Vox Divini Meditation Notes – December 2025

December 1, 2025 – Monday of the First Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 8:5–11
Context: This story happens in a small fishing town by the Sea of Galilee. A Roman officer, who is not Jewish, comes to Jesus because his servant is very sick and cannot move. Jesus is ready to go to the man’s house, but the officer says he is not worthy and only asks Jesus to speak a word. Everyone is watching. The people expect the Messiah to help only Jews, but here Jesus shows that strong faith matters more than where someone is from. This moment teaches that God’s love and power reach everyone who trusts Him.
Word: When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Mt 8:10)

Engage 1: Jesus responds to faith and intercession. He shows that who is praying does not matter; what truly matters is the faith behind the prayer.
Incidents: The healing of the paralytic through friends’ faith (Mk 2:5), the Canaanite woman’s persistent faith (Mt 15:28)
Engage 2: Jesus’ ministry is not limited to certain people or places. He never restricts His blessings.
Incidents: Jesus calls Matthew, the tax collector (Mt 9:9), the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1–42)

December 2, 2025 – Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Lk 10:21–24
Context: Jesus has just sent His friends out to preach and heal. They come back full of joy because even demons obeyed them. While they are together in Galilee, Jesus suddenly becomes very happy in the Holy Spirit. He thanks His Father for showing the deep truths of God to simple, humble people instead of the proud and clever ones. It is like God loves to surprise everyone by choosing the little ones to understand His secrets.
Word: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” (Lk 10:23)

Engage 1: Jesus affirms their calling and encourages their vocation to ministry.
Incidents: Jesus sends out the twelve with authority (Mt 10:1–8), Jesus rejoices when the seventy-two return with joy (Lk 10:17–21)
Engage 2: Jesus chooses ordinary people to receive privileged revelation.
Incidents: The Samaritan woman receives the revelation of the Messiah (Jn 4:1–42), Peter receives the revelation that Jesus is the Christ (Mt 16:13–17)

December 3, 2025 – Wednesday of the First Week of Advent (St. Francis Xavier, Solemnity)
Gospel Reading: Mk 16:15–20
Context: After the Resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples who are still confused and afraid. He gives them a clear mission: go into the whole world and preach the Gospel. He promises that those who believe will experience God’s saving power and assures them they will not be alone—He will work through them with signs that strengthen faith.
Word: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mk 16:15)

Engage 1: As a true leader, Jesus commissions His disciples and entrusts them with His mission.
Incidents: Jesus sends the twelve with authority over unclean spirits and to heal and preach (Mk 6:7–13), Jesus commissions the disciples after His Resurrection, saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21)
Engage 2: Jesus desires the salvation of the whole world—His mission is universal and excludes no one.
Incidents: Jesus speaks of other sheep not of this fold, and says He must gather them also (Jn 10:16), Jesus says that many will come from the east and the west and take their place in the Kingdom (Mt 8:11)

December 4, 2025 – Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 7:21, 24–27
Context: Jesus is teaching a big crowd on a hillside in Galilee. This is the end of His long talk we call the Sermon on the Mount. He wants everyone to understand that just listening to His words is not enough – we must also do what He says. He tells a simple story about two men who built houses: one on rock that stood strong in the storm, and one on sand that fell down. The rock means obeying Jesus every day.
Word: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Mt 7:24)

Engage 1: Jesus always listened to the Father and acted on His words.
Incidents: Jesus prayed and sought the Father’s will before choosing His disciples (Lk 6:12), Jesus speaks only what the Father teaches (Jn 12:49-50)
Engage 2: Jesus shows how to face challenges and storms in life by calling for a deep, rooted bond with the Word of God.
Incidents: Jesus overcomes temptation with the Word of God (Mt 4:1-11), Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:42)

December 5, 2025 – Friday of the First Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 9:27–31
Context: Jesus is walking through a town in Galilee. Two blind men hear He is passing by and start shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” They keep following and calling even when others tell them to be quiet. They believe Jesus is the promised Messiah who can open blind eyes. When they finally reach Him inside a house, Jesus asks them a simple question to see if their hearts really trust Him.
Word: “Do you believe that I can do this?” (Mt 9:28)

