Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
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.
As we stand at the threshold of this new year, it is worth asking ourselves: What can we give Jesus this 2026? Perhaps the greatest gift we can offer Him is our complete trust and unwavering faith. In a world filled with uncertainty and noise, choosing to entrust our lives fully to Him is already a powerful act of love.
Another precious gift we can give Jesus is our constant hunger for Him. We may say that we already know Him, yet deep within, we realize that knowing Jesus is a journey that never truly ends.
As long as we live, we are called to continue seeking Him with longing hearts. For the more we hunger for Jesus, the more we discover who He truly is. And the more we hunger for Him, the closer we grow in intimacy with Him.
The Magi teach us this holy persistence. They did not stop their search for the Child Jesus until they found Him. Along the way, they surely faced difficulties and uncertainty, yet nothing deterred them. When they finally encountered Him, they humbly paid Him homage, prostrated themselves before Him, and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—gifts that reflected their reverence, surrender, and love.
Like the Magi, let us continue our search for Jesus until we truly find Him. And when we do, let us allow Him to dwell in our hearts—not just for a moment, but forever. We will surely find Him if we sincerely seek Him. And once we encounter Him, let us offer Him the very best of ourselves, quietly and humbly, seeking no recognition, desiring no applause—known only by us and by Jesus.
If we are parents, we may ask ourselves: What is the best gift we can give Jesus? Perhaps it is leading our children toward Him. Let us bring them to the celebration of the Holy Mass. Let us help them encounter Jesus through Sacred Scripture and teach them how to pray the Holy Rosary, planting seeds of faith that will one day bear fruit.
What else can we give Jesus? We can offer Him our time and our treasures by caring for the poor, the troubled, and the unwanted, for Jesus is always present among them. What else can we give Him? We can offer Him our lives by turning away from sin and from anything that separates us from His love. What else can we do for Jesus? We can bring others to Him—not only by our words, but by the way we live His teachings each day.
As this new year unfolds before us, let us pause and listen to the quiet invitation of the Lord. With hearts open and willing, let us ask ourselves:
What will we truly give Jesus this 2026—not out of obligation, but out of love? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
2 comments:
thank you po for the wonderful and inspiring reflection Sir Marino J. Dasmarinas
God bless you
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