Welcome
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.
Monday, Octave of Easter
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt 28:8-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040124.cfm
We are grateful to Mary Magdalene and all the faithful women who fulfilled the apostolic mission they received from the Lord to "go and tell." Because the Risen Lord goes ahead of us to all the Galilees of this world and there we see him.
Media
Easter Sunday — The Resurrection of the Lord
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6b-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033124.cfm
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you always! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
Media
Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
On entering the tomb the women saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mk 16:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033024.cfm
The women said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. End of gospel. That’s probably the strangest ending to a gospel ever. Of course, what the gospel writer intends is for us, the hearers of the gospel, to go and complete the mission: to go and tell the Good News! And so, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
Media
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. (Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032924.cfm
He gives himself for us—what wondrous love!
Media
Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Cor 11:23-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032824-Supper.cfm
The oldest account of the Lord’s Supper is not from the gospels, but rather from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. And as the Lord asks, we still take bread and wine and celebrate the meal he left us. We still remember how he loved us to the end. And we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Media
Holy Wednesday, 2024 (Spy Wednesday)
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mt 26:14-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032724.cfm
Traditionally called Spy Wednesday, today’s gospel points out that it was one of the Twelve that betrayed the Lord. Of course, we all recognize that we too are capable of an equal betrayal, and yet we still are loved infinitely.
Media
Holy Tuesday, 2024
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it." So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. (Jn 13:21-33, 36-38)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032624.cfm
“One of you will betray me”—very difficult words that none of us want to hear. But the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves, and still invites us to the table to share the meal. May you know how much you are loved by the Lord.
