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.

III Sunday of Advent, 2019 (Gaudete Sunday)

GAUDETE SUNDAY, III SUNDAY OF ADVENT, 2019

Christmas is just around the corner . . . well, almost.  But with three candles burning on the Advent Wreath, Saint Paul calls us to rejoice:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
Indeed, the Lord is near.   (Phil 4:4-5)

As someone has said, if you want to keep Christ in Christmas:

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the stranger and the unwanted child, care for the ill, love your enemies.

If we could manage to work on the corporal works of mercy, then perhaps we really might be able to open the door to welcome Christ this Christmas.