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.
The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Mt 19:20-22)
When the cost of discipleship goes up, will we walk away sad or will we let go of all that holds us back and follow Jesus?
The picture today is from a Chinese artist illustrating the story from today's gospel.
For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Is 56:7)
Forty years ago my grandmother and I attended the ordination of a friend, Father Ted Hochstatter, at the Cathedral of Peoria, Illinois. The next day Father Ted celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the country church that his grandparents built. It was a remarkable Mass because the music was provided by a deaf choir where Father Ted had worked. In addition, the entire Mass was presented in Sign Language. Father Ted met Mother Teresa in Rome in 1990, and in 1993, kneeling before Mother Teresa, Fr. Ted promised whole-hearted, free service to the “poorest of the poor,” to take no salary, keep no savings, and have nothing of his own. To this day, Fr. Ted is still working with the Missionaries of Charity, the order that Mother Teresa started. He has served the Missionaries of Charity in Rome, USA, Haiti, Albania, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. For the past 20 years, Father Ted has worked among the “poorest of the poor” in Kenya and East Africa. Father Ted works every day to make God’s house, "a house of prayer for all peoples," especially for the “poorest of the poor.” His webpage is frtedskids.org.
God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev 11:19-12:1)
The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the promise and the foretaste of the future resurrection of all who follow him and the great reunion of all the saints. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates that reunion that Mary now shares with her Son.
But I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young; I will set up an everlasting covenant with you. (Ezekiel 16:60)
That God remembers is the foundation of faith. We trust that even though we forget, God will never forget us.
Saint Maximillian Kolbe gave his life to save the life of another prisoner in the concentration camp of the Nazis. His sacrifice reminds us that God never forgets an act of kindness.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. (Mt 18:21-22)
For stingy people like us, Peter asks the right question: “How often must i forgive, as many as seven times?” But no one is prepared for the Lord’s reply: “Not seven times but seventy-seven times!”
