Christmas, December 25, 2025

Soon after becoming a priest in 2016, I got a phone call from my brother. He had a friend named Matt, a prayerful man, who wanted to reach out. Matt claimed to receive messages from Jesus, and he said Jesus had something to say to me. The message was basically this: “Jesus wants me to spread the message of His mercy all the time, nonstop.”

…So, I tell my family about this phone call, and we’re kind of laughing about it; not in a disrespectful way, but in an excited, curious way. So, my sister Anna says, “Sam, ask Matt if Jesus has anything to say about me.” So I did.


A couple days pass, and Matt asks for my sister’s email. About an hour later, I get a text from Anna saying, “I’m teaching right now, and I’m gonna cry.”


So, I asked her to send the email. I read it, and it was really nice but nothing dramatic. I said, “Why are you gonna cry?” She said, “Sam, last night I was praying, and I asked God about three different things. And, in this email, Jesus responds to each of them.” 


…I was amazed. At one point, the message said something like: “I am aware of you. I know the desires of your heart. I know you want a husband. If you draw close to my Sacred Heart, I will bring you a husband.”


Now, I want to be clear: Not every claimed message from God is meant to be believed or followed. This was not Scripture or Church teaching. It was a fruit of Matt’s prayer.


That was 2016. Fast forward to 2018: Anna was in Spain with her boyfriend and his family. During their travels, they stopped in front of a large church dedicated…to the Sacred Heart. Her boyfriend dropped to one knee and proposed. He is now her loving husband of six years, and they have three beautiful children.


…I don’t think my sister immediately made the connection but, when I heard about the proposal and, specifically, how it was in front of a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart, I remembered that email. 


And it confirmed something very important: The Lord Jesus truly knows you…who you are, what you carry. He listens to you. He cares.


…God has not come as an idea, a philosophy, or a vague higher power. He comes as a child, born into a real family, in a real town, into real human circumstances; and He wants to enter your life in a very real way.


…And Scripture confirms this: Isaiah speaks of a people walking in darkness who finally see a great light. Luke shows us that this light enters the world as a child. And Saint Paul reminds us that Jesus comes not only for the end of our lives…He comes for this moment. Here. Now.


…In my nine years as a priest, four of them as a hospital chaplain, I realized that even people who have lived a long life may still have very serious questions about God.


For example, I would pray with patients who were near death and tell them, “God loves you so much.” And sometimes, quietly, they would respond, “I hope so.”


“I hope so.”…My heart would sink every time I heard that. They’ve been alive 80, 90 years…they’re about to meet God…and they’re still unsure whether God loves them.


So, I want to be very clear with you: GOD LOVES YOU. 


God didn’t choose to be born into this world as an infant because He might love you. He entered human history, and went to the cross, because He loves you.


And God knows you…Your heart…your past…and He chose to enter our world so that He could enter yours.


…So, in order to invite God into your world, starting tonight, would you give God three minutes each day…


If prayer feels difficult, try this: Set a timer for three minutes and simply sit.


Do what I do: Spend the first minute with God the Father, the second minute with Jesus, and the third with the Holy Spirit.


…And, in that quiet, I hope you discover this: That God knows you…and He loves you.

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