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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord. (Jn 17:21)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Today’s passage is a continuation of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus from the 17th chapter of the Fourth Gospel. How important is our unity!
When Paul had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.
(Acts 20:28-38)
It was a tearful goodbye when Saint Paul took his leave of the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus. But our “goodbyes” are never final . . . in the Lord we will see each other again.
From Miletus Paul had the presbyters
of the Church at Ephesus summoned.
When they came to him, he addressed them:
“I consider life of no importance to me,
if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.”
(Acts 20:17-27)
Saint Paul will finish the course. His martyrdom in Rome, along with Saint Peter’s martyrdom in Rome, marked a turning point for the Early Church. Of course, the church of Rome could then claim the two greatest apostles as their own. This time between the Ascension and Pentecost is considered the first novena . . . praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples.
He said to them,
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They answered him,
“We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 19:1-8)
Even though believers may have no idea about the work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is still at work!
When Jesus had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?”
(Acts 1:1-11)
It’s always curious that folks want to assume that “men dressed in white garments” are always “angels.” But the gospel is very clear . . . they were men in “white garments.” It would make sense if they were the recently baptized. And of course, they ask the right question: “Why are you just standing there looking at the sky?” There’s work to be done: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Let’s get to it!
