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THE WEEKLY DIGEST
OF REGNUM CHRISTI
DAILY MEDITATIONS

Week of December 29, 2024 - January 5, 2025

Sunday, December 29, 2024 – Holy Families

Monday, December 30, 2024 – Ordinary Holiness

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – Children of the Most High

Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – Living Our Mission with Mary

Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Good Friends, Great Saints

Friday, January 3, 2025 – The Spirit Knows

Saturday, January 4, 2025 – You Know My Name

Sunday, January 5, 2025 – Leading Others to the Light

December 29, 2024 - Holy Families

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Luke 2:41-52

 

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

 

Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, today, days after your holy birth, I want to open my heart more deeply to the mystery of your life. As I am before you today, let me be united to you through this prayer and receive from the Holy Spirit the gift of understanding you more fully. Let me be aware of your presence and wisdom as a guide in my life. Strengthen my hope to attain the holy life to which you have called me (2 Tim 1:10).

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. Seeking Jesus: Mary and Joseph were surprised by Jesus’ behavior and worried about him, just as any parent would be for a lost child. Jesus lived a family life like any of us, and in this moment Jesus did something quite unexpected by not following the caravan headed back to Nazareth. Mary was so exasperated that she voiced her concern aloud to Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to us?” Joseph searched within his own heart to understand. We know what it is like when unexpected events like miscommunication or misunderstandings complicate family or community life. Is our first impulse to voice our concerns to Jesus?

 

  1. Jesus Responded: At Jesus’ response, did Mary and Joseph begin to see the unfolding truth of their Son’s mission beyond his immediate family? Jesus, their beloved son, yet also the beloved Son of the Father, was showing them where he was being led by God. He invited them to recognize that, even though his family was home, his place of growth and stability in love, he was being invited by the Father to a witness that would demand a complete “letting go,” a detachment from the two people he surely loved most deeply on earth. Our family is meant to be our stronghold, but ultimately we are all called to communion with Christ through a vocation and mission of our own. This often means letting go. “The mission of the Christian in the world is a mission for all, a mission of service, which excludes no one; it requires great generosity and in particular the gaze and heart turned heavenward to invoke the Lord’s help. There is so much need for Christians who bear witness to the Gospel with joy in everyday life. The disciples, sent by Jesus, ‘returned with joy.’ When we do this, our heart fills with joy” (Pope Francis, Angelus, July 3, 2016).

 

  1. The Holy Family: Today’s Feast of the Holy Family reminds us that growth in grace and virtue originates in family life. We have a personal call to holiness, but it is lived out amid others in the close-knit experience of family. Jesus set the example for us by obedience to his earthly parents and total adherence to his heavenly Father’s will. We even have a commandment, “Honor thy father and mother.” So crucial is our loving participation in the family that St. John Paul II said, “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live” (November 30, 1986).

 

Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord, thank you for calling me to a family, not only the family that I was born into, but also the family of God and the Church. Let me be aware that in this mystery, I join the mystery of your Incarnation. Help me to be united to you in the way I live my own life within my family and to trust that by my obedience I am growing in holiness and pleasing you. I ask the Holy Family especially to watch over and protect me, my family, and all those whom I love.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will ponder and appreciate how you are working in my family.

 

For Further Reflection: Familiaris Consortio of Pope John Paul II, on the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World.

December 30, 2024 - Ordinary Holiness

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, as the calendar year winds down, I continue to try to live in the Christmas spirit. Open my heart to your words today so that I draw the graces you have planned for me from our time together.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. Persevering Prayer: Anna spent years as a widow and, although we’re not given a specific time frame, we can assume she spent years and years in the temple, “praying and fasting.” What an interesting juxtaposition Anna’s perseverance is to our own culture’s current expectation of instant gratification. She teaches us an important lesson about persevering in prayer. How many of us would willingly wait patiently for fifty or sixty years for an answer to our prayer and fasting? God always answers our prayers in his time. “Let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:4).

