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.
Brothers and sisters: I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the Church. (Col 1:24-2:3)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091123.cfm
There is a mystery to human suffering which we may never fully understand. But when we are able to join our suffering to the Sufferings of Christ for the sake of our brothers and sisters, then our suffering takes on a divine dimension and offers us a unique communion with Christ. Some of us remember where we were when we heard of the attacks of September 11. I was on retreat at my seminary. While the events were still unfolding we gathered in the Seminary Chapel and celebrated Mass and prayed for peace.
Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel. (Ez 33:7-9)
Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom 13:8-10)
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Mt 18:15-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091023.cfm
To be the watchman (perhaps a better translation is “sentinel”) has been turned by some into “judge, jury and executioner.” But Saint Paul says, since Love is the fulfillment of the law, then Love does no evil to the neighbor. The church is not its own boss, as Jesus gently reminds us: where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst. It is the Lord, the Good Shepherd, who judges us and always treats us with mercy and compassion.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Mt 11:25-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070923.cfm
This invitation from the Lord is real and very welcome. We find our rest in Him. The Daily Reflection will be on a working vacation from today until the middle of September. The Padre will be helping out in two parishes in Asheville, North Carolina, in the United States, and then visiting family and friends before returning to Colombia. Starting July 22nd you can follow the Padre on the YouTube channel of Saint Eugene Church, Asheville: @StEugeneChurch. See you real soon!
People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. (Mt 9:14-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070823.cfm
New wine, fresh wineskins. Change is never easy. Change requires us to have faith that God has a bigger and better plan for us, the world, and especially the church. As the Lord reminds us, the Holy Spirit has been in the business of changing the church for a very long time. We just have to trust the Spirit. The Virgin Mary sings the praises of God who does surprisingly new things: scattering the proud in their conceit, casting down the mighty from their thrones, lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry with good things, and sending the rich away empty.
While he was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mt 9:9-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070723.cfm
The Eating and Drinking with sinners is a key element of the Table Ministry of Jesus, one we forget way too often. Perhaps that’s why the church puts the words of the centurion on our lips before we approach the Sacrament to remind us that the Lord still welcomes sinners to His Table: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
