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.

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. (Is 49:1)

Sometimes we forget that the Lucan gospel begins with TWO annunciation stories and TWO nativities. Today, six months before Christmas, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, who prepared the way of the Lord. As Zechariah proclaims:

And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. (Lk 1:76-77)