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, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. (Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111123.cfm
As we come to the conclusion of Saint Paul’s long Letter to the Romans, the secretary, Tertius, who’s actually writing the letter, transcribing the words of Saint Paul, photobombs the letter by taking the opportunity to send his own greetings to the Romans! Perhaps we all have a role to play in spreading the Good News! Today is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended the First World War. We continue to pray for an end to all war. Today the Padre returns from visiting the Eje Cafetero (the coffee growing region) of Colombia with members of his Colombian family.
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:14-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111023.cfm
As Saint Paul praises the Church at Rome for its goodness, he also speaks of his own priestly ministry on behalf of the Gentiles. We ourselves are the fruits of Saint Paul’s ministry. Saint Leo the Great, like Saint Paul, served the Church at Rome. This week the Padre will be visiting the Eje Cafetero (the coffee growing region) of Colombia with members of his Colombian family.
You are God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110923.cfm
As Saint Paul says, he laid the foundation of Jesus Christ, but we all get to join in building God’s temple out of the holiness of our lives. This week the Padre will be visiting the Eje Cafetero (the coffee growing region) of Colombia with members of his Colombian family.
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom 13:8-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110823.cfm
Love is not optional . . . it is essential to faith, it is essential to life. We must love our neighbor in order to love God. This week the Padre will be visiting the Eje Cafetero (the coffee growing region) of Colombia with members of his Colombian family.
We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom 12:5-16ab)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110723.cfm
We’ve all been given gifts to be exercised for the benefit of the community—with cheerfulness (not as sourpusses!). This week the Padre will be visiting the Eje Cafetero (the coffee growing region) of Colombia with members of his Colombian family.
