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.
Alleluia (Mt 11:25)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030122.cfm
In my home town of Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) was the best holiday ever. It was like Christmas, New Year’s, Birthday and the Fourth of July all rolled up in one. There were parades all day long and into the night, with throws, doubloons, beads, moon pies, salt water taffy, cotton candy, candied apples, roasted peanuts, confetti and serpentine. All of course leading up to the serious business of the big day tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. And today we say “adios” to the Alleluia until Easter! Today's photo is the Mobile skyline in Mardi Gras colors. We continue to pray for Ukraine.
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Mk 10:17-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022822.cfm
The challenge of discipleship—to leave behind whatever holds us back so that we can follow Him. We continue to pray for peace and for the Ukrainian people. Today we have music from St George Ukrainian Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Today's photo is of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Kyiv, completed in 2011.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. (Lk 6:39-45)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022722.cfm
This last Sunday before Lent reminds us about our own hypocrisy. As we pray for Ukraine, may God’s compassion help us to see ourselves and others as God sees us—as God’s beloved children. Today's picture is of Ukrainian children taking refuge in a bomb shelter, while we hear the Jesus Prayer sung in Ukrainian: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (Jas 5:13-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022622.cfm
We come to the end of the Letter of James, and we hear the tender instruction about the Anointing of the Sick. God touches us through the hands and the prayers of the community and raises us up! Today as we continue to pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, we have the Ukrainian Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos (Mother of God). The icon is the Mother of God, Light in All Darkness.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. (Jas 5:9-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022522.cfm
Stop complaining about one another . . . why do we have all these little commands throughout the Scriptures telling us how to get along in the Christian community? We have them, because we need them—especially when it comes to complaining about one another. I remember during another pandemic that people were complaining about my ministry to those living with HIV/AIDS and to those who were caring for them. I had to remind my parish community that it would be the Lord who would judge me and my ministry . . . not them.
