Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. (Phil 3:17-4:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110824.cfm
Because of tomorrow’s feast, today is our final reading from the Letter to the Philippians. When Saint Paul refers to the community as “my joy and crown,” we begin to see how dear this community is to him. The bonds of love and affection that knit us together is the joy and crown of ministry. It’s the part that they never really teach in seminary.
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.
Friday, Week XXXI, Ordinary Time
