Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Daily Reflection for December 29, 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 in the US. Happy 5th day of Christmas. It’s December 29th, the feast of St. Thomas Beckett. In today’s gospel, we have the scene of the presentation. It happened 40 days after Jesus was born when Mary and Joseph in obedience to the law took Jesus up to the temple in Jerusalem in order to redeem the redeemer in order to offer the firstborn back to the Lord because every child is a gift to the Lord and it was a sign for the Jews from the Mosaic law in order to recognize that children came as a gift from the from the Lord. And so they would always present the baby back to the Lord with gratitude and purchase him or redeem him with uh the sacrifice of a lamb or for poor families with a couple turtle doves or pigeons as Mary and Joseph did. And we know that Simeon, this elderly man who was awaiting the redeemer and had been promised by the Lord that he wouldn’t die until he saw him, was moved by the spirit to go to the temple that day to go to church just as if it were almost any other day. But that day, something gave Jesus away to him as Mary and Joseph carried him in in their arms. And so he took the baby and he praised God and he said,”Now, oh Lord, let your servant depart in peace because your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation that you have revealed to every people.” A light of revelation to the uh Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. Jesus is that light of revelation to all peoples. And he’s the glory of the people Israel. the greatest Jew, of course, who has ever lived, which is one of the reasons why we love all Jews. Simeon was able to give that emphatic, “Thank you, Lord. And now I’m ready to die because you have fulfilled your promise. My whole life has been fulfilled.” He was able just to hold Jesus in his arms for that brief moment. How much more are we able to do able to receive Jesus within and have him hold us in holy communion? We should be filled with even greater wonder. But we can’t stop there. Just like Simeon in his ninth decade on earth was praising the Lord in the midst of the temple. So you and I have a commission to go on out and share this glory of Israel and this light of revelation to the Gentiles with everybody. Simeon at the end of that scene turned to Mary and said that this sign, this son is destined for the rise and the fall of many in Israel. What does that mean? The resurrection and the ruin of many. He wants to bring us to life. We have got to accept the gift of his life. Similarly for others, we want them to have the fullness of what Jesus came into this world to give. And 5.5 of the 8.1 billion don’t have that relationship with Jesus in the world. Let’s do something about it. Let’s first pray for them. Let’s sacrifice for them. Let’s try to bring this great news one by one to everyone however we can. This is why the church exists to continue the mission that Jesus himself started. Let’s be as obedient and as cooperative as Mary and Joseph. God bless you.
The Gospel reading on which the reflection was based on:
Gospel
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”