 

  1. The Act of Praying: Anna teaches us a second lesson by the way she chose to spend her time as a widow. Although women had fewer options in her day than we do now, Anna could have sought to remarry, or she could have given up and lived a life of vice, but she stayed close to the Lord, never leaving the temple. And she occupied herself with prayer and fasting—for years. Most of us are not called to pray and fast with such singular focus, but we are called to dedicate ourselves to putting Christ first in our lives. “A commitment to disciplined structures of regularity in our spiritual practices—set times for prayer, daily Mass if possible, the reading of Scripture, the recitation of the Rosary—is an essential need. The choice to maintain disciplined habits of prayer in the pursuit of God is a necessary condition for a serious relationship with God” (Contemplative Enigmas, p. 225.)

 

  1. Galilee’s Hidden Treasure: Angels heralded him, shepherds visited him, magi traveled great distances to bring him gifts, Simeon and Anna proclaimed his kingship. Then this highly acclaimed child slipped into obscurity for the next thirty years, invisible to everyone except his holy mother and father. Yet, he grew in wisdom and strength living out these ordinary days according to the Father’s will. He sanctified family life, work, socializing—everything he did. Our lives are, for the most part, very ordinary, but because Our Lord sanctified “the ordinary,” we know that our own holiness is possible. “Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it” (St. Josemaría Escrivá).

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord, it can be difficult to believe that the things I do every day—living my very ordinary life—is all you ask of me. Sometimes I feel like I need to do grand things to gain your attention or to convince you to answer my prayers. Of course, I can do nothing without you, and I know that you always hear me. Grant me the grace to live the little details of life well, knowing that is your will for me.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pay close attention to the details of my day and look for a way to please you in everything.

 

For Further Reflection: 5 Ways to Sanctify Your Daily Life with St. Josemaria Escriva.

 

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 more than thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother.

December 31, 2024 - Children of the Most High

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: On this last day of the calendar year, help me, Lord, to drink deeply from your word. I am blessed to be closing this year with you at my side.

 

Conversing with Christ:

 

  1. In the Beginning: How beautiful that Mother Church provides these first words of John’s Gospel, so timeless and deep, to help us reflect on the awesome nature of God as we close out another calendar year. In the beginning—before any of our days were numbered, before human beings existed, before God separated light from darkness (Gen 1:3-4)—Our Lord is. In our world, time passes, we grow old, and everything is in flux, so we draw consolation from the truth that God never changes. He loved us just as much before the world was created as he does today, and will for all eternity. How blessed we are, mere creatures, to be so beloved by the Creator of all!

 

  1. Divine Filiation: Lest we settle for being mere creatures, John reminds us that we have “been given the power to become children of God.” We are required only to accept him, to believe in his name, and to be born “not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.” Our divine filiation merits us unique spiritual gifts and graces from the moment of our baptism to our final breath. For our part, we honor our God with love and obedience, desiring with our whole heart this most intimate relationship. Our inheritance as children of God is nothing less than Heaven, tastes of which we can savor right here and now.

 

  1. John—the Greatest: John the Baptist was called by Jesus the greatest man born of a woman (Mt 11:11), as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments, the person entrusted with preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah, and the prophet who was honored to proclaim Jesus “Lamb of God” at his baptism. John’s mission was lofty, of eternal significance. To be appointed by God to such a position in salvation history would be daunting. Yet, in the economy of salvation, each of us has an important and unrepeatable role to play. We probably don’t dress in hair shirts or eat locusts, but we are nevertheless called to witness to our faith in uncomfortable ways. As this year winds down, let’s reflect on the witness we have given and look ahead, begging God to make his will known in the new year.

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord, I am overwhelmed by your love and concern for me. I feel very little when I think of the grand scheme of things. I am grateful to be your creature but even more incredulous that you call me son or daughter. Please bless me so that I can follow your will and one day join you in Heaven.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray a prayer of self-offering in anticipation of the new year.

 

For Further Reflection: CCC 2736: Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants.

 

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 more than thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother.

January 1, 2025 - Living Our Mission with Mary

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 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: Mother Mary, I come to my prayer time on this solemnity dedicated to you as the Holy Mother of God with gratitude for your fiat. It was through your “yes” that Our Lord came into the world as true God and true man. Lord Jesus, thank you for sharing our experience of life and showing us the Father’s love through your Incarnation. You show us that you are in the midst of the demands and realities of daily life. Jesus, in this prayer time, I turn to you with faith in your love for me, with hope in your goodness and care for me, and with love in response to your great love.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. In Haste: The angels appeared to the shepherds in the midst of their daily responsibilities. It was here that they received their God-given mission and responded to it with haste. We, too, are called to find God in the realities of our daily lives and respond to what he asks of us—with haste! While our moments of focused prayer are essential to our union with Christ, the responsibilities of our lives are not obstacles to that union, but rather are means to growing closer to Christ if we are aware of his presence in them and respond to his inspirations.

