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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

THE WEEKLY DIGEST
OF REGNUM CHRISTI
DAILY MEDITATIONS

Week of Dec 28, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026

Sunday, December 28, 2025 – Out of Egypt

Monday, December 29, 2025 – The Gift of Obedience

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 – Encounter with the Prophetess Anna

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 – The Light of the World

Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Getting to Know Mother Mary

Friday, January 2, 2026 – Good Friends, Great Saints

Saturday, January 3, 2026 – The Spirit Knows

Sunday, January 4, 2026 – All One Family

December 28, 2025 – Out of Egypt

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Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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 had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to unite my heart to yours, my will to your will. Thank you for welcoming me into your presence and for reminding me that you are always here with me. Like Joseph, I place my trust in you and your plan for my life. My hope grows with every experience of your action in my life and I find my value, my self-worth, in your unconditional love for me. Please know how much I love you and how much I desire my thoughts, words, and actions to reflect that love for you.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Ears to Hear: During the holidays, our life can be so full of noise and distractions that it’s challenging at times to be with the Lord and to hear the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. We may even find ourselves unable to discern—is that really the Holy Spirit or just my imagination? Disruptions in routine, holiday festivities, fatigue, media saturation—so many things vie for our attention and block the ears of our soul to hear the Lord’s will. We are in a special time of grace, so let’s be sure to spend a few minutes in silence with Jesus so that he can restore peace in our soul, which will allow us to have ears to hear his plan for my day.

     

  2. Growing Gratitude: How many times has the Lord saved you from danger? From being somewhere we shouldn’t be, from speaking out of anger and frustration, from participating in activities that would harm our soul? When we are faithful to our daily examination of conscience, we become aware of the Lord’s action in our life and our gratitude grows. We find ourselves more eager to live attentive to the Lord’s will.

     

  3. Protector of Souls: Joseph protected the infant Jesus and Mary from all danger and harm by responding to the promptings of your holy angels. The Lord is the ultimate protector of our soul, but he also asks that we look out for the good of the souls he has placed in our life. How are we protecting from harm those souls he has entrusted to us? (My congregation, my spouse, my children, those I work with, those I teach, those I guide…) No matter our vocation, there are souls who are influenced by our thoughts, words, and actions. Let’s pray for the grace to help others to encounter Jesus.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, grant me the desire to make time to spend with you in prayer in the gift of interior recollection. Grant me also the desire to make time to spend with you at the end of the day, to examine my conscience so that I may grow in awareness of and gratitude for the action of the Holy Spirit in my life. These practices will help to ensure that I bring good and not harm to the souls of those you have entrusted to me.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will grow in awareness of the action of the Holy Spirit in my life and resolve to be responsive to his gentle promptings by making time to meet with you in the evening to examine my day through your eyes.

For Further Reflection: A common tool for examination of your day is The Ignatian Daily Examen: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen.

Marjorie Davin is a lay member of Regnum Christi who has served as director of the Women’s Section in the Washington, D.C., area. She and her husband have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of four adult children.

December 29, 2025 – The Gift of Obedience

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Monday, the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Luke 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: My own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I present myself to you in prayer this morning as the Holy Family presented themselves to you in the temple. Bless me, speak to me, anoint me, and send me on my way with your blessing.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Obedience to the Law: Greater royalty never lived! Yet, the Holy Family considered themselves subject to the law of their day, not above it. According to the law, every firstborn male belonged to God and needed to be redeemed for a price. Mary and Joseph not only followed the prescription of the law, but they did so humbly, bringing for their offering what the poor could afford: two turtle doves. They asked for no exception, even though the law didn’t apply to them. What a lesson can be drawn from their breathtaking docility! Should we doubt that acts of obedience such as these please our Father? Jesus told St. Faustina, “My daughter, know that you give me greater glory by a single act of obedience than by long prayers and mortifications” (Diary 894).

     

  2. Simeon Was Waiting: The Scriptures tell us Simon was “righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” He lived in the Spirit and allowed himself to be led by the Spirit. Inspired by the Spirit, Simon was waiting for no less than the arrival of the Savior of the world—and his expectations were met. He came to the temple in the Spirit precisely as Mary and Joseph arrived with Jesus. Simon embodied a soul who seeks first the Kingdom of God (cf. Mt 6:33) and received all else from God’s hand. To be so connected to the vine (cf. Jn 15:5) requires obedience to God’s will, purity of intention, and great love. As we journey through the Christmas season, what keeps us from living in the Spirit like Simeon?