Engage 1: Jesus emphasised having faith and encouraged others to have faith at all times.
Incidents: Jesus questioned and encouraged the disciples’ faith in the storm (Mt 8:26), Jesus talks about faith when disciples doubted their ability to heal the epileptic boy (Mt 17:14-20)
Engage 2: Jesus’ kind response to people’s cries and needs.
Incidents: Jesus heals the woman with haemorrhage for 12 years (Mk 5:25-34), Jesus chooses to multiply food for the multitudes because of their hunger (Mt 14:13-21)

December 6, 2025 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6–8
Context: Jesus has been travelling all over Galilee, teaching in synagogues, announcing that God’s Kingdom is near, and healing every kind of sickness. He looks at the crowds and feels deep pity – they look tired and lost, like sheep with no shepherd. Now He turns to His twelve close friends and tells them it is time for them to start doing the same work He is doing.
Word: “The harvest is abundant but the labourers are few.” (Mt 9:37)

Engage 1: Jesus shows a deep zeal and urgency to reach out to every soul.
Incidents: Jesus shows urgency to proclaim the Good News in other towns (Mk 1:38), healing many late into the night (Mk 1:32–34)
Engage 2: Jesus sets the example of mission focus and awakens the responsibility in others.
Incidents: Jesus commands the disciples to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach (Mt 28:18-20), Jesus sending out the seventy-two (Lk 10:1-9)

December 7, 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 3:1–12
Context: John the Baptist is preaching in the desert near the Jordan River. He wears rough camel-hair clothes and eats locusts and wild honey. Large crowds come from everywhere to hear him. He tells everyone to change their hearts because the Kingdom of heaven is coming soon. Even religious leaders come, but John speaks strongly to them too. He says someone much greater than him is coming very soon.
Word: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)

Engage 1: Jesus values every soul. He desires not to lose anyone, and He calls for a deep inner conversion.
Incidents: Jesus begins His ministry preaching repentance (Mt 4:17), Jesus calls the rich young man to radical conversion (Mk 10:17-22)
Engage 2: Jesus takes personal initiative to help others in their journey of repentance.
Incidents: Jesus dines with Zacchaeus and brings true conversion (Lk 19:1-10), Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery and tells her to sin no more (Jn 8:1-11)

December 8, 2025 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26–38
Context: A young woman named Mary lives quietly in the little village of Nazareth. One ordinary day, the angel Gabriel suddenly appears to her. He brings the most amazing news any person has ever heard – God has chosen her to be the mother of His own Son. Mary is surprised and wonders how this can happen since she is a virgin. The angel explains that the Holy Spirit will make it possible.
Word: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)

Engage 1: Like Mary, Jesus was always submissive to God’s will.
Incidents: Surrender in Gethsemane (Lk 22:42), Jesus speaks what the Father commands (Jn 12:49–50)
Engage 2: As Mother Mary trusted, Jesus completely trusted in God’s will and responded with faith.
Incidents: Jesus’ faith during the storm (Mt 8:23–27), surrender at the Cross (Lk 23:46)

December 9, 2025 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 18:12–14
Context: Jesus is teaching His disciples about how much God loves every single person. He tells a short story about a shepherd who has a hundred sheep. When one gets lost, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine safe ones and goes searching until he finds the lost sheep. Then he carries it home happily. Jesus says heaven is even happier when one sinner turns back to God.
Word: “It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (Mt 18:14)

Engage 1: Little ones – Jesus values every soul: the unnoticed, the vulnerable, the weak; each person matters to Him. He sees all as equal and actively seeks those who are lost.
Incidents: Jesus heals the untouchable leper (Mk 1:41), Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew (Mt 9:9)
Engage 2: Jesus always knew His Father’s will and chose to act according to it.
Incidents: Doing the will of the Father (Jn 4:34), Submissive even in suffering (Lk 22:42)

