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.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5:20-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031425.cfm
I remember a priest friend who told the story of celebrating Mass and having to read this gospel. He said he asked the people to pray while he went to the parish office and called his brother with whom he hadn’t spoken for several years. Afterwards, he returned to the church and continued the liturgy. Maybe that’s precisely what the Lord had in mind for all of us. We joyfully pray for Pope Francis.
Queen Esther prayed: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy. Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness." (Esther C: 12, 14-16, 23-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031325.cfm
Esther is one of the most famous women of the Bible. Her example of prayer is not some butterfly ecstasy . . . but rather sheer terror in confronting the enemies of her people. And with God’s grace, Esther prevails. When he was elected, before imparting his apostolic blessing, Pope Francis bowed his head and asked us to pray for him. Let us continue to pray for one another this Lent and for Pope Francis.
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 11:29-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031225.cfm
The Sign of Jonas is the name of the journal written by Thomas Merton between 1946-1952. I remember how grateful I was to have found it and read it during my early life as a Benedictine monk. How important it is to see God’s hand at work in our everyday lives. Perhaps even reluctant prophets like Jonah can reveal God’s humor in a great big fish story. We keep praying for Pope Francis.
Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Is 55:10-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031125.cfm
God’s Word achieves the end God intends. In the mysterious ways of God, it might not always be clear to us what that end is. But we are called to be doers of that Word and not just hearers only. We give thanks to the Lord that Pope Francis is improving.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Lev 19:1-2, 11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031025.cfm
In one sense, Lent is never about US: what I’m going to sacrifice, how much weight I’m going to lose, how much time I’m going to spend in prayer. Lent is always about OTHERS. As Jesus gently reminds us, love your neighbor as yourself is not optional. We can never love God unless we love our neighbor. We continue to pray for Pope Francis.
