December 24, 2025, Christmas Vigil (Year A, B, C)

Readings: Is. 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25

The Family of Jesus

1.     Christmas always brings families together. As we celebrate, let us take a moment to reflect on the family of Jesus while we pray for our own families. In the Gospel, we read about the genealogy, or family tree, of Jesus. Genealogy is more than just a list of names; it connects our human family to its origins and highlights the path from the beginning to where we are today. This was also true for Jesus. St. Matthew traced the lineage of Jesus from its origin to the moment we celebrate his coming in the flesh. The first and second readings find fulfillment in Matthew’s genealogy. The Acts remind us that David was destined to have a descendant far greater than himself, while Isaiah recalls the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation with many descendants.

 

2.     According to St. Jerome’s Biblical commentary, the purpose of the genealogy is to demonstrate that “Jesus is the Messiah (Mt. 1:1, 16), the culmination of the history of salvation that began with the promises to Abraham. Jesus is King Messiah, the Son of David, and the Messiah of Israel, the Son of Abraham.”

 

3.     Matthew intentionally organized the genealogy into three sets of 14 names (Mt. 1:7); 14 is a multiple of 7. It is divided into two key points in Israel's history: the establishment of David's monarchy and the collapse of Judah's monarchy during the Babylonian conquest of 587 BC. In compiling this genealogy, Matthew chose to follow the timeline of the kings of Judah. Four women appear in the genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Tamar deceived her father-in-law Judah into an incestuous relationship (Gen. 38), while Rahab, often labeled as a prostitute in Jericho, sheltered the Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Ruth, the heroine of the Book of Ruth, was a Moabite who joined the Israelite community. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah and the partner of David’s adultery (2 Sam. 11). The common thread among these women is that they were foreigners, not Jews.

 

4.     I have taken great care to describe the genealogy of Jesus, especially the four women mentioned. Matthew reveals that Jesus’ background includes both Jewish and Gentile heritage; He came for everyone, regardless of race. Therefore, one cannot lay claim to Jesus and salvation based on race or perceived privileges. Jesus is Emmanuel, God who is with us. The term ‘us’ encompasses all people, regardless of race, tribe, tongue, or culture. The birth of Jesus signifies that He will make His dwelling in every heart and every family that seeks Him. It doesn’t matter what your family looks like or whether you are a sinner or a saint. Your family may be struggling, or a loved one may be in jail; you may be sick, unemployed, or without shelter; there may be violence in our streets. But as soon as you open the door of your heart to Christ, He will come in and dwell with you. Christ will transform your family and give you a new identity. “You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken,’ or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight,’ and your land ‘Espoused’” (Is. 62:2-4). “To those who did accept Him, He gave power to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12).

 

5.     So, dear friends, no matter our circumstances, we must celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ was announced not to the high and mighty but to the lowly shepherds tending their flocks on a cold winter night. Christ was not born in a royal hospital but in a manger, where animals were fed. His roommates were not nobles but cows. Regardless of how sad or depressed we may feel, Christ has a special place in His heart for us. Christmas is about giving our hearts to God. That is why John urged us to prepare our hearts for the Lord. Our families may be disordered, but our God is not. We may experience doubts, yet Christ is born for us. It is His birthday, and we must celebrate it with joy and love. Let us live a life filled with joy, peace, hope, and love. Merry Christmas!

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 28, 2025; Feast of the Holy Family (Year A)

Readings: Sirach 3:2-6; Colossians 3:12-21; Mt. 2:13-15, 19-23 

The Family that Prays Together, Stays Together 

On this last Sunday of the year, the Church directs our attention to our families as we reflect on the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. As you consider the Holy Family, keep this question in mind: How healthy is your family?

Last Sunday, we focused on Joseph, who was portrayed as a righteous, honorable, faithful, prayerful, forgiving, accommodating, compassionate, and loving man. The Blessed Virgin Mary, on the other hand, embodies qualities such as dutifulness, loyalty, humility, gentleness, prayerfulness, caring, and compassion. It is no wonder that Jesus, truly God and truly man, absorbed the virtues of both Joseph and Mary. He demonstrated these qualities in his relationships with others, which define the attributes and characteristics of the Holy Family.

