Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 13 June 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 13 June 2014
Meditations: 1 Kings 19:9 He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
11 He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.”
Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
15 Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 Anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
There was a tiny whispering sound. (1 Kings 19:12)
Israel was at a critical juncture in its history, and Elijah had retreated to Mount Horeb to hear the voice of the Lord. First a strong wind, then an earthquake, then a fire passed before Elijah—all very impressive manifestations of God’s power, each one seeming to bear the kind of majesty that befitted Israel’s need. But God was in none of them. Instead, Elijah heard the Lord through a “tiny whispering sound” that was so intimate and so intense it made the prophet hide his face in his cloak (1 Kings 19:13).
How do you know when God is speaking to you and when you’re just thinking good thoughts? We may think that heroes like Elijah found it easy to hear God, but history shows that they were ordinary people just like us. They, too, had to learn the art of discernment. Was God speaking in the whirlwind? Or was that just the prophet’s emotional turmoil? Was that faint whisper in the back of her mind the Holy Spirit? Or was it just wishful thinking? Only trial and error could sharpen their skills.
The same is true for us. God speaks to us in many different ways: in the events of the day, in the Scriptures and teachings of the Church, in the words and actions of friends, and, yes, in powerful manifestations of his presence. In all of these situations, God wants us to learn how to discern the voice of his Spirit.
So how do we begin? It’s really quite simple. Jesus once said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). This can apply to our own thoughts as well as to other people. For instance, if a thought in your mind helps you love God more or be a little kinder to someone, it’s probably from the Lord. But if something makes you anxious, fearful, angry, or resentful, it’s probably not God speaking to you.
God wants to speak to you. In fact, he’s probably trying to tell you something right now. Take a moment to quiet your heart and listen.
“Holy Spirit, open the ears of my heart. Teach me to hear you clearly, so that I may follow your plan for my life.” Amen.
Psalms 27:7 Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice.
    Have mercy also on me, and answer me.
8 When you said, “Seek my face,”
    my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
9 Don’t hide your face from me.
    Don’t put your servant away in anger.
You have been my help.
    Don’t abandon me,
    neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
13 I am still confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.
14 Wait for Yahweh.
    Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
Yes, wait for Yahweh.
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said,[a] ‘You shall not commit adultery;’[b] 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.[c] 30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.[d]
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’[e] 32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:27 TR adds “to the ancients”.
b. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
c. Matthew 5:29 or, Hell
d. Matthew 5:30 or, Hell
e. Matthew 5:31 Deuteronomy 24:1
-------