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.
I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God. (Jb 19:21-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100324.cfm
Despite all that he has suffered, Job keeps faith and declares his trust in God whom he will see with his own eyes and not with another’s. In all our anxiety and worry for our family and friends in Asheville and the small towns of Western North Carolina, we find new hope and keep faith because of the many acts of kindness that God inspires in the hearts of those who reach out to others in need and so build up the human community.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." (Mt 18:1-5, 10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100224.cfm
The feast of the Holy Guardian Angels reminds us that God watches over us always especially when our hearts are broken. We continue to pray for our family and friends in Asheville and Western North Carolina and for all who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. We give thanks for all the guardian angels, those with wings and those without, who are helping to save others.
Job opened his mouth and cursed his day: Perish the day on which I was born. (Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23)
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. (Psalm 88)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100124.cfm
Many friends in Asheville and in the small towns of the mountains of Western North Carolina pray the words of Job and this psalm with broken hearts. Even though help is finally arriving, the widespread devastation of Hurricane Helene and the loss of human life and public services is overwhelming. Known as the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), in her gentle trust in God’s providential love reminds us that the Lord truly hears our prayers.
"Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" (Jb 1:6-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/093024.cfm
This is probably the most famous line from the Book of Job which we begin reading today. Job asks all the right questions—the answers are always a mystery. Saint Jerome (342-420) loved the challenge of the Scriptures and learned Greek and Hebrew so that he could translate the Word of God into Latin, which was the lingua franca of his day. But it wasn’t the Latin of the Academy . . . rather as my seminary professor said, it was street Latin, hip-hop Latin . . . and as my professor added, “Every prostitute in Rome could read and understand it.” The translation of Saint Jerome is called the Vulgate.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. (Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092924.cfm
How important it is for to care about one another: every act of kindness will be rewarded and remembered. Today we remember and pray for all our friends and loved ones in Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina. I lived and worked in the mountains of North Carolina for more than 30 years. The widespread destruction is beyond belief. There are many dead or missing. There is no water, no lights, no cell phone service, no internet, no gasoline. Roads are impassable. There is little to no food. Many have lost their homes and their livelihood, and winter is fast approaching. But mountain people are tough. Mountain people have lots of faith as the Psalmist said long ago: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121).
