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.
The Priest: Lift up your hearts.
The People: We lift them up to the Lord.
The Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
The People: It is right and just.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sursum_corda
One of the most ancient parts of the Liturgy is the Eucharistic Dialogue that begins in Latin with the words Sursum Corda, literally “Up hearts” and then is followed by “Let us give thanks” which then leads directly to the Eucharistic Prayer. As I look back on 45 years of priestly ministry and on all of you who have been a part of that ministry, I have many reasons to give thanks to the Lord our God. Today’s photo is of my Colombian family taken yesterday following the Anniversary Mass at my local parish, Nuestra Señora de las Lomas, Envigado (Medellín), Colombia.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 98)
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050623.cfm
When I started this journey of priesthood, I didn’t know where it would lead. But Jesus goes ahead. I try to follow in his footsteps. You have taught me that Jesus still lives among us. We only need to open our eyes to recognize Jesus in others. I have seen him in your faith and care. You are my family. Thank you for your love. “His banner over me is love!”
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. (Jn 14:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050523.cfm
For us as Christians the question of life after death is not so much about “where” we will be, but “with whom” we will be. I saw streets of marble on the Greek island of Santorini, and even though it was quite nice, I wouldn’t want to spend eternity there. Today’s photo is of the sunset on Santorini.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. (1 Cor 15:1-8)
“Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jn 14:6-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050323.cfm
The testimony of the apostles and other witnesses is the foundation of our faith. As the psalm tells us: Their message goes out through all the earth. (Psalm 19).
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/091423.cfm
While in the USA the feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 14th, in Latin America the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is kept on this day. The Apostles Philip and James are bumped to tomorrow, May 4. The Cross is the Exaltation, the Glorification of Jesus. In Colombia we have the tradition of the Mil Jesuses (Praying the Name of Jesus a thousand times) on this feast day. Here is a link to an explanation of the custom by the auxiliary bishop of Medellín: https://youtu.be/9aBiMhD_9VM.
