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.

Monday, Week II, Advent

Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. (Is 35:1-10)
When Jesus saw their faith (the faith of the friends), he said (to the paralyzed man), “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”  (Lk 5:17-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120522.cfm

Troubled times are always a part of the human story. The word of the old prophet Isaiah still speaks to us today. The message of Advent is the same: Don’t be afraid, our God comes to save us. But we have to hold on. Sometimes like the paralyzed man in the gospel story, we need the faith of our friends to get us through.