 

  1. All Were Amazed: The shepherds’ response to the message of the angels brought them face-to-face with the Holy Family. They encountered God through their obedience to what had been asked of them. However, it wasn’t enough that they had this experience; they had to share it with others. And when they made the message known, all who heard it were amazed. Likewise, we are called to share our experience of the Lord. While it is important that we are able to share the truths of the faith, it is also important that we share our personal knowledge of Our Lord. We need to share what God has done in our lives, how we hear him speak to us, and the joy we find in following him.

 

  1. He Was Named Jesus: In the Annunciation, Mary was told the name of the baby she would bear, and this is the name he received at his circumcision, the sign of the covenant of Israel with God. We are created, known, and loved individually and personally by God, and he calls us each by name (cf. Ps 139, Isa 43:1, Jn 10:3, CCC 2158). Our Baptism unites us to the New Covenant. It makes us members of Christ’s body, incorporates us into the Church, and gives each of us both the right and the responsibility of participating in the saving mission of the Church: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28:19, CCC 900).

 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I am humbled by your love for me and your trust in me. You want me to participate in the mission of your Church, bringing the Good News of your love to today’s world, first within my family but also by reaching out to others. Lord, it isn’t always easy to speak of your presence in my life. Give me the courage to be able to share the story of my faith journey with others. Help me to love you more deeply and grow in greater union with you each day. Make my life a light to those around me.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will find an opportunity to share something of your action in my life with someone.

 

For Further Reflection: Consider the following quotes:

From Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity)

  1. Through this holy synod, the Lord renews his invitation to all the laity to come closer to him every day, recognizing that what is his is also their own (Philippians 2:5), to associate themselves with him in his saving mission. Once again he sends them into every town and place where he will come (cf. Luke 10:1) so that they may show that they are coworkers in the various forms and modes of the one apostolate of the Church, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of our times. Ever productive as they should be in the work of the Lord, they know that their labor in him is not in vain (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church

  1. Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth. This duty is the more pressing when it is only through them that men can hear the Gospel and know Christ. Their activity in ecclesial communities is so necessary that, for the most part, the apostolate of the pastors cannot be fully effective without it (cf. Lumen Gentium, 33).


Janet McLaughlin and her husband, Chris, live on a mountain in rural northeastern Oregon. She puts her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies to work as she shares the beauty and importance of the lay vocation in her writing, speaking, and teaching on spiritual topics.

January 2, 2025 - Good Friends, Great Saints

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).

 

  1. “I Am the 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.

 

  1. 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 moms who have college-aged young adults, And So We Pray, Guidance for Moms

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

January 3, 2025 - The Spirit Knows

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 a hundred 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.

 

  1. 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.”

 

  1. 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 moms who have college-aged young adults, And So We Pray, Guidance for Moms

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

January 4, 2025 - You Know My Name

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

John 1:35-42

 

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

 

Opening Prayer: Lord, I want to follow your lead during this time of prayer. Help me avoid the usual, pesky distractions and focus only on you and the message you want me to receive in these few moments of my day.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. You’re Magnetic: Imagine what leadership, charisma, and personal magnetism the Lord possessed when he walked on the Earth. Here, in the very beginning of his ministry, he so excited two disciples of John the Baptist that they left the Baptist’s side to spend the day with Jesus. We know that one disciple was Andrew, and the time that he spent with Jesus was transforming. Andrew ran immediately to find his brother. How do we respond to Our Lord’s invitation to sit awhile with him?

 

  1. What’s in a Name? As the Lord passed by, John the Baptist told those within earshot that he was “the Lamb of God.” The title is packed with meaning for Jews of the day who recalled Isaiah’s prophecy describing the Messiah as a lamb (Isa 53:7) and the death of all firstborn unprotected by the blood of a lamb during the Passover. We recite “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us,” at each Mass, but what do these words mean to us? Jesus not only saved us from sin, but conquered death and promised to one day embrace us in heaven! Gratefully, we ponder these words of Saint Peter: “Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb” (1 Pet 1:19).

