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.
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032023.cfm
Saint Joseph’s feast day is normally observed on March 19. But because yesterday was a Sunday of Lent, a privileged liturgical season, Saint Joseph’s Day is transferred to today. Sometimes Saint Joseph gets overlooked, but the role he plays in the Holy Family is extremely important. Because he seems to be absent from the later part of the gospels, it was assumed that he had died. And so, Saint Joseph becomes the patron saint of a holy death, because he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Therefore, it says: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." (Eph 5:8-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031923.cfm
The Fourth Sunday of Lent with its rose-colored vestments signals that the celebration of the Paschal Mystery is near. The selection from today’s readings (possibly an early baptismal hymn) calls to mind our being chosen and enlightened by Christ.
“But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 18:9-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031823.cfm
The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is the source of the Jesus Prayer: ¨Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.¨ After the Resurrection, the Virgin Mary remained in prayer with the disciples and ever since has always been a symbol of a heart in tune with God.
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mk 12:28-34)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031723.cfm
It’s said that Irish diplomacy is “the art of telling someone to go to hell and having them look forward to the trip." Saint Patrick, on the otherhand, used faith, hope and love to convert the Irish so that they would never have to make that particular journey.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (Lk 11:14-23)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031623.cfm
Jesus’ ministry to those on the margins of society got him into plenty of trouble. Whenever the church reaches out to those that others prefer to exclude, it suffers the same fate. The question for us is where do we want to be—with the pure and the smug? Or with Jesus?
