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.
Christ Jesus humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:6-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091424.cfm
Today’s feast comes from the anniversary of the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that preserves the sites of Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, for by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! (! Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091324.cfm
Saint John Chrysostom was archbishop of Constantinople and one of the greatest preachers of the church. The emperor and his wife were in his parish. The empress and her friends wanted to gussy up the church with silk vestments and golden chalices. Saint John Chrysostom gave the following sermon: “Give God the honor prescribed in God’s law by giving your riches to the poor. For God does not want golden vessels but golden hearts.” The empress got him exiled. Today’s picture is of Hagia Sophia, the cathedral church of Saint John Chrysostom. Today’s hymn is from the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 6:27-38)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091224.cfm
The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. Judging and condemning our church pastimes. The feast of the Name of Mary reminds us of the words that Mary spoke about herself, “All generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48)
I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away. (1 Cor 7:25-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091124.cfm
Most of us can probably remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. I was on retreat at the seminary. After the retreat session with my spiritual director, he suggested that I go to the faculty lounge and turn on the television. He didn’t explain. So I went, I was the only one there. Soon the bells of the seminary began to ring. We all gathered in the chapel and celebrated Mass. We knew what to do.
And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. (Lk 6:12-19)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091024.cfm
Everyone wanted to touch Jesus. Everyone still does.
