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.
Beloved: I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. (Phmn 7-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111022.cfm
The church rarely uses the word “great” of any saint, but Saint Leo (400-461) was the first pope to receive this honorific. He was pope from 440-461. In his homily for Christmas Day, Pope Leo said: “Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God's kingdom. Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 46)
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110922.cfm
Water is life. Water brings eternal life in the Sacrament of Baptism. A visit to the Holy Land is not complete without dipping your toes in the Jordan River.
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. (Ti 2:1-8, 11-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110822.cfm
This faith of ours invites us to live in a manner worthy of our calling, to be just, temperate and devout, because we have been loved infinitely and now live in hope.
For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless,
married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. (Ti 1:1-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110722.cfm
Qualifications for presbyters-bishops reflect a much later period than that of Saint Paul. Although deacons are not mentioned in this passage, it is important to note that the early church did not use “religious” terms for its ministers: episkopos (bishop) means “overseer”, presbyteros (presbyter) means “elder”; and diakonos (deacon) means “table waiter”; rather, we used terms from everyday life. In today’s picture there is a bishop, a presbyter, and a deacon.
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law. (2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110622.cfm
One of the great passages from the Books of the Maccabees. And also one that is almost never preached in Colombia . . . where the bigger the chicharrón (fried pork skin with meat attached) the better rating the restaurant! Of course the passage is preached in Colombia but without much mention of the reason for the martyrdom of the 7 sons and their mother. Matriarchs and strong women of faith are a blessing in Colombia—along with the chicharrones! And even though it is not included in today’s reading, the writer brings the whole passage to a merciful end: “Enough has been said about the sacrificial meals and the excessive cruelties” (2 Mc 7:42).
