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.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 122)
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
A psalm of pilgrimage expressing the joy of pilgrims arriving at the goal of their journey, the House of the Lord. Cardinal Roger Mahony, in his pastoral letter on the liturgy, Gather Faithfully Together, talks about the true entrance procession of the Mass beginning in the homes and apartments all through the neighborhood:
“So this is the entrance procession, coming from all directions, made up of all ages, several races, a variety of economic circumstances and political outlooks -- and speaking at least three first languages! But they are all in a great procession, the Church assembling in the house of the Church. “We shall go up with joy,” “Que alegría cuando me dijeron vamos a la casa del Señor.”
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
(Jn 14:27-31)
Peace is Christ’s farewell gift to us. But peace is not just the absence of war, peace is the fruit of justice. Pope Paul VI reminded the world of this truth when he told the United Nations:
If you want peace, then work for justice.
Christ Jesus being found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him . . . .
(Phil 2:6-11)
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
(1 Jn 3:18-24)
Deeds are always more important than words. Perhaps, the gospel writers were aware of that as well when they portrayed Saint Joseph. In the Scriptures, Saint Joseph never utters a word . . . instead he acts, and that made all the difference.
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said,
“Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him,
“My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him,
“Have you come to believe
because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen
and have believed.”
(Jn 20:26-29)
Everyone seems to think that Thomas actually touched the Risen Lord . . . but the gospel doesn’t say that at all. In response to what Jesus says to him, Thomas gives the highest confession in all the New Testament, “My Lord and my God!”
