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.
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010922.cfm
In the Gospel of Luke, the revelation of Jesus as Son of God occurs at the Baptism, which of course begins his public ministry. The Antiphon for today is Hodie Christus Natus Est (Today Christ is Born): Today Christ is born; today the Savior has appeared; today the Angels sing, the Archangels rejoice; today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!
Alleluia (Mt 4:16)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010822.cfm
We come to the close of the Christmas Season with tomorrow’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Together with Mary, the Mother of the Lord, we have treasured all these things and reflected on them in our heart. Of the hidden life of the Lord, the thirty or so years spent in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, we know almost nothing, but all is revealed in the light of his public ministry. Today on my birthday, we have one of my favorite carols and our last of this Christmas Season, Los Peces En El Rio (The Fishes in the River).
And this is the testimony: 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/010722.cfm
To have the gift of eternal life is to live without fear, to be free to be the persons God has called us to be, to be free to love our neighbor as freely as God has loved us all in Christ. Today’s carol is Campana Sobre Campana (The Bells of Bethlehem).
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 Jn 4:19-5:4)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010622.cfm
The lessons we need to learn about love are endless. Perhaps that’s why the Letters of John seem to repeat themselves. The truth is we need to revisit these lessons over and over again. As the Lord says to us, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Saint André (1845-1937), a Canadian religious brother, was a healer and is responsible for the construction of the largest church in Canada, Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. Today’s carol is La Cumbia del Niño (Cumbia of Baby Jesus).
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. (1 Jn 4:11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010522.cfm
“Fearless love” . . . is this a Melissa Etheridge song? No, it’s the First Letter of John, but the message is the same. We need a “fearless love” to be the persons God calls us to be and not be willing to settle for anything less. As we continue reflecting on the Word Made Flesh, we begin to see the implications of the Incarnation as we celebrate the coming of the One who calls us to live this “fearless love” of God and neighbor. Saint John Neumann was the immigrant bishop of Philadelphia. Today’s carol is El Niño Pobre (The Poor Child).
