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 has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life. (1 Cor 15:20-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081524-Day.cfm
The old translation for the Preface for the Ascension of the Lord says: “Where he has gone, we hope to follow.” Today’s feast of the Assumption of Mary reminds us that one day, we too, like Mary, will follow him, for he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And as Mary sings in her hymn of praise: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord . . . for he has lifted up the lowly. Holy is his name.”
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 133)
R. The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.
From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory.
R. The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081424.cfm
As the Eucharistic prayer says: “You never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name” (Eucharistic Prayer III). It is this praise of the Lord that filled the heart of Maximillian Kolbe (1894-1941) and moved him to offer his life in place of a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz who had a family. He died on this day a martyr of charity.
He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. (Ez 2:8-3:4)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081324.cfm
To devour the word of God in order to proclaim it to the people. Wow, what a vision! Sometimes that word is a hard word, “Lamentation and wailing and woe!” But like the prophet says, “it was sweet as honey in my mouth.”
Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. (Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081224.cfm
Sometimes a rainbow is just a rainbow . . . but in the vision of Ezekiel a rainbow is the glory of the Lord. For the next two weeks our Summer of the Prophets comes to a conclusion with the great prophet Ezekiel. In the tragedy of the Exile, Ezekiel sees the promise of restoration when God will write the covenant on our hearts.
I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. (Jn 6:41-51)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081124.cfm
The bread that comes down from heaven, bread broken and shared, our Lord Jesus Christ.
