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. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light. R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. (Psalm 36)
When I was a kid we made a trip to Saint Augustine, Florida. We visited the Fort and we went to the Fountain of Youth. Supposedly, Ponce de Leon searched for the Fountain and according to local legend he found it in Saint Augustine. I remember we drank the water, but I don’t think it worked! What I was really searching for was not the Fountain of Youth, but rather the Fountain of Life.
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. (Jn 20:14-16)
Saint Mary Magdalene’s fierce love for the Lord brought her to the tomb on that first day of the week. Even though she thought he was the gardener, once he called her by name, “Mary,” she answered with faith, “Master.” And then she went to tell the others . . . which is why the early church called her, the “Apostle to the Apostles!” She still has lots to tell to all of us.
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12:46-50)
Saint Augustine knew that we are brothers and sisters to the Lord, but he always wondered how we could be mothers to the Lord. He decided that perhaps we could be mothers to the Lord when we brought others to faith. What a wonderful thought . . . helping to birth the Lord in others!
You have been told what the LORD requires of you: Only to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
This is probably the best known quote from all the Prophets thanks to Catholic sisters; for every Catholic sister I have ever known has had this verse carved on her heart.
For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. (Wisdom 12:16)
The Book of Wisdom is praising God’s might, or power. But that power is not expressed through humiliating and destroying enemies, but rather in mercy (God’s being lenient to all). As the Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat points out, there are lots of folks who would like to take it on themselves to weed God’s garden:
His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest.'
It’s significant that the owner says, “No thank you! Just let the weeds and wheat grow together . . . they will be separated at harvest time.” Now you and I know that weeding the summer garden is essential. But God has a different idea. Perhaps mercy is not a sign of weakness . . . just the opposite, mercy is power. Our God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity” (Psalm 86).
