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.
Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:27-33)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021722.cfm
Saint Peter’s habit of putting his foot in his mouth is pretty good news for all of us . . . because there’s hope that we too might finally be able to give good witness to Christ as Saint Peter did. Today's painting is the Crucifixion of Saint Peter by Carvaggio.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (Jas 1:19-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021622.cfm
To care for widows and orphans . . . religion is never what the world or we think it is—it’s much more practical. As the Scriptures remind us, to say we love God but hate our brother, we are liars (1 Jn 4:20). Love of neighbor is essential, not optional. Today's photo is of my friend, Father Ted Hochstatter, who is a missionary in Kenya. The following three videos (from 2010) are of Father Ted’s ministry in Kenya where he still works. Part 1 https://youtu.be/wxGYYa0_2cY Part 2 https://youtu.be/Y_4FH-27oMM Part 3 https://youtu.be/4Q7rjzZVPFI
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread . . . When Jesus became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mk 8:14-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021522.cfm
We have to admit that sometimes we still do not understand or appreciate the Bread of Life that the Lord provides for us. Perhaps the following Biblical references to the meals of Jesus might help us. https://ncmtnpadre.com/index.php/en-us/item/1498-the-meals-of-jesus
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (Jas 1:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021422.cfm
Today we begin the very interesting Letter of James that invites us to be joyful in our trials. In the liturgical calendar the feast of Saints Cyril (826-869) and Methodius (815-885) outranks poor Saint Valentine (226-269), but popular devotion keeps Saint Valentine’s Day nevertheless.
Jesus liked meals. Meals form a great part of his ministry. It was within the context of a meal that Jesus gave us the sacrament of his Body and Blood. Here are Biblical references for some of the meals of Jesus in the New Testament.
Mark 2:13-17 He who eats and drinks with sinners
Matthew 9:9-13 The table of Matthew, the sinner
Luke 5:27-32 He who eats and drinks with sinners
Luke 15:1-3 He eats with and welcomes sinners
Luke 5:1-11 Fisher of men
John 2:1-12 The Wedding Feast of Cana
John 6:1-15 The multiplication of the loaves: 5,000
John 6:28-71 The Bread of Life Discourse
Matthew 14:13-21 The multiplication of the loaves: 5,000
Matthew 15:29-39 The multiplication of the loaves: 4,000
Mark 6:35-44 The multiplication of the loaves: 5,000
Mark 8:1-10 The multiplication of the loaves: 4,000
Luke 9:12-17 The multiplication of the loaves: 5,000
Luke 10:38-42 The home of Martha and Mary
John 12:1-11 The meal of Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Luke 7:36-50 The home of the pharisee, sinful woman
Luke 19:1-10 The home of Zacchaeus, the sinner
1 Cor 11:23-26 The Lord’s Supper
Mark 14:12-26 The Last Supper of Jesus
Matthew 26:17-30 The Last Supper
Luke 22:14-23 The Supper of the Lord
John 13:1-20 The Washing of Feet
Luke 24:13-35 The Breaking of the Bread
John 21:1-14 Breakfast by the sea
Revelation 19:4-9 The Wedding Feast of the Lamb
Acts 2:42,46 Disciples’ Breaking of the Bread