 

  1. You Named Me: There’s lots of name changing in the Bible: Abram becomes Abraham, Jacob becomes Israel, Simon becomes Peter, the rock. Lord, you named Simon “rock” to signify his foundational role as Pope in the new Church you built (CCC 881). As I sit quietly with you this morning, call me by my name and confirm in my heart that I am special to you. Bless me so that I may share what makes me unique with everyone I meet today, according to your holy will.

 

Conversing with Christ: Thank you Lord for this time alone with you. Whenever I seek you out, you always invite me to come away with you (cf. Mk 5:31). You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, my personal Savior, and the intimate friend of my soul.

 

Resolution: Lord, you recognized in Peter the qualities to lead your Church. Today by your grace I will pay close attention to things I do well, thank you for them, and offer everything for your glory.

 

For Further Reflection: Want to learn a bit more about why Jesus was called Lamb of God? Read this short essay by Catholic Straight Answers.

 

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 more than thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother.

January 5, 2025 - Leading Others to the Light

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 Jesus, you are the light of the world. I believe that you are present here and now. I believe that you desire me to come to you and ask you for that which I need. Lord, I ask that your light shine ever more brightly in my life so that I may follow you more faithfully in every aspect of my life. Lord, I believe all that you have revealed through your Church. I hope in your goodness, trusting that you give me all that I need to come to eternal life with you. I love you, Lord, above all things because you first loved me.

 

Encountering Christ:

 

  1. They Saw the Star: Today’s solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of God’s unfolding plan that all people would know and come to Christ. The magi were wise men, astrologers, and the first Gentiles to recognize Jesus. They were led to him by a star. This can remind us that creation reveals God (cf. CCC 36, 288). Nevertheless, for the final directions, the magi needed to rely on Herod, who then turned to the chief priests and scribes for help in finding Jesus. Today, it is not uncommon to hear people say that they are spiritual but not religious or that they find God in nature. They haven’t quite zeroed in on where to find Christ. They’ve only taken a first step and might need further help from us. We can pray that Our Lord continues to work in the hearts of our family and friends who make these or similar statements, that they will come to follow the Light out of the shadows and into the glory of his radiance. Then, we can be ready to answer their questions and encourage them on their journey.

 

  1. Where Is He?: Just as the magi had to ask for directions, so we, too, need to attune ourselves to revelation and look for “directions.” The culmination of God’s revelation of himself is in Christ, and we come to know the fullness of his revelation in Scripture and Tradition, the teaching of the Church. St. Jerome is often quoted: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” We turn to Scripture daily, pondering how the Lord is speaking to us today through his word. Similarly, we take time to grow in our understanding of the faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an invaluable tool for reference, and it also provides an important resource for reflection on the truths of the faith and how we live them in our personal lives.

 

  1. They Offered Gifts: The gifts offered—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—were precious. They indicated the high esteem in which the magi held Jesus. In the song “The Little Drummer Boy,” the child laments that he has nothing of value to bring Jesus until he realizes that he can share his talent with the baby. He gives of himself. Likewise, we can offer precious gifts of self to Our Lord. We can offer all that we are through our sacrifices of self-will and preferences, and by embracing the sufferings that God allows in our lives. We offer ourselves through prayer, worship, and adoration. We can offer ourselves in service, putting our particular gifts and talents to work to build Christ’s Kingdom.

 

Conversing with Christ: Lord, you have revealed yourself in creation, in Scripture, and in the teachings of the Church. I see your light in the lives of those who strive to be close to you in all they do and say. Jesus, I know you want me to know you more deeply. Help me see how I can live your truth more fully. Let me see the obstacles that keep me from a deeper union with you. Let me desire nothing more than to live for you. Fill me with the zeal of the magi to follow your light wherever it leads.

 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take time to go outside and find something specific in nature that speaks to me of you, and I will take a few minutes to pray with this insight.

 

For Further Reflection: Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, is a short (about seven pages) document from Vatican II.

 

Janet McLaughlin and her husband, Chris, live on a mountain in rural northeastern Oregon. She puts her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies to work as she shares the beauty and importance of the lay vocation in her writing, speaking, and teaching on spiritual topics.

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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!