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.

IV SUNDAY of EASTER

Jesus said: “I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10:9-10)

Abundant life . . . to be fully alive. It was Saint Irenaeus who said a long time ago:

“The glory of God is man, woman, fully alive."

This Good Shepherd Sunday we pray for all those who seek to be fully alive in service to the community of the church.