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.
Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Heb 13:1-8)
As we come to the conclusion of the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of some basic truths: the importance of love and hospitality, and the unchanging center of our faith, Jesus Christ. Saint Agatha is another of the virgin martyrs of the early church. Saint Agatha is the patron saint for breast cancer.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
(Mk 6:1-6)
The issue of the family of Jesus raises lots of questions for Christians today . . . where did all these brothers and sisters come from? It’s a real conundrum for priests and parish educators. Well, the family of Jesus raised lots of questions for the early church as well, but for a different reason. For the early church the issue was who gets to belong to the family of Jesus—can Gentiles belong? Obviously, for the gospel writer we call Mark, Jesus’ family of origin was well known to the townsfolk, and they were not impressed (“Who does he think he is?”}. Perhaps for us, with a world and a church so divided, we might need to focus a bit more on the carpenter, the son of Mary, who chooses to make us his sisters and brothers.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
(Lk 2:32)
This beautiful feast of light with the procession with candles reminds us that only 40 days ago we celebrated the Nativity of the Lord. The “holy encounter” as it is called celebrates the Lord coming to meet his people. The aged Simeon and Anna have their hopes fulfilled—to see the Anointed of the Lord.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
(Heb 11, 32-40, 12:1-4)
Tomorrow’s feast will interrupt the conclusion to this great passage on the saints who have gone before us. So wise celebrants will make sure that the lector includes today the ending as the lectionary intends. This “great cloud of witnesses” that spurs us on to cross the finish line. It’s an image that recalls the Olympic Games and the running of the marathon. The great cloud of witnesses have finished their race and have taken their seats in the stadium. And when we enter the stadium after our cross-country trek, they erupt in cheers for us to complete the course!
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
(Mk 1:21-28)
Jesus taught with authority. Of course, we weak human beings crave that kind of authority for ourselves. We want our word to be law. Sometimes we forget that Jesus’ authority comes from love and service. As Jesus prays in the garden, “Not my will but yours be done!” (Lk 22:42)
