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 HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH, Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, December 27

When the days were completed for their purification 
according to the law of Moses, 
they took him up to Jerusalem 
to present him to the Lord. 
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
 of the law of the Lord, 
they returned to Galilee,
 to their own town of Nazareth.
 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; 
and the favor of God was upon him.
(Lk 2:22-40)

The wonderful thing about God’s family is that everyone gets to belong. And so this feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, reminds us that even if we are all alone in this world, there’s a great big family we belong to. The picture today is Merson's Rest on the Flight into Egypt. The Christmas Carol is from Colombia, Zagalillos (Shepherds Come).