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.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mt 9:9-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070425.cfm
In a world where mercy and compassion are ridiculed and cruelty is being celebrated, that Jesus sits at table with those everyone else would reject calls us to accountability. The Declaration of Independence (1776) makes the daring statement that all men (and women) “are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” As the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor proudly proclaims: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Perhaps, we’ve lost something.
Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (Jn 20:24-29).
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070325.cfm
Church artists have always portrayed Thomas as touching the Wounds of the Risen Lord. But the gospel never says that he did. Rather Thomas gives us the highest confession of Jesus in all the Scriptures: “My Lord and my God.”
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. (Jn 6:52-59)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050925.cfm
The Eucharist is the center of our faith in the Risen Lord. The Eucharist expresses the unity of the church. We continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as we choose a new pope. https://youtu.be/2mOT3KIGK4w?si=mJ26xdfq8XKiNk_v
As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:26-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050825.cfm
According to the Law of God, there was no place in the temple for people like the Ethiopian eunuch. But Philip listens to the Holy Spirit and baptizes the eunuch. As Pope Francis taught there’s room in the church for everyone. As he said, “Todos, todos, todos.” We pray that the Holy Spirit guide us in choosing a new pope.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day. (Jn 6:35-40)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050725.cfm
The question is where do we see the Son. Pope Francis taught us to see Christ in the poor, in immigrants, and in the marginalized. As we enter into the Conclave today, may the Spirit help us to see Christ in the pope God chooses for us. Come Creator Spirit, Amen! Today’s photo is of the Last Judgment by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, the video is from 12 years ago. https://youtu.be/HEKuxUOPzk8?si=cekoxuD7aGsS8QeQ