December 10, 2025 – Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 11:28–30
Context: Many people in Jesus’ time felt tired and heavy because of strict religious rules and hard lives. Jesus speaks gently to the crowd and invites everyone who feels worn out to come to Him. He promises real rest for their hearts. He says His way is kind and light, not heavy like the rules some teachers put on people.
Word: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)

Engage 1: Jesus understands human limits emotionally, mentally, and physically. He assures rest to those who come to Him, and He is always open to help.
Incidents: Jesus feels deep compassion for the crowds (Mt 9:36), Jesus reassures the anxious (Mt 6:25–34)
Engage 2: “Come to me” – Jesus is inviting us into a personal relationship with Him, just as He relied on the Father.
Incidents: Jesus invites the disciples (Mt 4:19), Jesus promises to remain with the disciples (Jn 15:4)

December 11, 2025 – Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 11:11–15
Context: John the Baptist is now in prison. He sends his followers to ask Jesus, “Are you really the one we have been waiting for?” Jesus answers by pointing to all the miracles happening. After they leave, Jesus speaks to the crowd about John. He says no one ever born is greater than John, yet even the smallest person in God’s Kingdom is blessed in a new way.
Word: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt 11:11)

Engage 1: Jesus humbly honours others, setting aside His own greatness to acknowledge their worth.
Incidents: Jesus washing the feet of disciples (Jn 13:4-5), Jesus praising the centurion (Mt 8:5-13)
Engage 2: Jesus was not envious when John fulfilled God’s will; He rejoiced in his mission.
Incidents: Jesus rejoiced when disciples came back after doing ministry (Lk 10:21), Jesus asking not to stop the person who did miracles in His name even when he wasn’t part of the group (Mk 9:38)

December 12, 2025 – Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 11:16–19
Context: Jesus is speaking to the crowds about how many people refuse to accept God’s message no matter how it comes. John the Baptist lived a very strict and simple life, but people criticised him. Jesus lived among the people, eating and drinking with them, and they criticised Him too. Their hearts were closed. Jesus uses a small image of children playing in the marketplace to show how people rejected both John and Himself. Yet He concludes with hope: God’s wisdom will be proved true through the lives of those who accept His message.
Word: “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” (Mt 11:19)

Engage 1: Jesus reveals God’s wisdom through His works, even when people misunderstand Him.
Incidents: Jesus heals on the Sabbath, showing God’s compassion despite criticism (Mt 12:9–14), Jesus forgives and restores the paralytic, revealing divine authority through His works (Mk 2:1–12)
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us to recognise God’s wisdom beyond outward appearances.
Incidents: God reveals hidden truths to the humble, not the proud (Mt 11:25), Jesus urges, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (Jn 7:24)

December 13, 2025 – Saturday of the Second Week of Advent (St. Lucy, Memorial)
Gospel Reading: Mt 17:9a, 10–13
Context: Jesus has just shown three disciples His glory on a mountain. As they come down, the disciples ask about an old prophecy that Elijah must come first. Jesus explains that Elijah has already come – he was John the Baptist – but people did not recognize him and treated him badly. Jesus says the same thing will happen to Him.
Word: “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” (Mt 17:12)

Engage 1: Jesus did not depend on people’s recognition or approval. He remained faithful to His calling and continued His mission.
Incidents: Jesus forgave sins even though He knew it would cause controversy (Mk 2:5–7), Jesus did not stay in one place but moved on (Lk 4:42–43)
Engage 2: Jesus willingly embraced suffering in order to do the will of God, choosing obedience over comfort.
Incidents: In Gethsemane, Jesus consciously chose the path of suffering (Mt 26:36–46), Jesus deciding to go to Jerusalem (Mk 10:33)

December 14, 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Gospel Reading: Mt 11:2–11
Context: John the Baptist is in prison and begins to wonder. He sends some friends to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we are waiting for?” Jesus does not answer with a simple yes. Instead, He keeps healing many people right in front of John’s friends and then tells them, “Go back and tell John everything you have seen and heard today.”
Word: “Go and tell John what you hear and see.” (Mt 11:4)

