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.
Thus says the LORD: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying. (Is 65:17a, 18a, 19b)
This ancient prophecy of Isaiah speaks of hope for us here today in the middle of the world crisis caused by the coronavirus. A new heavens and a new earth . . . and a new us, with rejoicing and happiness.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” (John 9:35-39)
Jesus is always with the outcasts—when the man born blind was thrown out, Jesus went to find him. It's amazing that as long as he was blind the man had no problems. But once his eyes were opened, he gets thrown out of his religious community. May the Lord open our eyes during these difficult times to see the world through the Compassionate Eyes of Christ.
“Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” (Hosea 6:1-3)
In this difficult time when we need healing and hope, we certainly could use a cleansing spring rain, to water and restore us, so that we can know the Lord and live in the presence of God. For God is merciful and compassionate.
Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God . . . . I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:2a, 5-8)
Return, be healed, and blossom. Good news for difficult times.
