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.
Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” (Mk 6:17-29)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082925.cfm
The Passion of John the Baptist foreshadows the Passion of Jesus. Even in his death, John the Baptist points to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. https://youtu.be/NEtwggOmvdA?si=0Tgo4iRIPMGQaJ4d
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. (1 Thes 3:7-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082825.cfm
It was Oscar Wilde who famously said, “Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.” Thanks to the prayers and the tears of his mother, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine’s past and future were transformed by God’s love. Today I remember the love of my mom, Norma Torp Boyd, who died on this day in 1996. As today’s responsorial psalm joyfully proclaims: Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy! (Psalm 90) https://youtu.be/BBPbZHK41dM?si=3aVAvCOwypOHGlWv
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. (1 Thes 2:9-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082725.cfm
Saint Monica exhorted, encouraged and insisted that her son, Augustine, walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling, but all to no avail. Then she turned to her most powerful weapons, her prayers and her tears. Eventually, she won over her son, and he became a great teacher of the church. As she was dying in Italy, Augustine was very anxious to get her home to Africa, but the ship was delayed. She told him, “Son, don’t worry about my body, bury me wherever I die, but remember me always at the altar of the Lord.” His feast day is tomorrow. https://youtu.be/ywkkkiJ1FxI?si=u5oJrBB7F7YGu1LO
Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. (1 Thes 2:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082625.cfm
Pope Francis caused quite a stir in the Vatican when he was baptizing infants in the Sistine Chapel and gave permission to the nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies if they got hungry. Of course, Pope Francis was not being disrespectful of the Sacrament of Baptism nor of the sanctity of the Sistine Chapel but rather was simply following in the footsteps of Saint Paul. https://youtu.be/KVMu_KCSRzE?si=B4nCkOh8vFGEYqrc
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. (1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082525.cfm
Sometimes we forget that we are chosen by God in Christ, that God has called us by name. We have been called to the “work of faith, the labor of love and endurance in hope.” That is our dignity, that is our mission and our call.
