stand on the mountain before the LORD” when the “LORD will be passing by.” The LORD was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but He was in 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.” It is much easier for us to answer to a “light silent sound” and much easier to recognize in this sound a friendly presence. Our LORD always brings “the word of life” in the most friendly way.
“Shine like lights on the world, as you hold on to the word of life.”
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (MT 5: 23-24)
The fulfillment of the law is love, so when we bring a “gift to the altar” and my “brother has anything against me,” it is more important to “go first and be reconciled with my brother, and then come and offer my gift.” There is no true relationship with God when there is no true relationship with my brother—“love one another as I have loved you.”
“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command. Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you.” (1 KGS 18: 36-37)
God always calls us closer and closer to Him, taking care of our relationship, protecting it and helping us to grow. When our hearts are busy and occupied by many daily things, He can “turn our hearts back to Him.” It could be by retreats, by daily Mass or daily readings, or even just by a few minutes of adoration or a simple thought about Him.
“Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (MT 5: 16)
“Salt losing its taste” and “light hidden” are in opposition to our role in the world. We are responsible to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” As couples or singles, young or mature, we have our mission—to bring good taste and light to this world so that people can “glorify our heavenly Father.”
“Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.” (1 KGS 17: 3-4)
God takes care of us in many different ways: “you shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.” There is no problem for God, creator of all, to protect us and keep us alive. When we follow God’s will and when we do what is God’s command, He will answer to all our needs. He expects from us only to trust Him.
“Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.” (Gal 1: 15-16)
Loved from the beginning of our lives and called “from my mother’s womb,” we are on our missions—to “proclaim Him to the Gentiles” of our times and our places. He always takes care of us, always protects us and is always among us in the Eucharist, the sacraments and in His Church.
“A great prophet has risen in our midst God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.” (EZ 34: 12)
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, who loves us so much and is like a good shepherd for us. He “tends his sheep” and “will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.” Fortunately, He knows better than we do all these places, and He knows how to take us out of them.
“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord, I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” (2 TM 2: 11-13)
The most beautiful message—“If we are unfaithful He remains faithful, for He cannot deny himself.” There is a space for our weaknesses, our sins, and our problems. He is always faithful; He is always close to us; He is always our help, refuge and unconditional love.
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” (2 TIM 1: 6-7)
With God’s gifts, “a spirit of power and love and self-control,” we can grow as a community. “A spirit of power” helps us fight against our weaknesses; “a spirit of love” helps us to recognize the needs of our dearest ones not ours, and a “spirit of self-control” helps us to be a 100%, sincere gift of self.
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.” (Gospel Acclamation)
