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.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt 2:1-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010724.cfm
What is the gift we bring Him? Is it only our heart—or do our backbone, hands, feet, and brain go along with it? Because if we only give Him our heart . . . then He’s likely to be cold, hungry, and homeless the rest of the year.
Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life. (1 Jn 5:5-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010624.cfm
Traditionally, today is the date of Epiphany which this year is transferred to Sunday, January 7, in those countries that do not keep Epiphany as a holy day of obligation. So with the Virgin Mary we continue to treasure all these things reflecting on them in our heart.
Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (1 Jn 3:11-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010524.cfm
Love is not optional. It is essential to faith because our faith tells us that God is Love. Saint John Neumann (1811-1860) was an immigrant who became the Bishop of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.
Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. (1 Jn 3:7-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010424.cfm
In the United States today is the feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821). Mother Frances Cabrini (1850-1917) was the first United States citizen to be canonized. But the United States bishops were not satisfied. They wanted a native born saint, and so Elizabeth Ann Seton was promoted. Of course, Elizabeth Ann (a Catholic convert and a widow with children) was committed to the education of children and founded what became the Catholic school system in the USA.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 Jn 2:29-3:6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010324.cfm
As the ancient Fathers and Mothers of the Church used to say, “the Son of God became the Son of Man so that women and men could become the dear children of God.” The celebration of the Most Holy Name of Jesus reminds us what his name means: God saves.