     

  3. A Sword?: Mary and Joseph were “amazed” at what was said about Jesus, but Mary was then told that a sword would one day pierce her heart. Even though God can give us consolation when we meditate on his Incarnation and our subsequent redemption, we cannot avoid trials, pains, and sufferings while we’re here on this earth. We relish consolations with hearts full of gratitude and rely on Jesus, the light of the nations and the glory of Israel, to bless us so that even our suffering is made sweet because of its redemptive power.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, I want to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit, so connected to you that “in you I live and move and have my being” (Acts 17:28). Grant me the grace to love you this way. I want to rejoice in your consolation and offer you every suffering.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will conform my will to the will of others, as appropriate, confident that my obedience will please you.

For Further Reflection: Read The Sanctifier for insight about the Holy Spirit.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for moms who have college-aged young adults, And So We Pray, Guidance for Moms

with College-Aged Young Adults. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of nine and counting.

December 30, 2025 – Encounter with the Prophetess Anna

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Tuesday, the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Luke 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so grateful that I don’t need to wait to encounter you. You are right here waiting to fill me with love and shower me with your grace, so I can lift my heart and my mind to you. Free me from distractions and remove all obstacles that will keep me from encountering you in this moment. Fill me with a desire only for you. This time is ours.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Persevering Spirit: Anna persevered with incredible trust and hope and patience. In fact, her spirit was strengthened over time by her waiting. The Lord is at work in our souls even when we don’t see or feel him. He has called us to live a specific mission. Does it sometimes feel like so much time has gone by that we’ve forgotten that initial zeal and desire to live for the Lord? Let us ask the Lord for the grace to persevere like Anna and serve him with a fresh heart and a new attitude, starting today.

     

  2. Fasting and Prayer: Anna worshiped with fasting and prayer. She spent her life detaching from the pleasures of the material world in order to draw closer to the Lord in every moment. What keeps us from drawing close to the Lord? To what material goods are we attached? What can’t we live without? With fasting and prayer, these obstacles, large or small, will disappear as we draw, perhaps imperceptibly, each day closer to the Lord.

     

  3. Sharing the Good News: As soon as Anna encountered Jesus, she could not contain the joy in her heart. “She spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Those who knew her had witnessed her spending every moment in the temple. She had a reputation for fidelity, faith, and hope. When she spoke of Jesus, they believed her because she had earned their trust by her witness. Like Anna, we desire to share the joy in my heart that comes from knowing the Lord and we want to be trusted by those in our lives. What is our witness to family and friends?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, strengthen my resolve to persevere in the mission to which you have called me. Remind me of that initial zeal and desire, and increase my faith and hope so that I may bring the joy of knowing you to all of my relationships and encounters with others.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will fast from one small pleasure, offering the sacrifice for the souls you have entrusted to me.

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church 1434, “The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life.”

Marjorie Davin is a lay member of Regnum Christi who has served as director of the Women’s Section in the Washington, D.C., area. She and her husband have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of four adult children.

December 31, 2025 – The Light of the World

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Wednesday, the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

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-begotten 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-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Opening Prayer: Jesus, I have faith that I have received you and you have made me a child of God. I know that I am set apart and am different, not for anything I do but because of you who dwell in me. I am sorrowful when my thoughts, words, and actions don’t reflect that truth. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. But I have hope that you will be my strength when I am weak, my light when I am off track, and my faithful friend who will guide me always to the path of truth. I love you Jesus and am so grateful for your light that dwells in my heart.

Encountering Christ:

  1. The Word Was God: As we navigate our social-media world saturated with breaking news, mixed messages, splashy images, and catchy headlines, discernment of truth can be a challenge. Jesus is THE Word, THE truth. The Lord knows how much time we spend on our phones or how easily one show can turn into two or three until, before we know it, we are binge-watching, having wasted hours of precious time. We need to unplug to make time to tune into the one Word that matters most in our lives–Jesus.

     

  2. Bear Witness to the Light: John was called to bear witness to the light. Like John, we are also called to bear witness to your light in times of work, with our family, in our ministry, and even during rest. How we spend our time matters. When it’s time for rest, Christians choose healthy ways to recharge and rejuvenate so that when it’s time to mission we may bear witness to the light in a world that knows not the Lord.

     

  3. Grace and Truth: Jesus is grace and truth. When we reflect on the graces Our Lord has shown us, we are reminded of how intimately we are known by him. He leads us out of darkness into light, if we let him. His truth will reorient us so that the means and tools of this world are put in their proper place and we are liberated to love him and others with our whole heart.

Conversing with Christ: Dearest Jesus, we live in a world where messages and technology are constantly vying for our attention. We want to put these tools in their proper place so that we may not only witness to your truth and your light, but so that we will live in your truth and light. Come into our heart now and shine your light into every corner so that nothing is hidden from you. Turn all darkness to light so that your light may shine through us to all souls we encounter today and in our lifetime.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will set boundaries on the time I spend with technology tools in order to find more time to connect with you so that your light, which lives in me, will shine brightly to all souls I encounter.

