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 LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. (Is 49:1)
Sometimes we forget that the Lucan gospel begins with TWO annunciation stories and TWO nativities. Today, six months before Christmas, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, who prepared the way of the Lord. As Zechariah proclaims:
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (Lk 1:76-77)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 7:12)
I remember a Children’s Mass that was trying to explain the challenge that gospel writers faced. One of kids, playing the part of the gospel writer, asked, “Jesus said something about doing to others . . . but what was that last part?” One kid answered: “Jesus said: Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.” Well, another kid answered, “No, he didn’t say that, he said, “Do unto others THEN they’ll do unto you.” Finally, one kid gets it right, “No, Jesus said, ‘Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” Being a gospel writer had it’s challenges!
Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. (Mt 7:1-2)
We church people love to pass judgment on others. It just comes naturally. Perhaps that’s why Jesus had to spell it out for us: STOP JUDGING! And then to make sure we understood he added some of the most important words in the Scriptures: the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
The picture today is of Mr Humphries from the Men's Department at Grace Brothers in the British comedy, Are You Being Served?. With good humor, Mr Humphries always made sure that everyone got measured.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Mt 10:29-31)
God's love is a providential love, God provides for all our needs . . . and we of little faith need reminding because sometimes we forget. It's like that old gospel hymn that Ethel Waters used to sing: ♫His eye is on the sparrow . . . and I know he watches me♫. Like a mother who tenderly cares for her child, like a father helping his child to take a first step . . . our God cares for us . . . and provides for all our needs. This God who like a loving parent will never, ever forget us.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. (Lk 2:51)
The scriptural references to the Heart of Mary . . . remind us of the love of Mother and Son . . . two hearts that beat as one.
