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.

SATURDAY, WEEK XXI, ORDINARY TIME—The Passion of Saint John the Baptist, August 29

R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The tragedy of the Passion of John the Baptist has been portrayed in music, dance and art. But in the gospels, the Passion of John the Baptist points to the Passion of the Lord Jesus. So, when the cost of discipleship goes up, it’s always good to remember that God never forgets. The Beatitudes are the promise that being a disciple, following in the footsteps of Jesus, is what it’s all about: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.