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.
God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. (1 Cor 1:26-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020126.cfm
We people of faith would do well to remember that God is not impressed by the strong, the sleek and the rich. God’s power is revealed in weakness. I remember the climatic scene from The Mission (1986) in which the priest carrying the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament is shot dead and falls, the indigenous man picks up the monstrance and continues to go forward. https://youtu.be/xddBWzcPq8Q?si=qg4zWoE7vZ2MRM11
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mk 4:35-41)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013126.cfm
The disciples see Jesus calm the storm but are clueless, “Who is this?” Of course, it takes faith to know who Jesus is. Saint John Bosco (1815-1888) founded the Salesians to work for the education of youth. https://youtu.be/8A5GwBcgG6o?si=0ShreuPd9dYIATEZ
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” (2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013026.cfm
David orders the murder of Uriah to cover up his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Uriah dies, the child with Bathsheba dies. What a disaster. Out of grief David prays: “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.” Later Bathsheba becomes the mother of Solomon and is one of the many great grandmothers of the Lord. https://youtu.be/6OvK4M_bMSI?si=Isw4uJ9KMMVqhmPn
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. (Mk 4:21-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012926.cfm
It’s always good to be generous with others, using lots of mercy, lots of forgiveness, lots of compassion. Today is my friend, Father John Schneider’s 43 anniversary of ordination. And I was there 43 years ago, and I remember the care he showed for his mom who attended his ordination in wheelchair. Today's picture is from Father John's visit to Colombia in 2024. Ad multos annos! https://youtu.be/Hlu8XZn4f5Q?si=7D3NkRFsl6qMzmpb
Jesus added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." (Mk 4:1-20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012826.cfm
The best theologians are third graders—they always ask the right question, “Why?” The why questions lead us to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a theologian and a poet. He teaches us to use our brains for God, or as Jesus says, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." We still sing the hymns he wrote. https://youtu.be/fhOWed1xY68?si=IIwdD4sRbYVRBKO1