For Further Reflection: https://www.regnumchristi.com/en/seeking-first-the-kingdom-30-meditations-on-how-to-love-god-with-all-your-heart-mind-soul-and-strength/

Marjorie Davin is a lay member of Regnum Christi who has served as director of the Women’s Section in the Washington, D.C., area. She and her husband have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of four adult children.

January 1, 2026 – Getting to Know Mother Mary

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Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Luke 2:16- 21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Opening Prayer: Lord, on this special day, I venerate your Mother and mine. I place my whole heart, mind, and soul into my effort to contemplate these first days of your life.

Encountering Christ:

  1. A Mother’s Love: On that cold night in Bethlehem, Jesus entrusted his fragile humanity to Mary and Joseph. How well-prepared was Mary for this honor? An only child, barely 14 years old, far from her own mother, waited upon by no nursemaid or doctor, sheltered in a cave warmed by farm animals, with only Joseph as company, Mary had every reason to feel afraid, inadequate, “not enough.” Yet, as Saint John reminds us, “There is no fear in love” (1 Jn 4:18), and Mary’s capacity for love is matched by no other human heart. Oh, how she must have loved the Lord! Her pure love for him dispelled any “performance anxiety” she might have felt, any thought of “what if,” and any inclination to be embarrassed by her meager surroundings. With what tenderness she wrapped him warmly against the chill of the air. She loved the infant Jesus with perfect selfless love unstained by sin, with a pure motherly love deserving of her only Son, her God.

     

  2. A Mother’s Desire: Although the Lord appeared impotent and vulnerable in the manger, no one who came near him left unchanged. Curious shepherds, following instructions given to them by a choir of angels, approached the manger with trepidation. They saw, they worshiped, and they were transformed into bold, joyous apostles, spreading the news of your birth far and wide. They “amazed” people by their eyewitness account of the infant’s birth. Mother Mary observed their immediate conversion and “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” She wants the same conversion of heart for all of her children and invites us to draw ever closer to the Lord to be transformed.

     

  3. A Mother’s Surrender: Traditionally, the parents name their children at birth. In the case of Jesus, the angels told Mary what his name was to be before she conceived. She surrendered to God even the privilege of naming her own child. There was nothing she held back from God. As a result of her faithfulness, in time she was raised from lowly hand maid to Queen of Heaven and Earth. God’s grace and blessings are showered superabundantly upon those who surrender to his will.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you the gift of Mary our mother. We are a family! Help me to love you purely as Mary did, to stay close to you, and, by your grace, to surrender to your will and allow myself to be transformed.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will practice Mary’s docility by offering a silent prayer of surrender to you when difficulties present themselves.

For Further Reflection: Praying The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary can draw us closer to Mary while we reflect on some of her many supernatural qualities.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

January 2, 2026 – Good Friends, Great Saints

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Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

John 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Opening Prayer: Lord, transport me to Bethany across the Jordan as I reflect on this prophecy of John the Baptist.

Encountering Christ:

  1. “Who Are You?”: When John the Baptist was asked this question by the Jews from Jerusalem, he knew how to answer. He told them who he was NOT! He was not the Messiah, not Elijah, not a prophet. Do we know who we are NOT? Of course, we know we’re not God, right? But isn’t that exactly how we act when we take on difficult circumstances without praying first? Or judge someone offhandedly? Or put our agenda before the person’s standing in front of us? Lord, you told Saint Catherine of Siena, “You are she is not; whereas I am he who is.” I am nothing and can do nothing without God (cf. Jn 15:5).

     

  2. Who Are You?: “I am a voice of one crying out in the desert…” John the Baptist chose to identify himself to his inquisitors by stating his mission. How would you respond? “I’m the person riding the subway with ashes on my forehead. I am the one quietly saying the rosary on the plane. I am the shopper smiling at strangers in the store for love of you.” In our own way, each of us is called to be a missionary to this modern desert of contemporary society. Our mission is an essential aspect of our identity as Christians: “The missionary who, despite all his or her human limitations and defects, lives a simple life, taking Christ as the model, is a sign of God and of transcendent realities….everyone in the Church, striving to imitate the Divine Master, can and must bear this kind of witness; in many cases it is the only possible way of being a missionary” (Saint John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, 42).

     

  3. The Greatest: John the Baptist was the greatest among those born to women, Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 11:11, “yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he…” Like John, Saints Basil and Gregory, whose feast we celebrate today, were truly great men: best friends, bishops, and doctors of the Church. Saint Gregory said of their friendship, “…our great pursuit, the great name we wanted, was to be Christians, to be called Christians.” He said that the two friends had a single objective: “virtue, and a life of hope in the blessings that are to come…” We were all born to be great (i.e., saints in heaven), whether we’re locust-eating preachers, bishop besties, or ordinary twenty-first century Catholics.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, greatness is nothing more than personal holiness, which leads to sainthood. Help me, Lord, to know and fulfill my mission, whether I am witnessing, like John the Baptist, or striving to be a good friend, in imitation of Saints Gregory and Basil.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will reflect on my most fruitful friendships. How do they bring me closer to you? I will make an earnest effort to incorporate faith into a conversation with a friend.

