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.
Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the Church. (3 JN 5-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111624.cfm
There was a time when basic goodness was instilled in us at home, at church, and at school. Unfortunately, we don’t live in those times anymore. I’ll never forget the elderly lady I used to visit when I was a young priest. She was talking about growing up Catholic in a racist community where the Ku Klux Klan was very visible. She said to me: “Father, there was a time when we Catholics and Blacks were in the same boat. We’re not there anymore, and we’ve lost something.” The Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that she is the Mother of us all.
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. (2 Jn 4-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111524.cfm
Today we have another very short letter, the Second Letter of John. It is interesting that the writer has to remark that it’s not a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love on another. It’s always a good reminder because it is the one commandment that we almost always fail to keep.
I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. (PHMN 7-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111424.cfm
This very short and personal letter of Saint Paul to Philemon is a real gem. Onesimus, a runaway slave, is being sent back to his owner who had the right of life and death over him. Although we don’t know how Onesimus was received, I imagine that Saint Paul won the day.
For we ourselves were once hateful ourselves and hating one another. (Ti 3:1-7)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111324.cfm
“Hateful ourselves and hating one another” is a pretty good description of the politics of hate and division we have today. We desperately need grace . . . God’s abundant grace so that we can imitate the kindness and generous love of God poured out on us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) an immigrant missionary sister who became the first United States citizen to be canonized. I remember how some folks said that Mother Cabrini really didn’t count as a US saint because she was an immigrant. These folks were pushing for the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) as the first “native-born” US saint. (Mother Seton wasn’t born in the United States either, but rather in the British Colonies that became the United States!).
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. (Ti 2:1-8, 11-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111224.cfm
This reading from the Letter to Titus appears in the readings for Christmas and reminds us that Christ comes and goes about doing good, so that we too might be eager to do what is good. Saint Josaphat (1589-1623) is a martyr to the unity of the church.
