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.
Then he said to the Pharisees,"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" (Mk 3:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012126.cfm
When the Pharisees refuse to answer, Jesus gets angry and sad. Many people are also angry when life is destroyed on our streets by so-called goverment agents, and many are sad to see neighbors living in fear. The Lord responds by healing the man with the withered hand, but the powerful plot to kill Jesus. Saint Agnes (291-304) is one of the many young women martyrs of the early church who confronted the evil power of the goverment. The bravery and faith of these young women have never been forgotten. https://youtu.be/E5zbSeINTLU?si=3eiC_4_AXfqGNUgd
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. (1 Sam 16:1-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012026.cfm
Poor Jesse! He presents 7 sons but none of them measures up. God chooses David, the runt of the litter!
No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins. (Mk 2:18-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011926.cfm
In the Apostles Creed we profess: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” The work of creation continues. This is what happens in our baptism, God makes us a new creation in Christ, filled with the new wine of God’s grace. https://youtu.be/MNw8furU7Hs?si=VXrlow-1mxLa1Az6
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 1:1-3)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011826.cfm
Old letters are wonderful. Grace and peace still come to us through this letter of Saint Paul. But who is Sosthenes, “our brother”? Outside of being the co-author of the first letter to the church at Corinth, we really don’t know. Sosthenes is a mystery. What we do know is that the Apostle Paul did not travel alone, he had many co-workers. https://youtu.be/u5DjH4ncSHU?si=r6QUybrAS8oGZ_M4
While he was at table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mk 2:13-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011726.cfm
The eating and drinking with sinners is probably one of the oldest memories of the Eucharist. We are always invited to the Table. Saint Anthony (251-356) heard the Lord calling him to the desert and became the Father of All Monks. https://youtu.be/i08da4iH9Dw?si=wrAo7_JW8o6_xPaV
