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.
Lenten Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. (Mt 5:43-48)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031222.cfm
The Lord certainly knows our weaknesses, but still he challenges us to be perfect just like our Heavenly Father is perfect. But loving our enemies? We pray for Ukraine.
Friday, Week I, Lent
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5:20-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031122.cfm
How important is reconciliation! In order to offer our gift to the Lord, we must first be reconciled with one another. Because otherwise, our gift smells to high heaven! We pray for Ukraine, we pray for peace.
Thursday, Week I, Lent
Queen Esther, prayed: “Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.” (Es 4:17n. p-r. aa-bb. gg-hh)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031022.cfm
According to Pope Francis, prayer, along with fasting, is one of God’s weapons. Queen Esther’s prayer is the anguished prayer of the Ukrainian people.
Wednesday, Week I, Lent
Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51)
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030922.cfm
Psalm 51 is one of the 7 penitential psalms: 6, 32 (31), 38 (37), 51 (50), 102 (101), 130 (129), and 143 (142). Psalm 51 is prayed every Friday at Morning Prayer. We ask not only for a clean heart, but also for a renewed, contrite spirit.
Tuesday, Week I, Lent
So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Is 55:10-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030822.cfm
Lent is not about the sacrifices we offer to God—the things we give up for Lent. What we celebrate is the salvation God’s Word has accomplished. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t practice fasting and abstinence—just the contrary, but we should do them with joy because we have so great a Redeemer.
Monday, Week I, Lent
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ (Mt 25:31-46)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030722.cfm
In the general confession of sins at the beginning of the Mass, we acknowledge that we have greatly sinned not only in what we have done, but also in what we have failed to do. Sometimes what we fail to do is often more important than the things we have done. And so we pray for Ukraine.
I Sunday of Lent
Then the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written, You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” (Lk 4:1-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030622.cfm
The question that faced Jesus when he was offered the quick road to success is the same question that we face every day of our lives: Whom do we serve? I'm reminded of the old board game, RISK, the game of world conquest. Just imagine, conquering the whole world right in the comfort of your own living room!
