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.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor 1:17-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/083024.cfm
To proclaim Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God. The Cross is the absolute foolishness of God. That God would want to be one with all the losers of this world. Yet the preaching of the Cross is where wisdom is found.
The king even swore many things to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist." (Mk 6:17-29)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082924.cfm
When you can have anything you want—even to half of the kingdom—what does you ask for? The martyrdom of John the Baptist foreshadows Jesus own death on the Cross. The choices we make have consequences, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. (2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082824.cfm
Because of the problem of false letters circulating in Paul’s name, the apostle has to resort to personally signing his letters. Paul’s letters were dictated and written down by scribes or secretaries, which might explain some of the complex sentence structure that lectors encounter. Saint Augustine and his sermons and writings have influenced the church for over 1,500 years. As he writes, “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” My beloved mom, Norma Torp Boyd, died on this day in 1996. It is my privilege to remember her always at the Altar of the Lord.
We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no one deceive you in any way. (2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082724.cfm
Deception is not just a problem of our “information age.” The ancient world (and the church) had the same problem. Saint Paul had to deal with fake letters circulating in his name. There have always been disreputable persons (even good church folk at times) who want to lead others astray, especially about the end of the world. We always have to check our sources, remember the traditions we have been taught, and USE OUR BRAINS! Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, was a woman of common sense that no one could fool. As she was dying she asked her son to simply “remember me always at the altar of the Lord.”
We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082624.cfm
How important it is to pray for one another, to carry each other in our heart when we come to the altar of the Lord. As we begin the reading of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, may we all be made worthy of the promises of Christ for the glory of God.
