From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:”Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.When they hand you over,do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.You will be given at that moment what you are to say.For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.Brother will hand over brother to death,and the father his child;children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.You will be hated by all because of my name,but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

The Gospel of the Lord

I don’t even think about it.

Today, we honor Saint Stephen, who fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy exactly: betrayed and stoned by his own Jewish brothers. Why? Pride and envy—they couldn’t match his wisdom in debate. The first reading describes it this way: “They were furious in their hearts and gnashed their teeth in anger.”

In such moments, the Lord doesn’t want us to rely on our own thoughts, as our reasoning often differs from God’s. Instead, He desires the Holy Spirit to take charge and speak through us. This is what happened with Stephen, who praised God and peacefully surrendered his spirit while being stoned to death by his enraged brothers. Have you ever felt the sting of hatred from someone you love?

Applied to married life

Connie: Greg, have you ever let the Holy Spirit take control in situations where others are against you?
Greg: Yes, a few times. I’m always amazed at how I act and speak with a love that I could never manage on my own. It leaves me with an overwhelming sense of peace, joy, and hope. You know, Connie? It’s like a miraculous shift in my perspective, similar to the talks we give during retreats.
Connie: That’s so beautiful, Greg. I’ve seen you react in ways that make it seem like God’s glory surrounds you and fills you with His grace. You’re an inspiration to me when you love in moments where love isn’t returned.
Connie: All glory to God, Greg. All glory to Him.

Prayer:

Lord, may we stop relying on our own defenses and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and act through us. Praise to the Holy Spirit of God!

From the Gospel according to John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God,and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God.All things came to be through him,and without him nothing came to be.What came to be through him was life,and this life was the light of the human race;the light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it.A man named John was sent from God.He came for testimony, to testify to the light,so that all might believe through him.He was not the light,but came to testify to the light.The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.He was in the world,and the world came to be through him,but the world did not know him.He came to what was his own,but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,to those who believe in his name,who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,and we saw his glory,the glory as of the Father’s only Son,full of grace and truth.John testified to him and cried out, saying,“This was he of whom I said,‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”From his fullness we have all received,grace in place of grace,because while the law was given through Moses,grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.No one has ever seen God.The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,has revealed him

The Gospel of the Lord

Bubbles of God

The Gospel of John is truly extraordinary, inviting us to pause and reflect on each verse, uncovering its deep mysteries.
This Child, the baby born just last night, is the cornerstone of all creation; through Him, everything came into being. And yet—He’s just a baby! Look closely, though, because through Him, I was created, and from His fullness, I’ve received every blessing. It is from Him that I also receive the light of truth.

Because of that truth, we have a guide—a direction, a path, a purpose. He is my hope, my anchor.
This little baby, who allows Himself to be cared for and cleaned, is the most precious and magnificent being to ever walk the earth. What a profound mystery! It leaves me in awe.
I could gaze upon Him forever and never grow weary. At first glance, He seems like any ordinary baby, but His presence is overwhelming: the Treasure of treasures, the Love of all loves, the King of kings, the Lord of all creation, the most powerful… and yet, He allows Himself to be bathed and clothed. Who are You, Lord? What unimaginable love fills Your Sacred Heart, even as a tiny child?
Today, I bow down in reverence, overwhelmed with praise, before Your small, tender feet—only 10 centimeters long—while You, my God, make playful bubbles with Your mouth.

Reflections in Married Life

Henry: Merry Christmas, my Diana. Will you sit here with me and gaze upon the Christ Child?
Diana: Oh, yes, Henry I love moments like this. It’s times like these that reveal how misguided we can be—our hearts always striving to appear great before others. Yet God, who is the only One truly great, comes to us like this, so small and humble.
Henry: Exactly. He is the Light, the Light of Truth. What we see here is truth itself, and all other measures are falsehoods born of the father of lies. Come, my beloved, my queen, let’s sit together and marvel at the Light of Truth.
Diana: Let’s keep the Baby Jesus displayed throughout the year, so that whenever we feel tempted to pride, we can come and humble ourselves at His feet. What do you think?
Henry: That sounds perfect.

Mother,

What do you feel in this moment as you look upon the Christ Child? Share it with me, heart to heart, so I can be with you in this sacred moment. Thank you, Blessed Mother. Glory to God in the highest!

From the Gospel according to Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

The Gospel of the Lord

Testimony in Humility

Today we celebrate Merry Christmas Eve! It’s almost here! How exciting.
We reflect on how the Lord’s act of humility—stripping Himself of His divine nature to become one of us—is followed by the glorification of the Father, who sends His angels to the shepherds. A legion of the heavenly host glorifying God. What a spectacular scene! How we wish we could have witnessed it!
What happens immediately after is the evangelization of those shepherds to those around them.

This is God’s dynamic: humbling ourselves so that He may exalt us, making us living testimonies that evangelize the world.
Jesus teaches us this from His very birth.

Applied to Married Life

Marie:  Louis, you’re becoming more merciful with me every time I fall into my weaknesses. How do you do it?
Louis: Well, Marie, I’ve found a path to charity in 1 Corinthians 13. I start by understanding your temperament and the sinful tendencies typical of your personality. Then, once I understand and excuse you, I must seek your good and mine by relying on divine justice. After that, I humble myself by reflecting on how I fail to love, and finally, I ask for grace through our Sacrament so the Lord can help me love you without limits.
Marie: Wow, that sounds complicated, doesn’t it?
Louis: Sorry, I’m overexplaining. It’s really just 4 steps: understand you, seek your good, humble myself, and rely on God’s grace to love you better.
Marie: Oh, that’s simpler! Thanks, because I’m falling more in love with you every day. One day, I’m going to burst with love for you. Hahaha!
Louis: Let me know beforehand so I can step aside and not get splashed too much.
Marie: Hahaha, always such a joker.

Mother,

May we follow the guidelines of God’s Love. Praise be to Him.
And… Merry Christmas Eve!

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 1:39-45

Thank you for showing us where the true source of our joy lies: in God and within each other. Praise be to God, who has united us, and we are joyful.

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

The Gosper of the Lord

Are You Jumping on Board?

This is the ninth Beatitude: Blessed are those who believed because what the Lord told them would be fulfilled. I don’t know about you, but God told us on our wedding day that we would become holy through marriage. God gave us this amazing Sacrament to make it happen, and we believed it! Are you jumping on board with those of us who believe?

Applied to married life:

Philip: Matilda, why have you been so loving and thoughtful lately?
Matilda: Because I believe that through our Sacrament of Marriage, everything I do for you, Philip, is filled with the love of Christ, and it sanctifies us through His redeeming power.
Philip: Does that have to do with how our Sacrament is a visible sign of something supernatural happening—something much bigger but invisible?
Matilda: Exactly. The proof is that what happens is way out of proportion to what we do. It’s like at retreats, where the miracles that occur are far greater than anything we contribute to. It’s the same in our marriage, but even more so because we are united by a Sacrament that is truly effective.
Philip: That’s amazing! Can I try it?
Matilda: Of course, but you have to do it with faith, because it works according to your faith.

Mother,

We are jumping on board, the board of the blessed who believe. All for the greater glory of God!