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.
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. (Col 1:15-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090525.cfm
This ancient hymn of praise speaks of the primacy of Christ who is the “firstborn of all creation” and of the sacramentality of Christ who is “the image of the invisible God.” The beautiful hymn concludes with the reconciliation and peace Christ has gained for us. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) taught us that we find Christ in the poor. https://youtu.be/fNIB-Gh2DUg?si=ZFqX3fCqdevIFBTr
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. (Lk 5:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090425.cfm
The Lucan gospel gives us the “expanded edition” of the call of the first disciples. We shouldn’t be surprised that the Lord walks right into the middle of our everyday lives and messes up everything. The Lord calls whom the Lord wills. All we can do is simply follow him. https://youtu.be/Hvnp8fjUv0E?si=ofpUCqP9GmPGuZX1
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. (Lk 4:38-44)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090325.cfm
Jesus’ ministry on behalf of the sick is an essential element in the gospel story. There is no triage, no questions about insurance coverage or preexisting conditions or method of payment. Jesus didn’t ask for citizenship papers or identity documents. Jesus simply laid hands on the sick and cured them. Maybe we should learn from Jesus. When asked what he wanted to do as pope, Saint Gregory the Great said that he wanted to be the “servant of the servants of God.” https://youtu.be/2hlXlnTfGGc?si=OPSaKVYwgOqYHMTm
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. (1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090225.cfm
Lots of people think the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Well, perhaps it is. The world has been a regular mess for at least the last 10,000 years. But Saint Paul has some pretty encouraging words for all of us: Get over it! As the Apostle gently reminds us: You are children of the light and children of the day. Don’t sleep on the job, we have work to do, telling the Good News of God’s unconditional love for us in Christ Jesus and loving one another as Jesus taught us.
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. (Lk 4:16-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090125.cfm
Today we begin the continuous reading of the public ministry of Jesus in the Lucan gospel. The hometown crowd want to kill Jesus for preaching about God intervening on behalf of “foreigners.” This scene is repeated in many parishes whenever the priest preaches about justice for immigrants or other marginalized groups. As the Scripture tells us about little Nazareth: Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away. Sadly, people never seem to learn how politicians love to demonize marginalized groups in order to maintain their own power and control.
