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.

Wednesday, Week XXX, Ordinary Time

People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. (Lk 13:22-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103024.cfm
Those who want a smaller, purer church are really out of luck. The vision of Jesus is as wide as his arms of love: many will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and sit at table in the Kingdom of God. How could it be any different? For Jesus is the one who welcomes sinners and eats with them. And as the liturgy joyfully proclaims: Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb. For the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world invites us to the Table in the Kingdom of God.