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.
Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Mt 11:28-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071824.cfm
This is one of the most consoling invitations in all the Scriptures. The reference to the heart of Christ gives rise to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Refuge of Sinners, burning with love for us.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 94)
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071724.cfm
The Lord is neither deaf nor blind. The Lord hears the cries of the poor. The Lord sees everything that happens to his little ones. The Lord is not indifferent to our needs. The Lord will not abandon his people. As today’s photo says: God knows, God hears, God sees.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 48)
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071624.cfm
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patronal feast of the Carmelite Order. Mount Carmel has been a religious site for more than 3,000 years. It is famous for its association with the Prophets Elijah and Elisha. In Colombia, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patronal feast of taxi drivers and public transportation.
Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me. New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies, octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear. Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more,
I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. (Is 1:10-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071524.cfm
It wasn’t that the nation wasn’t religious. On the contrary, it was super religious . . . but its hands were full of blood, as the prophet says. How to become clean? Learn to do good, make justice your aim, redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Justice and the corporal works of mercy are not optional. They are the sine qua non of being religious. Saint Bonaventure teaches the church that we ought use the brains God gave us in order to understand the world around us and praise the Creator.
Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” (Am 7:12-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071424.cfm
The prophet Amos had no theological degree, no training. The only qualification Amos had is the call received from God. If God can speak through Amos, God can speak through each one of us. As the old priest used to say, “God calls whom God wills.” Maybe we need to listen up.