Engage 1: Jesus wants us to testify from our personal experience of Him.
Incidents: Jesus says not to hide the lamp under a bushel (Lk 11:33), the Gerasene demoniac is sent to proclaim what Jesus did (Mk 5:18–20)
Engage 2: Jesus invites everyone to judge His identity by the fruits of His ministry rather than mere words.
Incidents: Jesus tells the healed blind man, “You have seen him… it is he who is speaking to you” (Jn 9:37), Jesus points to His works as proof to the crowds (Jn 10:37-38)

December 15, 2025 – Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 21:23–27
Context: Jesus has just turned over tables in the temple because people were misusing God’s house. The religious leaders are angry and come to Him in the temple courtyard. They ask, “Who gave you the right to do these things?” Jesus knows they only want to trap Him, so He answers with a clever question about John the Baptist that leaves them stuck.
Word: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mt 21:27)

Engage 1: Jesus carefully discerned what to say to each person, speaking with great prudence.
Incidents: Jesus only took Peter, James, and John for the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-3), Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables (Mt 13:10-11)
Engage 2: Jesus has no intention to please people or to gain their respect.
Incidents: Jesus overturns tables in the temple (Mt 21:12-13), Jesus forgives sins even though He knew it would cause controversy (Mt 9:2)

December 16, 2025 – Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 21:28–32
Context: Jesus is still in the temple area teaching. The religious leaders have just failed to answer His question. Now Jesus tells them a short story about a father and his two sons. One son says “no” but later obeys; the other says “yes” but does nothing. Jesus uses this story to show that actions matter more than words.
Word: “Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” (Mt 21:31)

Engage 1: Jesus fully forgives sinners and even rewards them.
Incidents: Jesus forgives the thief on the cross and promises paradise (Lk 23:42–43), parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20–24)
Engage 2: Jesus highlights that genuine belief and not outward religiosity are what truly matter.
Incidents: The Pharisee boasts of his religiosity while the tax collector asks for mercy (Lk 18:9–14), Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Mt 23:25–28)

December 17, 2025 – Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 1:1–17
Context: The Gospel of Matthew begins by showing that Jesus belongs to God’s big family story. It lists many names from father to son, starting with Abraham and King David, all the way to Joseph, Mary’s husband. Some names are famous heroes, some are ordinary, and a few are surprising women. This list proves Jesus is the promised Messiah everyone was waiting for.
Word: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Mt 1:1)

Engage 1: Jesus, the true Son of God, chose humility by identifying Himself as son of His own creations.
Incidents: Jesus submissive to His parents (Lk 2:51), Jesus washing disciples’ feet (Jn 13:1–17)
Engage 2: Jesus restores the dignity of people whom others considered lowly.
Incidents: Restoring the dignity of the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1–42), Jesus chose to touch and heal the leper (Lk 5:12–13)

December 18, 2025 – Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 1:18–24
Context: Joseph and Mary are engaged to be married. One day Joseph discovers Mary is going to have a baby. He is a good man and does not want to shame her. He decides to quietly end the engagement. That night, an angel appears to him in a dream and explains that the baby is from the Holy Spirit and will save people from their sins.
Word: “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.” (Mt 1:24)

Engage 1: Jesus shows complete obedience to the will of God despite challenges.
Incidents: Jesus refuses Satan’s offers of comfort, power, and fame (Mt 4:1–11), Jesus choosing to go to Jerusalem despite knowing He will suffer (Lk 9:51)
Engage 2: Jesus acts immediately on the Lord’s command without procrastinating.
Incidents: Jesus immediately going into the wilderness after His baptism (Mt 4:1), Jesus immediately calling the first disciples and moving forward with ministry (Mt 4:18–22)

