LIVE IT TODAY: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
I call you by name, and through you I reveal My mercy to the world.
Christmas Blessings!
We are deeply grateful to share this extraordinary journey with you—encountering Jesus Christ more fully and becoming instruments of His presence to others. One simple way you can help is by “liking” this reflection. If someone comes to mind while reading, please share. And by becoming a paid subscriber, you help us deliver this “living bread” to many more hungry souls—Bethlehem means “house of bread.”
We are delighted to share with you The Inn Crowd — a very moving Christmas short story. Weekly Live IT radio program and podcast coming soon.
We wish you and your family abundant Christmas blessings!
LIVE IT TODAY: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
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GOD’S DECLARATION TO YOU TODAY
I call you by name, and through you I reveal My mercy to the world.
INVOCATION
Come, Holy Spirit! Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, open my heart to hear and receive all that You desire for me. Draw me ever more deeply into the Love and Life of the Blessed Trinity!
GOSPEL | Luke 1:57–66
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”
EVERY DAY QUESTION
What struck you? Challenged you? Inspired you? What questions did it raise?
GOING DEEPER
God’s mercy gives us a name, a mission, and a voice.
This Gospel unfolds around a birth long awaited and widely doubted. Elizabeth’s joy is communal—neighbors and relatives rejoice not simply because a child is born, but because God’s mercy has been revealed. In Scripture, mercy is never private; it spills outward and gathers people together.
The naming of John becomes the decisive moment. Against custom, expectation, and family pressure, Elizabeth and Zechariah obey the word given by God. In the biblical world, naming is never cosmetic—it declares identity and destiny. “John” means “The Lord is gracious.” Before he ever preaches repentance, his very name announces grace.
Luke emphasizes that Zechariah’s speech returns the moment obedience is completed. His silence was not wasted time. It formed him. Obedience unlocked praise. When God’s word is finally received without reservation, blessing breaks forth.
The crowd’s reaction matters. They do not rush past the moment. They “took these things to heart.” Awe slows them down. The question they ask—“What, then, will this child be?”—is the posture of faith. Wonder creates attentiveness to God’s work.
This Gospel speaks directly into family life. Our culture often names children by achievement, personality, or expectation. God names by vocation. Every child entrusted to a family bears a calling before they bear credentials. Parents are guardians of a mystery, not managers of a project.
The domestic church becomes holy ground when parents listen more than they presume, obey more than they explain, and bless more than they control. God still frees tongues and reveals futures through quiet fidelity within the home.
Parents, receive each child as a gift of mercy. Speak God’s blessing aloud. Pray over your children by name in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting that the hand of the Lord is with them and that He will reveal their mission in His time.
“In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls.” (CCC 968)
LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
In My Heart: Where is God inviting me to deeper trust and obedience?
In My Home: How do we speak about our children’s identity and future?
In My World: Do I take time to notice and reverence God’s work around me?
FAMILY LIVE IT
Make some time today to gather together and, going around, share one thing you are grateful to God for in each person’s life.
Then, one by one, pray over each person by name, asking for an outpouring of grace to know God’s love personally; freedom from the whispers and lies of the Enemy; strength to overcome temptation; and courage to live fully their God-given identity and mission.
Daily Challenge: Speak a word of blessing over someone today, naming the good you see and entrusting their future to God.
DAILY PARENT & GRANDPARENT BLESSING
LORD JESUS CHRIST, let Your holy anointing be upon each of our children, grandchildren, and godchildren this day and week, including all to whom they are called in vocation, and all future generations! In Your Sacred Name we claim them for You! We renounce all whispers, lies, and influences of the Enemy! We pray right now that each know Your loving Presence, be forged in virtue, and be flooded with an abundance of Your Holy Spirit to live fully their identity and mission in You now and through all eternity, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother! Amen.
PARENT BLESSING PROJECT: bit.ly/ParentBlessing
GOING VERTICAL
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Just as the vertical beam upholds the horizontal beam of the Cross, so too does undistracted, dedicated daily turning to God as our lifeblood uphold and strengthen every part of life. Start with just three minutes. Wait patiently for the breakthrough beyond the noise. Let Him speak.
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