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.

WEDNESDAY, 23 DECEMBER: O EMMANUEL (O WITH US IS GOD)

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!

All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
(Lk 1:57-66)

“What will this child be?” A wonderful question whenever we encounter a child. For as people of faith we know that the hand of the Lord is with every child born into this world. I had an uncle who was born on December 26th. My grandmother always made sure to hold back one of his Christmas presents for him to open on his birthday and of course, there was always a birthday cake. And for all those who were born in this holy time, and share a birthday near the Lord’s, we know that your love is like His. The picture today is of John the Baptist from the Church of Saint Mary in West Jefferson, NC. The Christmas Carol today is from Colombia, Dulce Jesús Mío (My Sweet Jesus).