December 19, 2025 – Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:5–25
Context: Zechariah, an old priest, is serving in the temple in Jerusalem. It is his turn to burn incense in the holy place. Suddenly an angel appears beside the altar. The angel tells him that he and his elderly wife Elizabeth will have a son who will prepare people for the Lord. Zechariah finds it hard to believe because they are too old.
Word: “Your prayer has been heard.” (Lk 1:13)

Engage 1: Jesus listens and responds. He never ignores anyone who calls on Him.
Incidents: Jesus healing the man who calls Him “Son of David” (Mk 10:46–52), Jesus agreeing to go to the house of the synagogue leader whose daughter He later raises (Mk 5:21–43)
Engage 2: We must do our part (here: praying), just as Zechariah did, so God’s response can unfold.
Incidents: Woman with haemorrhage reaches out and touches the fringe of His cloak (Mt 9:20–22), Mary choosing the better part and Jesus saying it will not be taken away from her (Lk 10:38–42)

December 20, 2025 – Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26–38
Context: This is the same visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth, but told with more details. Mary is a young virgin promised in marriage to Joseph. The angel greets her as highly favoured by God and says she will become the mother of God’s Son. Mary asks how, since she is a virgin. The angel explains the Holy Spirit will come upon her.
Word: “The holy Spirit will come upon you.” (Lk 1:35)

Engage 1: God gives His very own Spirit to His creation and Jesus also gave whatever He had completely.
Incidents: Jesus giving authority to do miracles (Mt 10:1), Jesus dying on the cross for us (Jn 19:30)
Engage 2: Jesus helped others to complete the will of God in their lives, just as the Father helped Mary by sending the Holy Spirit.
Incidents: Jesus helps the Samaritan woman recognize God’s will (Jn 4:1–42), Jesus helps the woman caught in adultery turn from sin and live according to God’s will (Jn 8:1–11)

December 21, 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Gospel Reading: Mt 1:18–24
Context: Joseph is a good and quiet man. He loves Mary but finds out she is pregnant before they are married. He plans to break the engagement gently. An angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The child is from the Holy Spirit. Name Him Jesus, because He will save His people.”
Word: “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.” (Mt 1:21)

Engage 1: When God had a clear plan for Mother Mary and she followed it obediently, similarly, Jesus was also obedient in following His purpose and mission on earth.
Incidents: Jesus prayed and began preaching throughout Galilee with obedience (Mk 1:35-39), Jesus at Gethsemane obediently accepting the cross (Mt 26:36-46)
Engage 2: St. Joseph being responsible in naming the child Jesus, similarly Jesus being responsible in His actions and words.
Incidents: Jesus naming Simon as Peter and entrusting him with great responsibility (Mt 16:18), Jesus cleansing the temple (Mt 21:12-17)

December 22, 2025 – Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:46–56
Context: Mary has travelled to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, her baby leaps inside her, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth blesses Mary. Filled with joy, Mary sings a beautiful song of praise to God for lifting up the humble and remembering His promise of mercy.
Word: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” (Lk 1:46)

Engage 1: As Mother Mary proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, Jesus also proclaimed the greatness of the Father.
Incidents: Jesus proclaimed the Father’s greatness in welcoming and rewarding all who believe in Him (Mt 10:40-42), Jesus revealed the Father’s greatness in mercy and love through the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32)
Engage 2: As Mother Mary focused on a soulful relationship with the Lord, Jesus also focused on the soulful and intimate relationship with the Father.
Incidents: Jesus being intimate and personal in His prayer with the Father at Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46), Jesus describes the soulful and intimate connection and relationship with the Father (Mt 11:25-27)

December 23, 2025 – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:57–66
Context: Elizabeth’s baby is born. On the eighth day everyone expects the baby to be named Zechariah after his father. But Elizabeth says, “No, he will be called John.” They ask the father, who is still unable to speak. He writes, “His name is John.” At that moment his tongue is freed and he begins praising God.
Word: “What, then, will this child be?” (Lk 1:66)

