Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 3, 22-30
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,
where he spent some time with them baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was an abundance of water there,
and people came to be baptized,
for John had not yet been imprisoned.
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew
about ceremonial washings.
So they came to John and said to him,
“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified,
here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”
John answered and said,
“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease.”
They found Mary
Today is the eighth day after Christmas. The Christmas octave concludes with Mary, and we start the new year with her, continuing our journey toward God, with God, and for God. Mary keeps each of us close in her heart.
1. In haste This year, choose what inspires you to truly live. Allow yourself the chance to embrace life with joy—don’t let bitterness or uncertainty steal your purpose. Like the angels and shepherds, who both went out to share the good news, remember that to proclaim great things, humility is essential. Approach this year with the humility of the truly great and become a messenger of what’s really important.
2. Mary. Today, we celebrate Mary as the Mother of God. She teaches us that obeying God brings true freedom and enables us to support and build up the lives of others. Keep striving to follow God’s will for your life, and may Mary protect your heart throughout this year.
3. Her heart. May your heart be filled with faith and joy this year, and above all, a passion for life and its blessings. Today, as Catholic digital missionaries, we mark another year since our journey began in 2017—a mission that now reaches many countries and every continent. May we continue to touch lives and hearts this year. Let us unite in prayer as the new year begins.
Jesus, I ask for the gift of hope and the grace to trust in you; to face challenges and adversities with you by my side, confident that you are always within me.
Lord Jesus, help me recognize you in others, distance myself from those who draw me away from you, and love my brothers and sisters every moment of my life.
For it is in giving that we receive, in loving that we are loved, and in helping that we are helped.
May I become a beacon of hope, so that as I await redemption, I may help lead souls to heaven and rejoice in your love. Amen.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