For Further Reflection: Learn more about the deep friendship between Gregory and Basil and how their wisdom can inspire us toward spiritual greatness here.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

January 3, 2026 – The Spirit Knows

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Christmas Weekday

John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.

Opening Prayer: Lord, you entrusted John the Baptist with a big job in your plan of salvation. Open my ears to hear his eyewitness testimony with a fresh perspective and let it penetrate my soul like never before.

Encountering Christ:

  1. It’s You!: When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him, there was nothing in the Lord’s bearing that hinted at his divinity. Jesus’s ministry was still nascent. He hadn’t even assembled disciples yet. How did John the Baptist know to proclaim Jesus the “Lamb of God” and “the Son of God”? The Gospel passage tells us that the Spirit prepared John for this moment. “I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me…” The Lord walks into my life 100 times a day “disguised” as a friend, neighbor, or colleague. I will best recognize him and love him as he deserves to be loved when I’ve tapped into the Spirit beforehand. Prepare me, Lord, to encounter you often during this busy day as I spend these quiet moments praying.

     

  2. My Reason for Living: Modern psychologists would call John a self-actualized man. He knew his mission and purpose, and applied his talents and skills to accomplish it. His life coach probably would have discovered that John had excellent moral intuition, a strong sense of realism, and a fearlessness of the unknown, as do self-actualized men today. But, because John drew his purpose from pleasing God and doing God’s will, John also became a saint. I want to imitate John and seek my fulfillment by recognizing that my primary purpose is to know, love, and serve God unwaveringly. I want to live Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”

     

  3. God Knows Before We Do: The Lord told John the Baptist how to recognize him before he came to the river for his baptism. In the same way, the Spirit sometimes prepares us during prayer for future blessings or trials. Twenty years ago, I arrived home from my first weekend retreat to the news that my mother had cancer. She died shortly thereafter. I continue to thank the Lord for the blessing of having gotten to know him so intimately just before this trial entered our lives.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, the best moments of my day are those where you make your presence known to me in one of a thousand ways. Thank you for meeting me in my little reality. I praise you with a heart full of gratitude.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will actively look for you, listen to what you ask me to do through the messengers I meet, and act promptly, whether I’m asked to do something small and invisible or something that costs me.

For Further Reflection: Read what Saint Josemaría Escrivá has to say about docility to the Holy Spirit here.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

January 4, 2026 – All One Family

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The Epiphany of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Opening Prayer: Lord, bring me spiritually into your presence as an infant so that I, along with the Magi, can give you the gift of my full attention during this time of prayer.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Jesus Is for Everyone: The three kings came from distant pagan countries to worship Our Lord. The Catechism teaches that their homage to the King of the Jews “shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations.” We can rejoice most especially on this feast day that we belong to the “full number of nations” called to bow before our infant King.

     

  2. Gold and Frankincense: The Magi bore unusual gifts for the baby King: gold to acknowledge Jesus’s royalty; and frankincense, which is used in worship, to honor his divinity. Saint Gregory the Great warns, “There are some heretics who believe Him to be God, but do not at all believe that He reigns everywhere; these offer unto Him frankincense, but refuse Him gold. There are some others who think that He is King, but deny that He is God; these offer Him gold, but refuse Him frankincense” (Saint Gregory the Great’s Tenth Homily on the Gospels). As we join the Magi in their adoration of Jesus, let’s beg the Holy Spirit to fill us with awe, reverence, and fear of the Lord, so that we can worship him in truth as our King and our God.

     

  3. Mysterious Myrrh: The more somber of the three gifts the Kings brought to Jesus was myrrh, used to embalm or anoint dead bodies. Imagine how Mary’s heart must have broken as she accepted with humble submission this prophesy of her Son’s Passion and Death. Our Blessed Mother invites us to imitate her by making our own little sacrifices (our myrrh) when the opportunity arises during our day. “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1).

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for choosing me to be your friend and disciple. I am truly honored to be invited in to these moments with the Magi. May my entire life be a gift to you, received by and purified by my motherly intercessor, Mary.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace, on this celebratory feast of Epiphany, I offer you gold—my recommitment to obey all of your royal commandments; frankincense—the aroma of my heartfelt prayers; and myrrh—every suffering large or small united to you in your sorrowful Passion.

For Further Reflection: Celebrate Epiphany by blessing your home as a family with an Epiphany House Blessing.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!