Reflect on how encountering Jesus can change life's paths, leading us toward holiness despite challenges. Seek His guidance and find strength in faith.
Today's Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Today’s Gospel ends with something all parents can relate to: a change of plans. The Magi, after meeting the infant Savior, can’t go home the way they had planned. Their encounter with baby Jesus has changed the trajectory of their travels, and of their lives.
Often, in our spiritual lives, we experience this same realization that the path we had planned to walk is not the right path for us after all. As we and our families grow closer to Christ, we find ourselves behaving differently than our peers. Maybe we make different choices about technology use or pop culture consumption. We might forgo sports opportunities that interfere with Mass attendance, or put dress codes in place that don’t fit with certain popular styles. As we encounter Jesus, we find that the only path we can follow is His way home to heaven.
It’s not always easy living out the faith in communities where that is unusual or even frowned upon. It’s more difficult when our kids question why we have to be so different. But it is important to remember that the love of Christ will see us through. Just as the Magi had their journey directed by a message in a dream, we can be sure that Jesus is there to guide us along this unfamiliar and unexpected path toward holiness.
Ponder:
What unexpected journey has the Lord sent me on? Am I leaning on Him as I travel this path?
Pray:
Lord, give me the courage to continue to seek direction not from the world, but from You, and help me to find the strength each day to continue following Your way.
Pray Together:
Talk as a family about how your faith makes you different from others in your community. Pray for courage when these differences are difficult to bear, and give the Lord thanks for the times He has sent you down a path that led to graces you could not have imagined.
Copyright 2026 Katie Fitzgerald
About the Author
.png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)"){kind=logo}
Comments