What would your family be known for? The first reading from the book of Sirach reminds us that “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.” Therefore, parents should serve as models for their children. To cultivate virtuous and exemplary families, parents must exemplify these qualities in their interactions with their children and others. When parents care for their children, providing both material and spiritual support, those children are likely to reciprocate and care for their parents in the future. Mutual support is the hallmark of a happy family.

The authors of ‘New Horizon Homilies’ relate the following story. A couple bought a crucifix on their wedding day and placed it in a conspicuous part of the house, asking God to bless the secret of their hearts. Years went by, and the crucifix remained in the same place. The couple, now old, were preparing to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Their large family was a model of virtue and enjoyed the esteem and respect of all who knew them. A friend asked the old mother how she had been able to raise so many fine sons and daughters. With her bony finger, the old lady pointed to the crucifix and said, smiling, that she owed it all to the crucifix. The story captures the essence of today’s reflection on the Holy Family: The family that prays together, stays together. The virtues we discussed would be unattainable without an intentional desire for spiritual togetherness and friendship among family members. This applies to our church family as well—God must be the glue that binds both our families and all families together.

St. Paul reminds us in the second reading to “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another; if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” Wherever people coexist, be it in a family, society, or the Church, friction, misunderstandings, and grievances are inevitable. Some family members may take undue advantage of others, while some may feel entitled to everything. Additionally, some create anger, animosity, and tension within the family. Some members may feel like victims of perceived injustices and misunderstandings. How do you navigate these family dynamics? St. Paul advises, “And over all these, put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.”  If there is love and peace in our homes, we will have the resilience to face any challenges from outside. Our family can thus become a sanctuary for joyful celebration, nurturing valuable life lessons. This is only achievable when a home is filled with love.

Every Christmas, we gather to celebrate, share gifts, and enjoy meals. We think of the Christmas crib, decorations, and festivities—all fitting celebrations. Our salvation began with the Incarnation, when God became man so that man could find his way back to God. However, the stable where Christ was born was not as cozy as we might imagine for a newborn. The Holy Family faced numerous difficulties, dangers, and extreme poverty. The 300-mile journey across the desert was challenging, marked by fear and exhaustion. Their search for a place to live in a foreign land, Joseph’s struggle to find work, and the constant concerns for the welfare and survival of the blessed child entrusted to their care were experiences that Joseph and Mary could never forget. Despite all the hardships they endured, the unity and love in their family remained intact. Every family faces its own challenges, but the strength and endurance of a family depend on the love they have for one another and the convictions that drive their spirit. The role God plays in each family will always determine the strength and resilience of its members.

David Wilkerson rightly noted, “Good parents don’t always produce good children, but devoted, dedicated, hardworking mothers and fathers can weigh the balance in favor of decency and building of moral character. Every word and deed of a parent is a fiber woven into the character of a child, which ultimately determines how that child fits into the fabric of society.” As we approach the end of this year, let us ask the Holy Family to guide us into the New Year. How do we envision our families—both natural and spiritual—shaping up in the coming year? My prayer is that we contribute positively and meaningfully, creating families that serve as models for others and reflect a dwelling place for God.

May we not only be takers but also be givers, so that the state of our union mirrors that of the Holy Family. Amen.

Points to ponder:

• What is my contribution towards the well-being of my family?
• What role do I play in my family?
• Am I a taker or a giver? A peace-loving member or a troublemaker?
• If the Holy Family is not the model for my family, what can I do to make it so?

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 21, 2025; 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18-24

Another Joseph and His Dreams

Joseph’s dream was to get married and raise a family. He followed the traditional path to finding a wife. He got engaged to Mary. The second stage was betrothal, after which the couple was known as man and wife. Betrothal was so solemn that it could be terminated only by divorce. The third step was to get married properly. It was after the betrothal that Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. Joseph’s dream was unfulfilled, his plans were shattered, and his world crumbled. Or did it? “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9). When God enters our world, He turns it upside down and inside out.

