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.
Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful. (Jl 2:12-13)
“Even now” means there’s still time no matter how late we might think it is, there’s still time for all of us. I know I’m from the South, but gracious and merciful . . . wins my heart every time.
Jesus said to his disciples: “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. (Mt 6:9-13)
The most radical two words in the prayer that Jesus gave us are the first two: Our Father. When we pray Our Father, who is not included in the “Our?” It’s a statement about our relationship with God, but even more, it’s a radical statement about our relationship with one another.
‘What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ (Mt 25:45)
The problem of "doing things for Jesus" is that we tend to care just for the deserving poor . . . and so we miss Jesus every time.
“. . . through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.” (Rom 5:19)
Long before there was an Ash Wednesday, Lent began on the First Sunday of Lent. So if you missed Ash Wednesday, rejoice! You can begin the journey today . . . the journey with Christ to the Easter that never ends.