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 measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. (Mk 4:21-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012722.cfm
I call this verse the apostolic principle of USE LOTS: use lots of mercy, lots of compassion, lots of forgiveness, lots of love. Maybe USE LOTS is the secret to the Lord’s Prayer when Jesus taught us to pray: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. As Jesus tells us: “Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. (2 Tim 1:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012622.cfm
Timothy and Titus, as companions of Paul, are celebrated together the day after the feast of the conversion of the apostle. I have always loved the mention of the faith of the grandmother and mother of Timothy. It reminds me of the faith of my grandmother and my mother, two extraordinary women who in spite of difficult circumstances passed on their faith to me.
Alleluia (Jn 15:16)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012522.cfm
Perhaps because of his later importance in the life of the early church, the Acts of the Apostles gives two detailed accounts of the Conversion of Paul (Acts 9:1-22; 22:3-16). Paul himself is more discrete. All that Paul ever says about the experience is “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?" (1 Cor 9:1). Paul’s words echo the words of Mary Magdalene, “I have seen the Lord” (Jn 20:18). That experience changed Paul . . . and changed the church forever.
All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the children of Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’” When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. (2 Sam 5:1-7, 10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012422.cfm
God raises up holy men and women in every age to shepherd the people: like David, the shepherd who became king, like Saint Francis de Sales who brought a pastoral touch to a delicate situation. This past Saturday, the church beatified four martyrs in El Salvador: Fr Rutilio Grande, Fr Cosme Spessotto, together with two laymen, Manuel Solórzano & Nelson Rutilio Lemus, all of whom gave their lives working for the poor.
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. (Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012322.cfm
This Sunday is devoted to the Word of God. With the discovery of the Book of the Law (most likely the Book of Deuteronomy), Ezra reads it to the people all day. In the beginning of the Lucan gospel, the only gospel in TWO volumes (Luke & Acts), both with a prologue. The writer speaks of ministers of the word, and eyewitnesses and most interesting of other narratives. As Saint Paul reminds the church, “Faith comes through hearing!” (Rom 10:17)
