When I was a teenager, I would rush to our prayer meeting right after class. I’d be busy doing all sorts of things there, so when I have an exam the following day, I would pray, “Lord, I know I deserve an F, but please give me at least a B.” Of course, I got an F! I’d ask God, “Why an F, Lord? I’m serving You in ministry!” In the depth of my heart, I sensed God tell me, “Son, how can I bless you in your studies when you were not there? I blessed you in your ministry because you were there.”

It’s the first day of the year. Can you imagine God pouring blessing upon blessing into your life like a waterfall 365 days a year? But many people don’t recognize God’s blessings because they are like Lego pieces that you still have to assemble to create something. We ask God for things, thinking it would just drop from up above. But it doesn’t.

God wants to bless you. He has given you all that you need—but you need to do something. You need to couple your faith with action. 

Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

reflect

What gifts has God given you? Try to put them together and see what action He wants from you.

Lord God, may I be like Mama Mary, always ready to act on faith. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

First Reading | Numbers 6:22-27

God always desires to bless His people. Today, we celebrate Mary, the Mother of God, who is a great blessing for the whole human race. Without her “yes” to God, Jesus, the Savior of the world, would not have been born. We may never know the blessing we bring to others when we help or serve them. But still, let us always be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and pray that God will work through us to bless His people.

²² The Lord said to Moses: ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: ²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you! ²⁵ The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! ²⁶ The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! ²⁷ So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R: May God bless us in his mercy. 

² May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us.   ³ So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) ⁵ May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) ⁶ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! ⁸ May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

Second Reading | Galatians 4:4-7

We can truly witness how grace works through the life of Mary. God blessed her with His grace to prepare her to be the mother of Jesus. Let us pray to remain attentive to the work of God’s grace in our lives and never miss an opportunity to grow in the Holy Spirit. God is always working to draw us into His love.

⁴ Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ As proof that you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Gospel | Luke 2:16-21

The name 'Jesus' is derived from the Hebrew word 'Joshua' which means “the one who saves.” His Name is also His mission. As the new year begins, let us pause and ask ourselves: How can I be a blessing to others? What does God want me to achieve in my relationship with Him this year? Let us be intentional in growing our spiritual life and focus on daily prayer and Scripture reading.

Gospel Acclamation

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. 

¹⁶ The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. ²¹ 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.  

Reflect

How was your personal relationship with God in 2024? 

What are the ways you can deepen and strengthen this relationship?

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOHN 1 - 4 today.

Your Heart Is a Treasure Chest

Every Christmas, we sing the hymn that goes, “Silent night, holy night . . . All is calm, all is bright . . .” But was it really all calm and all bright for Mary and Joseph?

If she was to be the Mother of God, why was there no divine carriage to bring them to Bethlehem, the hometown of David? If the child she was carrying was the Son of God, why was there no magnificent temple ready to provide them with lodging? Why did she have to settle for a stinky and ragged manger to deliver the Child who would soon deliver the world? 

These are real and valid questions, but these things did not have a foothold in Mary’s heart. The Gospel says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). What did Mary treasure in her heart? 

The promises God swore from the time of the Old Covenant up to the message of the angel at the Annunciation. They faced real threats and problems, but keeping God’s promises in her heart made Mary strong amid the temptations to doubt. 

God promised in the Scriptures that He will save you, that He will forgive you, that you are more valuable than anything on earth, that He will carry you through tough times. Like Mary, treasure these promises of God in your heart. The bigger God is in your heart, the smaller the problems become. When you focus on your problems, worry claims a foothold in your heart. When you focus on God’s promises, there is no room for worry. There is only place for wonder. When that happens, all will be calm, all will be bright. Just like on the first Christmas night!  

Have a “wonder”ful 2026! 

Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

What occupies a foothold in your heart—wonder or worry?

Your words, O God, are faithful and true. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________