Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Daily Reflection for December 25, 2025
Here is the video of today’s reflection.
The Youtube generated transcript for today’s reflection is:
I’m Monsignor Roger Landry National director of the Pontifical Mission Societies before the manger at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. We’re still waiting for the baby Jesus to be placed. But on this Christmas day, our great longing, the whole preparation of Advent reaches its fulfillment when that son, that child born for us is going to be placed not just in the manger, but placed within us in holy communion. most important aspect of Christmas is to recognize that all of what we celebrate in history is meant to lead us to Jesus in mystery and prepare us to receive him well in majesty. That’s what the advent season is about and that’s what the fulfillment of Christmas brings us. In 1223, St. Francis Vizi did a living nativity in a place called Creto, Italy. And he did it to reawaken in everybody the real stirring of love for what Jesus not only did but continues to do. We give him a couple names and we’ll hear that at the Christmas vigil mass. The first name is Emanuel, God with us. And that God with us is still very much with us. And the second name is Yeshua or Jesus, which means God saves. Jesus Christ is with us continuously to make his salvation actual in our life. He came as a savior to rescue us because we needed saving. That’s what the mystery of Christmas is about. And that’s why there’s incredible joy to the world. That’s why everybody goes to the little town of Bethlehem. That’s why we in one, oh holy night, and fall to our knees before this incredible gift. Many people across the globe are hearing about the mystery of Christmas for the first time in missionary territories. We pray for them that their whole life might be changed by the mystery of Christmas. And we pray for all of us who are not hearing about this mystery for the first time. That our life might continuously be changed by our relationship with Jesus. Just as the infant Jesus totally changed the trajectory of the life of Mary and Joseph. So, he’s supposed to have a similar impact in your life and mine. We thank Jesus and we say joy to the world.
The Gospel reading on which the reflection was based on:
Gospel
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”