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 appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. (Lk 10:1-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100523.cfm
The Sending of the 72 reminds us that “mission” isn’t just for missionaries in foreign lands. We are all called to be “missionary disciples” by virtue of our Baptism. As Saint Francis of Assisi used to say: “Preach always, use words when necessary.”
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." (Lk 9:57-62)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100423.cfm
Jesus invited all sorts of people to follow him. Some folks wanted to follow Christ on their own terms. Others had legitimate excuses for delaying. But when Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) heard the Lord call him to “Rebuild my church,” he chose to follow Christ whole-heartedly and precisely in poverty. The church has never been the same since.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. (Lk 9:51-56)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100323.cfm
We church people sometimes are sometimes a bit intolerant, especially with each other. When someone crosses us, we generally react like James and John: we want to “call down fire from heaven to consume them.” Thank goodness, the Lord teaches us another way, the way of Love.
Jesus said to his disciples: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." (Mt 18:1-5, 10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100223.cfm
The feast of the Holy Guardian Angels reminds us how important we are in God’s eyes. For God always watches over us and cares for us through the wonderful ministry of the Angels. We all remember the prayer to the Guardian Angel: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, / to whom God's love commits me here, / ever this day be at my side, / to light and guard, to rule and guide.” Today's music video is of a very popular Latin American Catholic hymn, Ángeles de Dios. The video shows a young boy walking with his mom, and along the way he notices angels (but not with wings) watching over him and everyone.
Christ Jesus humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which 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 2:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100123.cfm
Saint Paul uses this early Christian hymn to encourage us to have the same mind and heart of Christ.
