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.
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mt 12:38-44)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm
Politics, even church at times, is dominated by billionaires and those who fawn over them, Jesus is not impressed. It is the poor widow with her two small coins who draws his praise.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110924.cfm
The cathedral of the City of Rome is the Lateran Basilica, NOT the Basilica of Saint Peter. But church buildings represent all of us. For as Saint Paul points out, we “are the temple of God.” Of course, the early church had NO buildings at all (Christianity was not a “tolerated” religion in the Roman Empire). Unfortunately, we tend to think of the church building as the church. Actually, WE are the church, the building is simply where we, the church, gather to celebrate our Lord.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. (Phil 3:17-4:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110824.cfm
Because of tomorrow’s feast, today is our final reading from the Letter to the Philippians. When Saint Paul refers to the community as “my joy and crown,” we begin to see how dear this community is to him. The bonds of love and affection that knit us together is the joy and crown of ministry. It’s the part that they never really teach in seminary.
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus addressed this parable to them. (Lk 15:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110724.cfm
Sometimes context gives us a fuller understanding of a passage. Three of the greatest parables follow this complaint against Jesus: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Child (or the Prodigal Son) are far more radical than we ever imagined. Instead of “our search for God”, these parables of Jesus turn that spiritual canard upside down. It is God who comes searching for us and doesn’t give up until we are safely found and then throws a party to rejoice.
Hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. (Phil 2:12-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110624.cfm
In this passage from the Letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul is facing his own martyrdom. Reviewing his life in Christ, he doesn’t complain about the race he has run nor all the labor he has done, rather he rejoices. When we have done all that we can do, the rest is in God’s hands. As my grandmother would always say with a smile, “Do the best you can, that’s all the angels can do!”