So, who was Joseph? This man never spoke a word in the Bible, yet his personality, his humanity, and his humility rank among the highest of any biblical character. Yet he played a key role in our salvation history. Today’s Gospel described Joseph as “A righteous man.” Joseph is called righteous because of his desire to observe the law. This righteousness was united with an unwillingness to expose his wife. Being a God-fearing man, he would not do anything to jeopardize his relationship with God or his fellow men. He was compassionate. He empathized with Mary’s situation and did not discredit her openly. He was a man of honor and did all he could to protect Mary’s good name. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that “A person’s reputation is their most prized possession, and to destroy it is not just unjust but robbery. Even if what we say about other people is true, and they have done terrible things, it is still deeply wrong to destroy their name, unless there is some compelling necessity for the common good.” Like Joseph, may we not say a word that will destroy the good name of others. “Do to no one what you would not want done to you.” (Matt. 7:12).

Joseph was a man of faith who trusted that God knew what was best for him. And God did! Joseph was told to take his wife home because she was pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. He was to be the foster father of Jesus; therefore, he was allowed to name him. He played a significant role in Jesus’ life. As his earthly father, Joseph took care of Jesus and raised him as his own.

Joseph was a man of prayer. When he was worried, he took it to the Lord in prayer. God showed him the way and instructed him on what to do. He never wavered from God’s plan but helped to bring it about. He re-echoed Mary’s fiat in his heart: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

How do you deal with troubling situations? Who do you talk to first? Let us learn from the quiet man of the New Testament? God will always meet you at the hour of your need and show you a way out. Just trust and say ‘Yes’ to God like Mary and Joseph. When you let God into your life, your plans become God’s plans. You will be given responsibilities you never bargained for, but He will always be there with you. He will provide you with what you need. Amid suffering and disappointments, in pain and toil, in hardship and hunger, in temptation and danger, God will always be there to guide and direct you through it all.

In today’s first reading. Ahaz would not say ‘Yes’ to God as Joseph did. Ahaz, king of Judah, was being pressured by two other kings (those of Israel and Damascus) to join an alliance against the superpower, Assyria. Isaiah the prophet told the king that he must not join any coalition but must put his faith in the Lord. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm.” (v.9). Ahaz refused a sign that God would be with him, saying, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Isaiah told him, “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” This Son was a sign that God was with his people. God was faithful to his word. Ahaz had a son who succeeded him. His son was a good leader. Matthew saw the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus, who was born of a virgin.

In this last week of Advent, may Joseph lead us to the presence of the newborn king and teach us to surrender our plans to him and to say yes to God in everything. May we not hold on to our ways like Ahaz, who did not believe, and his plans, in the end, came to nothing. Those who have faith and trust in the Lord, in total surrender, know that the fulfillment of God’s promises will inevitably come. Immanuel is with us always, even till the end of time.

Points to ponder:

·        When you have problems, who do you talk to first?

·        Do you spread rumors even when you are not sure if what you are saying is true or false?

·        You should be on the 21st chapter of St. Luke today. Merry Christmas!

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 14, 2025; 3rd Sunday of Advent, (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6; James 5:7-10; Mt. 11:2-11

Rejoice, the Lord is Near!

Today is Gaudete Sunday, named after the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4). St. Paul, writing to the Philippians from prison, encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord, a joy that his imprisonment could not diminish.

The second reading encourages us to be patient as we await the coming of the Lord. Just as a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we, too, must strengthen our hearts because the coming of the Lord is near.

This theme of hope and patient waiting is echoed by the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. Isaiah addressed the Jews who were in captivity in Babylon, grieving the loss of their freedom, property, homeland, and temple. Their hope of returning home seemed bleak. In response to their sorrow, Isaiah prophesied: “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, make firm the weak knees, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” He foretold healing for the sick, the blind, and the lame, echoing the Psalmist who said, “Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

 Isaiah’s vision of prosperity and peace is a dream and undying faith shared across generations. We dream that, in this brutal and cruel world, we will one day find peace, its defaced beauty restored, its wounds healed, and its sorrows lifted. God will open a path leading his people home, where all people will praise Him with one heart and mind. In the gospel, Christ sent a message of hope to John in prison, and to the poor and hopeless of this world: ‘Tell John what you hear and see’, “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers and cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” (Matt. 11:5).

