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 lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays. (Mal 3:13-20b)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101223.cfm
The Sun of Justice with its healing rays . . . wow what a comforting image of God’s kingdom! October 12th was the birthday of my grandfather, Furman Nielsen Torp (1888-1967), and also of my father, Charles Elmer Boyd (1922-1968). May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace!
But God said to Jonah, "Have you reason to be angry over the plant?" "I have reason to be angry," Jonah answered, "angry enough to die." Then the LORD said, "You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?" (Jon 4:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101123.cfm
God’s mercy and compassion surpasses that of Jonah and extends even to the pagan city of Nineveh. This is precisely the message that Saint John XXIII (1881-1093) taught the church when he convoked the Second Vatican Council. Mercy and compassion is the same message of Pope Francis and the Synod that is meeting in Rome.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. (Lk 10:38-42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101023.cfm
The synoptic gospels are strangely silent about Jesus’ greatest miracle, the Raising of Lazarus. In fact, today’s gospel passage is the only mention of the sisters Martha and Mary outside of the Fourth Gospel. But their brother Lazarus is not mentioned at all and neither is their village, Bethany. It’s one of those intriguing questions that I would like to ask the gospel writers.
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD. (Jon 1:1-2:1-2, 11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100923.cfm
The Book of Jonah is a somewhat quirky, humorous story of a reluctant prophet running away from the Lord. Of course, we can all sympathize. We’ve been there, done that. But God has a way of bringing us back to where God wants us to be. And the Scriptures are gifted with the best “fish story” ever!
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:6-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100823.cfm
Saint Paul is not advocating a Pollyanna, “Don’t worry, be happy” approach to spirituality. Rather Saint Paul reminds us that we should be centered on the true, the honorable, the just, the pure, the lovely, the gracious. This is NOT passivity in the face of the many problems of the world, just the opposite: “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.” And he adds: ”Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
