These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (Jn 15:9-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050726.cfm
“That my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” In a world like ours, we don’t often hear about joy, but our faith in the Resurrection calls us to joy. It is this joy that transforms fear and despair and gives us hope. Hope to love neighbors in need. Hope to feed a hungry world. Hope to build a world of justice. Hope to beat swords into plough shares. Hope to be instruments of God mercy and reconciliation. The joy of the Lord is our salvation. https://youtu.be/NP69tONsr8Y?si=YBFfIzAL8J_kMwAb
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050626.cfm
On this day in 1978, I was ordained a presbyter (priest) through the ancient apostolic rite of prayer and the laying on hands. I am grateful to all of you who have supported me in this journey with the Lord. I carry all of you in my prayers and my heart. May Christ the True Vine nourish us always so that we may bear fruit to eternal life. https://youtu.be/umLK1RgAZyg?si=EjVCXuaYwqwNEtNa
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. (Acts 14:19-28)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050526.cfm
The word “presbyter” is from Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros). It means old one, elder. It does not mean “priest” (in Greek ἱερεύς hiereus). Only the Letter to the Hebrews uses the word “priest” to refer to the ministry of Jesus. The church used secular terms to refer to its ministers: bishop (episkopos, overseer), elder (presbyteros), and deacon (diakonos, table-waiter). Much later the church began to understand that its ministers had a special share in the priesthood of Jesus and began to use “priest” to refer to them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyter On May 30, my diocese will ordain 10 presbyters, the largest class in our history. https://youtu.be/Sgm9lkTNQmc?si=40OKf5IF5hAJxgNR
As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him, and he continued on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:26-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042326.cfm
The question the eunuch asks is the central question of the Acts of the Apostles. “What is to prevent my being baptized?” The answer of course is the Law of God says that people like him can never be a member of the People of God. It is the same question about the Gentiles. The early church answers the question that everyone is welcome. As Pope Francis said the church is for everyone, “todos, todos, todos.” And so, the eunuch is baptized and joyfully continues on the way. https://youtu.be/u3gkqhd2_0g?si=kBzka-OQ94tRtYUD
Jesus said to the crowds, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. (Jn 6:35-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042226.cfm
To satisfy the deepest hungers of the human family Jesus gives us the food and drink of eternal life, the sacrament of his Body and Blood. In speaking of the mystery of the Eucharist, Saint Augustine tells us to become what we celebrate. To hunger and thirst for Christ calls us to care for our brothers and sisters in need. As my spiritual director used to say, “The Eucharist can never really be over as long as there is one hungry person in the world.” https://youtu.be/dNldiTMHm0o?si=p9Kt6k30tBN312vD
