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.
Jesus said to his disciples: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (Lk 17:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111124.cfm
Context is everything. Faith the size of a mustard seed is about forgiveness. Saint Martin of Tours (316-397) is one of the “soldier saints.” He became a Christian, left soldiering behind and picked up the banner of Christ. At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, peace came that ended the First World War in 1918. Today’s photo is of my great uncle Charlie Goetting (1888-1918) who died from a poisonous gas attack in the trenches of the First World War.
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mt 12:38-44)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm
Politics, even church at times, is dominated by billionaires and those who fawn over them, Jesus is not impressed. It is the poor widow with her two small coins who draws his praise.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110924.cfm
The cathedral of the City of Rome is the Lateran Basilica, NOT the Basilica of Saint Peter. But church buildings represent all of us. For as Saint Paul points out, we “are the temple of God.” Of course, the early church had NO buildings at all (Christianity was not a “tolerated” religion in the Roman Empire). Unfortunately, we tend to think of the church building as the church. Actually, WE are the church, the building is simply where we, the church, gather to celebrate our Lord.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. (Phil 3:17-4:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110824.cfm
Because of tomorrow’s feast, today is our final reading from the Letter to the Philippians. When Saint Paul refers to the community as “my joy and crown,” we begin to see how dear this community is to him. The bonds of love and affection that knit us together is the joy and crown of ministry. It’s the part that they never really teach in seminary.
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. (Lk 15:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110724.cfm
Sometimes context gives us a fuller understanding of a passage. Three of the greatest parables follow this complaint against Jesus: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Child (or the Prodigal Son) are far more radical than we ever imagined. Instead of “our search for God”, these parables of Jesus turn that spiritual canard upside down. It is God who comes searching for us and doesn’t give up until we are safely found and then throws a party to rejoice.
