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.
Ash Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Lk 5:27-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030522.cfm
When Pope Francis speaks about the Eucharist and says that Communion is not the reward for good behavior but rather is medicine for the sick, it is this passage that he’s referring to. As the Great Physician reminds us, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.” Today we have a beautiful Ukrainian Lenten hymn to the Virgin Mary, the Sorrowful Mother.
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Ash Friday
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. (Is 58:1-9a)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030422.cfm
According to Pope Francis, God’s weapons are prayer and fasting—but fasting is always about doing justice. We pray for peace and justice for Ukraine.
Ash Thursday
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Lk 9:22-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030322.cfm
The Lord invites us to daily discipleship as Lent prepares us to celebrate the Great Mystery: to die and rise with Christ. We pray for Ukraine, we pray for peace.
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Ash Wednesday, 2022
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people. (Joel 2:12-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030222.cfm
“My heart aches greatly at the worsening situation in Ukraine . . . And now I would like to appeal to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus taught us that the diabolical senselessness of violence is answered with God's weapons, with prayer and fasting. I invite everyone to make next 2 March, Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace. I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.” (Pope Francis, General Audience, Wednesday, 23 February 2022)
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Tuesday, Week VIII, Ordinary Time—Mardi Gras Day, 2022
Alleluia (Mt 11:25)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030122.cfm
In my home town of Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) was the best holiday ever. It was like Christmas, New Year’s, Birthday and the Fourth of July all rolled up in one. There were parades all day long and into the night, with throws, doubloons, beads, moon pies, salt water taffy, cotton candy, candied apples, roasted peanuts, confetti and serpentine. All of course leading up to the serious business of the big day tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. And today we say “adios” to the Alleluia until Easter! Today's photo is the Mobile skyline in Mardi Gras colors. We continue to pray for Ukraine.
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Monday, Week VIII, Ordinary Time
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Mk 10:17-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022822.cfm
The challenge of discipleship—to leave behind whatever holds us back so that we can follow Him. We continue to pray for peace and for the Ukrainian people. Today we have music from St George Ukrainian Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Today's photo is of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Kyiv, completed in 2011.
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VIII ORDINARY SUNDAY
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. (Lk 6:39-45)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022722.cfm
This last Sunday before Lent reminds us about our own hypocrisy. As we pray for Ukraine, may God’s compassion help us to see ourselves and others as God sees us—as God’s beloved children. Today's picture is of Ukrainian children taking refuge in a bomb shelter, while we hear the Jesus Prayer sung in Ukrainian: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
