Baptism of the Lord (A) We naturally love that which is good. Therefore, you should love yourself. Rightly-ordered self-love is the fruit of seeing your own goodness and loving that which is good. You should desire your own continued existence and your own flourishing. You are not the source of your own goodness. We love our Creator as the source of our goodness. And when we look around at others, we see that they are also good like us, and we love them. So love of others and love of God flow from love of self. Do you see how important it is to love yourself rightly?

This is exactly why the Devil attacks your value! Most of us struggle to love ourselves rightly because the Devil keeps attacking our value and dignity. Note: disordered self love is when I falsely think I have more goodness than anyone else. I might even think I am better than God himself. That is disordered self love because it's not rooted in the truth. This isn't what we are talking about.

So how can we learn to love ourselves rightly? The human community must welcome each person and love that person as God does. The human community needs to be transformed. It is transformed by the love of God. Finding and experiencing God's love is essential for us to learn to love ourselves rightly.

Jesus got a good start because Mary and Joseph created a good family environment. But at his Baptism, he still needed to hear his Father say, "Son, I love you, and I'm proud of you." We all need to hear these words. And we need to live in this love. Repeat after me: "It is good that I exist." Now turn to your neighbor and tell them, "It is good that you exist."

(11 Jan 2026)

Going Deeper: If yourself were a friend of yours, would that friend feel loved by you? Two podcast episodes that inspired this topic: Restore the Glory Podcast Episode 139: Philosophy and Healing w/ Fr. Matthew Rolling and Interior Integration for Catholics 173: Aristotle and Aquinas on Proper Self-Love.

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The Epiphany of the Lord • Marco Polo claims to have seen the incorrupt bodies of the three magi. God is directing a great drama and each of us has a special role. Everyone else is fighting to be the star of the show. But we recognize that the true star is Jesus, with Mary as Best Supporting Actress.

Herod needs to be the star, and he will eliminate any competition. The Wise Men show us who is the true Star. They also teach us that we have a gift to give. Every Sunday at Mass, we present our gifts to the King and God, the healer of our ills.

(4 Jan 2026)

Going Deeper: What kind of gifts do you have to give at Sunday Mass? Read The Incorruptibles by Joan Carroll Cruz.

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Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord) • God is three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is one person with two natures - human and divine. So can we call Mary the Mother of God? Yes, because she is the mother of a person, not a nature.

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons. - Sirach 3:2

A mother has authority over her children. Mary is fully human but she has been given special graces and blessings. She has been given authority as the Mother of God's family. Her authority extends even over the demons. As our new year begins, let us learn to exercise the authority we have in Christ, while we also live within the protection of Mary's authority.

(1 Jan 2026)

Going Deeper: Listen to Restore the Glory Episode 145: Deliverance and Healing (Part 1) and learn for yourself about Mary's authority over even the demons.

Image Source: Original art "Warmth in the Cold" by KMBerggren.com | Over 15 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook | Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.