Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; the one who judges me is the Lord. (1 Cor 4:1-5)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090222.cfm
Long ago, in a parish far, far away, I was being attacked for my HIV/AIDS ministry and my outreach to LGBT Catholics and their parents. I made reference to this particular passage of scripture:
“As a pastor and a priest, I will not turn my back on those who are living with HIV/AIDS. As a pastor and a priest, I will not turn my back on our gay brothers and sisters and their families. One day I will have to stand before our Lord and give an accounting of my priestly ministry. He is the one to judge me—not you. And what is the measure he will use? . . . "as often as you did it for one of these least ones, you did it to me."
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.
Friday, Week XXII, Ordinary Time
