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.
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us,
was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him.
(2 Cor 1:18-22)
All the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is always YES.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
(Mt 5:1-12)
Today we begin the continuous reading of the public ministry of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel. The Sermon on the Mount invites us to live the values of the Kingdom now. In fact, that’s the secret of the saints—they heard the gospel being addressed not to others, but to them.
When Christ came as high priest
of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
(Heb 9:11-15)
The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ proclaims God’s wondrous love revealed beneath the forms of bread and wine. As Saint Paul tells us, “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
I am Raphael, one of the seven angels
who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”
“So now get up from the ground and praise God.
Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me;
write down all these things that have happened to you.”
(Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20)
The command to “write down all these things that have happened to you” is important for all of us, because sometimes, we forget. But we never want to forget to praise God for all the blessings we have received.
Raphael said to Tobiah before he reached his father:
“I am certain that his eyes will be opened.
Smear the fish gall on them.
This medicine will make the cataracts shrink and peel off from his eyes;
then your father will again be able to see the light of day.”
(Tobit 11:5-17)
In church art, the Archangel Raphael is usually pictured holding fish.
