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.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. (1 Thes 3:7-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082825.cfm
It was Oscar Wilde who famously said, “Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.” Thanks to the prayers and the tears of his mother, Saint Monica, Saint Augustine’s past and future were transformed by God’s love. Today I remember the love of my mom, Norma Torp Boyd, who died on this day in 1996. As today’s responsorial psalm joyfully proclaims: Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy! (Psalm 90) https://youtu.be/BBPbZHK41dM?si=3aVAvCOwypOHGlWv
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. (1 Thes 2:9-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082725.cfm
Saint Monica exhorted, encouraged and insisted that her son, Augustine, walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling, but all to no avail. Then she turned to her most powerful weapons, her prayers and her tears. Eventually, she won over her son, and he became a great teacher of the church. As she was dying in Italy, Augustine was very anxious to get her home to Africa, but the ship was delayed. She told him, “Son, don’t worry about my body, bury me wherever I die, but remember me always at the altar of the Lord.” His feast day is tomorrow. https://youtu.be/ywkkkiJ1FxI?si=u5oJrBB7F7YGu1LO
Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. (1 Thes 2:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082625.cfm
Pope Francis caused quite a stir in the Vatican when he was baptizing infants in the Sistine Chapel and gave permission to the nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies if they got hungry. Of course, Pope Francis was not being disrespectful of the Sacrament of Baptism nor of the sanctity of the Sistine Chapel but rather was simply following in the footsteps of Saint Paul. https://youtu.be/KVMu_KCSRzE?si=B4nCkOh8vFGEYqrc
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. (1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082525.cfm
Sometimes we forget that we are chosen by God in Christ, that God has called us by name. We have been called to the “work of faith, the labor of love and endurance in hope.” That is our dignity, that is our mission and our call.
I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD. (Is 66: 18-21)
People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. (Lk 13:22-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082425.cfm
I just returned from an extended trip to the Balkans and Istanbul, Turkey. It’s a privilege to be able to travel. But to be honest, traveling is in our genes. We human beings never stay put. Humanity has been on the move ever since we took that first step out of Africa. My own journey began when my ancestors left the threat of war in Europe and traveled to the New World in the 1800’s. Scripture tells us that God’s glory is revealed in all the nations of every language, and from these God chooses priests and levites. Makes sense to me. https://youtu.be/Y3nSbrMluEQ?si=IbNlZZXy2Cxy2wZB
