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.
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)
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
(Heb 11:1-2,8-19)
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
(Mk 4:35-41)
We begin one of the most beautiful sections of the Letter to the Hebrews . . . the heroes and she-roes of faith. Mark’s gospel shows the disciples as being a bit lacking in faith. As our scripture professor in seminary said of this passage: “They don’t know who Jesus is—and he just calmed the wind and the sea—what dummies!”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
(Mk 4:26-34)
Sometimes the disciples were really slow to catch on. But no problem. The Lord explained everything to them in private. How convenient!
