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.
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?
For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children. (Dt 4:1, 5-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031523.cfm
How important it is to teach your children and your children’s children the story of what God has done for us. As the old grandpa said, ¨We must tell the story . . . for when we stop remembering, we forget.’
