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.
I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. (PHMN 7-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111424.cfm
This very short and personal letter of Saint Paul to Philemon is a real gem. Onesimus, a runaway slave, is being sent back to his owner who had the right of life and death over him. Although we don’t know how Onesimus was received, I imagine that Saint Paul won the day.
For we ourselves were once hateful ourselves and hating one another. (Ti 3:1-7)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111324.cfm
“Hateful ourselves and hating one another” is a pretty good description of the politics of hate and division we have today. We desperately need grace . . . God’s abundant grace so that we can imitate the kindness and generous love of God poured out on us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) an immigrant missionary sister who became the first United States citizen to be canonized. I remember how some folks said that Mother Cabrini really didn’t count as a US saint because she was an immigrant. These folks were pushing for the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) as the first “native-born” US saint. (Mother Seton wasn’t born in the United States either, but rather in the British Colonies that became the United States!).
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. (Ti 2:1-8, 11-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111224.cfm
This reading from the Letter to Titus appears in the readings for Christmas and reminds us that Christ comes and goes about doing good, so that we too might be eager to do what is good. Saint Josaphat (1589-1623) is a martyr to the unity of the church.
Jesus said to his disciples: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (Lk 17:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111124.cfm
Context is everything. Faith the size of a mustard seed is about forgiveness. Saint Martin of Tours (316-397) is one of the “soldier saints.” He became a Christian, left soldiering behind and picked up the banner of Christ. At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, peace came that ended the First World War in 1918. Today’s photo is of my great uncle Charlie Goetting (1888-1918) who died from a poisonous gas attack in the trenches of the First World War.
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mt 12:38-44)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm
Politics, even church at times, is dominated by billionaires and those who fawn over them, Jesus is not impressed. It is the poor widow with her two small coins who draws his praise.