Despite this message of hope, we sometimes feel like the children of Israel. At times, we feel like we have reached the end of our rope with no light in sight. We have tried everything, and nothing seems to work. John the Baptist must have felt that way, too. He preached repentance with a sense of urgency, calling the Jews to act quickly and bear the fruits of repentance. He fearlessly confronted kings and queens, yet he ended up in Herod’s prison. Why did Christ, the Messiah, not show him mercy and free him from jail? John likely felt like Elijah, who, after performing works, fled from his enemies and prayed to God to take his life. (1Kings 19:4). Thus, John sent messengers to Christ asking: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matt. 11:3). Jesus reminded us through his response to John that God’s ways are not our ways; though the kingdom of God may be slow to arrive, it will certainly come. Our destiny may be delayed, but it is not denied.

Dear friends, in whatever situation you may find yourselves today, know that God is right there with you. Your liberation and freedom are within reach. Don’t be discouraged. The struggles you face and the eventual triumph of good over evil put this third week of Advent into perspective for us

So, rejoice and be patient at the same time. The birth of Christ will change the course of your life. There is no reason to doubt or feel discouraged when things do not go your way. God is still in control! Rejoice in the Lord always, for He is near. Remember “Affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5). May the third week of Advent lead us to the joy of Christmas.

Points to ponder:

Have you read the 14^th chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel today? Maybe later?

If you have doubts like John the Baptist, feed your doubt with God’s word, don’t be sad, trust Him!

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 07, 2025; 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Mt. 3:1-12

Here Comes John the Baptist, ‘Gift of God’.

John the Baptist welcomes us to the second Sunday of Advent each year. He came to prepare the way for the Messiah. John preached in the desert. His food was locust and wild honey. His appearance was austere, and his message was urgent, demanding immediate action. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” People went to him to be baptized in the Jordan River, acknowledging their sins. He urged them to repent of their sins and flee from the coming wrath. He demanded that they produce good fruit as evidence of their repentance. Without John, there would be no Christmas. To enjoy Christmas to the fullest, we must be confronted by the crazy prophet in the desert, with the message that we must hear.

Taking John the Baptist seriously helps us understand the first reading. Isaiah prophesied about a king who would embody the qualities of a worthy leader. He will spring like “a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of King David, and by this time, the Kingship in Jerusalem was barely surviving, as the word ‘stump’ suggests. A leader must possess the following virtues: Wisdom and Understanding, essential intellectual qualities for a judge or ruler. Counsel and might represent the practical application of wisdom, including decisiveness in judgment and the moral strength to act. Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord are necessary religious characteristics; a ruler must be guided by knowledge of God and adhere to His moral standards. “If the electorate of the nations demanded from those seeking office intellectual power, moral integrity, practical wisdom, and religious faith, we would be better governed.” (The Interpreter’s Bible). When individuals with these qualities assume leadership roles, the nation can expect equitable governance, as they will not judge by appearances or hearsay but will act justly toward the helpless and fairly toward the humble. They will hold the ruthless accountable with their verdicts and deliver justice against the unjust. Justice will empower them, and they will be bound by trustworthiness. This fruit of repentance is what John the Baptist calls for. “The ideals of democracy can only be upheld through character. Where democracy has failed, it is not due to constitutional weaknesses or procedural faults, but rather moral deficiencies among both governors and the governed.” (The Interpreter’s Bible).

The outcome of proper judgment and leadership aligned with God’s will, brought by the birth of the Messiah, will lead to reconciliation, even in nature; ancient enmities between humanity and beasts will be resolved. There will be peace, as stated: “There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:9) and “Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever.” (Psalm 72:7).

Isaiah the prophet and John the Baptist both conveyed God’s message to His people, calling them to repentance and faith. Although their messages were challenging, some listened and acted upon them. Simply professing to be Christians is not enough; we must demonstrate our faith through our actions. By performing simple acts of love, we bear good fruit. St. James reminds us: “Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and can save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes away and promptly forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:21-25). May we be Christians in both word and deed. Amen!

Points to ponder:

·        Are you reading St. Luke’s Gospel? You should have read seven chapters by now. The 8^th chapter is for tomorrow. If not, why not?

·        How are you preparing for Christ’s coming this week?

·        Confessions will be offered on Wednesdays, 9:30 to 12 noon, and on Monday, December 15th. Will you have your sins forgiven?

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP