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 word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
"I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. (Jer 1:1, 4-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072022.cfm
As the Call of Jeremiah reminds us, God calls whom God wills . . . it doesn’t matter our age or our preparation. God promises to be with us. Today is Colombian Independence Day . . . which began on this day in 1810 and eventually led to an end of the European domination of Latin America. Today's photo is of the Basilica of Chiquinquirá, the national shrine of Colombia.
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12:46-50)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071922.cfm
To do the will of God means we are members of God’s new family in Christ. As someone once said, “God is my father, Jesus is my brother, Mary is my mother—with relatives like that, I can’t be all bad!”
You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Mi 6:1-4, 6-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071822.cfm
Justice and mercy are not optional—they are essential. And the prophets always remind us of what is essential.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." (Lk 10:38-42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071722.cfm
Martha’s sister, Mary, chose to serve the Lord by sitting at his feet and listening to his words something only male disciples would do. Martha wanted the Lord to tell her sister that her place was in the kitchen. Instead the Lord praised Mary’s choice. Maybe one day the church will too.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. (Mi 2:1-5)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071622.cfm
We begin the Prophet Micah today. As with all the prophets, justice for the poor is a major theme. It wasn’t that Israel lacked religious devotion, they were very religious, but they lacked justice and so won the condemnation of the prophets. Today is the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel which is celebrated not only by the Dominicans but by all the religious orders who celebrate this day in honor of their devotion to the Mother of God (today is also the feast of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, celebrated by Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana).