Engage 1: John the Baptist rose above people’s bias, judgements, and challenges, as did Jesus in His interactions and behaviour, always rising above.
Incidents: Despite the scribes’ evil thinking and hardened hearts, Jesus went ahead to heal the paralytic man (Mt 9:2-6), Jesus rose above the people who were business-minded at the temple and cleansed the temple (Mt 21:12-17)
Engage 2: Despite others’ lack of clarity and doubt about the child’s purpose and mission, Jesus was very clear about His purpose and mission.
Incidents: Jesus initiating the ministry proclaiming with clarity “Repent and believe in the good news” (Mk 1:14), Jesus announcing His death and resurrection as His purpose on earth with clarity (Mk 9:31)

December 24, 2025 – Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent (Morning)
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:67–79
Context: Zechariah’s speech has returned. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he sings a song of praise. He blesses God for sending the Savior and says his little son John will be a prophet who prepares the way for the Lord. He speaks of light coming to people who live in darkness and of peace for God’s people.
Word: “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High.” (Lk 1:76)

Engage 1: “You, my child… the prophet of the Most High” – Jesus’s identity formation even as a child, rooted in God the Father and heavenly things.
Incidents: When the boy Jesus identified the Jerusalem temple as His Father’s house (Lk 2:46-49), Jesus claiming the identity as Son of God when asked by the high priest (Mt 26:63-64)
Engage 2: Fulfilment of John the Baptist’s purpose bestowed upon him as the prophet. Jesus also fulfilled His purpose bestowed upon Him as the Son of God, Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Incidents: Jesus fulfilled His purpose to give His life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:28), Jesus fulfilled His purpose by making a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins (Mt 26:28)

December 25, 2025 – Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Gospel Reading: Lk 2:1–14 (Midnight); Jn 1:1–18 (Day)
Context: The time has come for Jesus to be born. Because of a Roman census, Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There is no room for them in the inn, so the baby is born in a simple place where animals are kept. Mary wraps Him in cloths and lays Him in a manger. That same night angels announce the good news to shepherds in the fields.
Word: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (Jn 1:14)

Engage 1: The powerful Word that formed the world transformed into a Man for the very people and world He created with great humility.
Incidents: Jesus’s humble acceptance when rejected at Nazareth, His hometown where He grew up (Lk 4:16-30), Jesus at Gethsemane knelt and threw Himself on the very ground He created and prayed (Mt 26:36-46)
Engage 2: The powerful Word that formed the people dwelt among them with love and belongingness.
Incidents: Jesus ate with sinners, tax collectors, and disciples (Lk 15:1-2), Jesus called those who follow Him as friends (Jn 15:15)

December 26, 2025 – Feast of St. Stephen
Gospel Reading: Mt 10:17–22
Context: Jesus is teaching His twelve apostles what will happen when they go out to preach. He warns them that people will hate them and hand them over to courts because of His name. But He promises that the Holy Spirit will give them the right words to say, and anyone who stays faithful until the end will be saved.
Word: “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt 10:22)

Engage 1: Jesus cautions with honest boldness about the challenges and difficulties in ministry.
Incidents: Jesus asked the followers to count the cost and be ready for sacrifice (Lk 14:28–33), Jesus asked the disciples to carry the cross and follow Him (Mt 10:38-39)
Engage 2: Jesus emphasized resilience and persistence to overcome challenges.
Incidents: Jesus fasted for forty days and nights before beginning the ministry (Mt 4:2), Jesus prayed at Gethsemane persistently (Mt 26:36-46)

December 27, 2025 – Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Gospel Reading: Jn 20:1a, 2–8
Context: It is early on Easter morning. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb and finds the stone rolled away. She runs to tell Peter and John. The two disciples race to the tomb. John arrives first, looks in, and sees the linen cloths lying there. When he goes inside, he believes Jesus is risen.
Word: “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.” (Jn 20:8)

