GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Matthew 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,”Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,and stay there until I tell you.Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.He stayed there until the death of Herod,that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,he became furious.He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,sobbing and loud lamentation;Rachel weeping for her children,and she would not be consoled,since they were no more.

The Gospel of the Lord

Obedience without understanding

St. Joseph obeyed without fully understanding the situation. Protect the Savior of the world? It seemed absurd—it should have been the other way around. Yet, without hesitation, he responded immediately. Was this blind obedience? Not at all; it was an act of deep trust in the One who surpasses all understanding. Those who obey faithfully cannot be led astray. It’s often said that obedience is the one refuge where the enemy cannot enter.

Applied to married life:

Omar: I don’t understand why we’re facing this challenge. But if God has allowed it, then it must have a purpose.
Patricia: Exactly, Omar. We don’t need to have all the answers. What matters is that we love through these circumstances and stay devoted to serving Our Mother.
Omar: Thank you, Patricia, for encouraging me to stay faithful to God’s plan and to embrace His will with joy.
Patricia: And thank you, Omar, for leading the way in trusting God’s will. Praise be to the Lord.
Omar: Praise Him forever. I love you.

Holy Mother,

No one understands better than you how you endured such moments. Though you were the Immaculate One, you submitted to Joseph, as to Christ, in those decisions. Thank you, Blessed Mother.

GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to John 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

The Gospel of the Lord

Always Filled with Joy

Today we honor the feast of St. John the Evangelist, the apostle who humbly refers to himself as “the one Jesus loved.” How inspiring it is to live with this awareness! If we truly understood how profoundly Christ loves us, it would be so much harder to offend Him—meaning, to sin.
This realization would transform everything: I would feel constant joy in the spouse God has entrusted to me, in my work, my children, my life, and my community.
Every sin originates from doubting God’s love. As St. John Paul II so wisely taught.

Applied to married life:

John: Fiorella, you’ve seemed so joyful lately—what’s your secret?
Fiorella: It’s Christmas, my dear husband, and my heart rejoices in God.
John: But how do you stay so positive through challenges? Just today, for example, the baby’s crying kept us awake all night.
Fiorella: Because I’m confident in God’s love. Today, He allowed me to share in the sleeplessness He endures for His Church, which groans in labor pains awaiting redemption. I embraced this gift with gratitude and joy.

Holy Mother,

In you, we live, move, and have our being. Hold us in your Heart and bring us to new life in Heaven. Amen.