A Still Small Voice
June 15, 2018
Dear Family of Mary!
The first reading for Mass today is from 1Kings 19. Elijah has had to run away from Jezebel because he had withstood her and she wanted to destroy him. He runs into the wilderness, and comes to a cave. There he is told by the Lord to stand and wait for Him in the cave. Here is what Elijah experienced:
And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Eli’jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Eli’jah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Elijah was given a lesson on how to discern the presence of the Lord. Most of us would expect that the presence of the Lord would be filled with power like a strong wind, and earthquake, or fire. Don’t we wonder when the Lord will reveal himself to the world with fire and brimstone? But Elijah experienced each of these destructive natural forces and did not sense the presence of the Lord in them. It was not until he heard a still small voice that Elijah was aware of God. He immediately covered his face, because it was thought to see God was to die. And he stood at the entrance of the cave and awaited God.
God spoke to Elijah in a “still small voice”. This voice was an intimate voice. It was a voice that spoke directly to Elijah’s heart. It may have been small, easily disregarded. But for Elijah, it was the voice that had accompanied him as he prophesied to errant Israel, and who now had more work for Elijah to do.
We also need to be attuned to the still small voice within us, the voice of our Lord and God. Each of us are called to hear His voice and follow Him. Our Lady has told us:
“…Oh, my children, how much bad is done by those who must see or interpret in order to come to believe. That is why, you, my children, my apostles, in the silence of your heart, listen to the voice of my Son, so that your heart may be His home, that it may not be dark and sad, but that it may be illuminated with the light of my Son…” October 02, 2016
Our Lady tells us we must listen to the voice of her Son, in the silence of our hearts. His voice will be still and small. It will not command or frighten us. He will speak to us gently and in a way that could be missed. That is why we must grow in silence. Only then will we hear Jesus properly. Prayer helps us grow in silence. Like Elijah we can wait in the cave of our heart, and discern the presence of God, not in the violent occurrences of life, but in the small still communications of love that His voice brings.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
PS. Tomorrow, Saturday, June 16, 2018, the Parish of St. James will begin a Novena in honor of the 37th Anniversary of Our Lady’s coming to Medjugorje. The Novena will be prayed by the parish, while climbing Apparition Hill. The climb will begin at 4:00 pm Medjugorje time. The Novena will end on June 24, 2018. Mary TV will be altering our schedule to accommodate this Novena, streaming it, live, on our channel. Here is the altered schedule:
3:00 pm Medjugorje time – (9:00 am EDT) –
The Daily Rosary with Denis and Cathy
4:00 pm Medjugorje time – (10:00 am EDT) –
Parish 37th Anniversary Novena climbing Apparition Hill
6:00 pm Medjugorje time – (12:00 pm EDT) –
Parish Evening Rosary
7:00 pm Medjugorje Time – (1:00 pm EDT)
International Mass
This will extend for nine days from June 16 to June 24.
Note, there will not be Hour of Mercy for that period of time.
