MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 1 JANUARY
January 1, 2026
FEAST OF SAINTS BASIL AND GREGORY – 2nd JANUARY
January 2, 2026
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
1 JANUARY, 2026
Luke 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. Their response to the angel’s message was immediate obedience and wonder. They did not question their worthiness or delay their steps; they simply went and encountered the Savior. After seeing the child, they made known what had been told to them, becoming the first witnesses of the good news. Mary, meanwhile, treasured these events, pondering them quietly in her heart, showing us the grace of silent faith that trusts God’s unfolding plan.
This passage reveals how God chooses the humble and the attentive to reveal His glory. The shepherds’ joy and Mary’s contemplation together teach us that faith involves both proclamation and deep interior reflection. God enters our world in simplicity, inviting us to recognize His presence in ordinary moments and to respond with praise, trust, and obedience.
PRAYER
Lord God, we thank You for revealing Your Son to the humble and the open-hearted. Like the shepherds, help us to respond promptly and joyfully to Your call, and like Mary, teach us to treasure Your word and reflect on Your works within our hearts. May we recognize Your presence in the simple moments of our daily lives and proclaim Your goodness through our words and actions. Grant us hearts that are attentive, grateful, and faithful, now and always. Amen
