Prayer & Reflection + Christmas Mass Timetable

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18

When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who had none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master, what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’ 

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptize you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.

Reflection for Parents

In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist offers us a powerful call to action: to live with generosity, honesty, and integrity. His words remind us that faith is not just about belief but about how we treat others in our daily lives. Sharing what we have, being fair in our dealings, and avoiding harm to others are simple yet profound ways to reflect God’s love in the world.

As parents, we are our children’s first teachers of these values. By modelling generosity, kindness, and humility in our homes and communities, we help shape the next generation to live out these Gospel principles. Let’s reflect this week on how we can show our children that the little choices we make each day - sharing, being honest, and treating others with respect - build the Kingdom of God here on earth.