Engage 1: The willingness to run and strive for the presence of God; Jesus strived to be in constant relationship with the Father.
Incidents: Jesus climbed up the mountainside and spent the entire night in prayer (Lk 6:12), Jesus, led by the Spirit, went into the wilderness without eating for forty days (Lk 4:1-2)
Engage 2: Jesus’s willingness to prioritise despite others, their differences, and challenges.
Incidents: Jesus prioritised His Father’s will and stayed back in the temple to discuss with the elders (Lk 2:49), Jesus heals Lazarus despite the consequences from the Jewish leaders (Jn 11:1-16)

December 28, 2025 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Gospel Reading: Mt 2:13–15, 19–23
Context: An angel appears to Joseph in a dream at night and says, “Get up quickly! Take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt. King Herod wants to kill the baby.” Joseph obeys immediately. They leave in the dark. Later, Herod becomes furious when he realises that the wise men have tricked him and orders all the baby boys in Bethlehem to be killed.
Word: “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt.” (Mt 2:13)

Engage 1: Joseph showed quick obedience and submission in fleeing to Egypt. Similarly, Jesus showed obedience and submission whenever required.
Incidents: Jesus also listened to Mother Mary and went along to help the wedding staff at Cana (Jn 2:1-12), Jesus listened to the Father and completely submitted Himself in Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46)
Engage 2: Jesus trusts in the Father’s protection and providence.
Incidents: Jesus praying to the Father at Gethsemane in His deep sorrow and troubled heart (Mt 26:36-46), Jesus giving thanks before multiplying the bread to the crowds (Mt 14:19)

December 29, 2025 – Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Gospel Reading: Lk 2:22–35
Context: Forty days after Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph bring Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to God, as the law requires for a firstborn son. There they meet Simeon, an old man who has been waiting his whole life to see the Messiah. The Holy Spirit leads him to the temple that day.
Word: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.” (Lk 2:29)

Engage 1: Simeon addressing himself as a servant with a mindset and attitude of doing service. Jesus wanted to serve rather than to be served.
Incidents: Jesus said “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” (Mt 20:28), Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (Jn 13:5)
Engage 2: Simeon, being righteous and patient, waited to witness the prophecy come true. Jesus was patient and righteous.
Incidents: Jesus patiently explains the parables again (Mt 13:10-23; Mt 13:36-43), Jesus patiently checked on the disciples three times, asking them to be awake and pray at Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46)

December 30, 2025 – Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Gospel Reading: Lk 2:36–40
Context: An old prophetess named Anna has spent most of her long life serving God day and night in the temple. When she sees the baby Jesus, she knows He is the one everyone has been waiting for. She gives thanks to God and begins telling everyone who is looking for the redemption of Jerusalem that the promised Saviour has come.
Word: “She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Lk 2:38)

Engage 1: As Anna did, Jesus thanked and praised God the Father in all His works.
Incidents: Jesus thanked His Father (Mt 11:25), Jesus praises God the Father (Mk 10:18)
Engage 2: Spreading the good news and preaching in parables to those who were awaiting the kingdom of Heaven.
Incidents: Jesus preaching in Galilee (Mk 1:14-15), Jesus preaching in many parables to the crowds when they came to Him (Mt 13:1-53)

December 31, 2025 – Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
Gospel Reading: Jn 1:1–18
Context: The Gospel of John begins with beautiful words about who Jesus really is. Before the world was made, the Word already existed with God and was God. Everything was created through Him. Now that same Word has become a human being and come to live among us, full of grace and truth.
Word: “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace.” (Jn 1:16)

Engage 1: Jesus’ humble acceptance of anyone who came to Him, fully and completely without any hesitation.
Incidents: Jesus accepted and welcomed Peter fully back despite denying Him thrice (Jn 21:1-19), Jesus healed the centurion’s servant without any hesitation (Mt 8:5-13)
Engage 2: Jesus inspired others and transformed their lives into witnesses of God’s grace.
Incidents: Jesus inspired the Samaritan woman to leave the jar and proclaim the good news to the town (Jn 4:28-30), Jesus called the first disciples and transformed their identity, purpose, and mission (Mk 1:16-20)