December 2025 Letter

Dear brethren,
Saint Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews, and to prove that Jesus Christ is the expected Messiah, he referred to more than ten prophesies from the Ols Testament. Here are few of them:
 His birth from a virgin: “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us” (Mat 1: 22-23), was mentioned in (Isa 7: 14).
 His return from Egypt: “and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Mat 2: 15), referring to (Hos 11: 1).
 Slaughtering the children in Bethlehem: “Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more” (Mat 2: 17-18), referring to (Jer 31: 15).
 Dwelling in Nazareth: “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” (Mat 2: 23), referring to (Zech 3: 8).
 Residing in Capernaum: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Mat 4: 14-16), referring to (Isa 9: 1-2).
 His divine power of healing: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses” (Mat 8:172), referring to (Isa 53: 4).
 His compassion and mercy on the congregation: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles” (Mat 12: 17-18), referring to (Isa 42: 1-4).
 Speaking in parables: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mat 13: 35), referring to (Psa 78: 2).
 Entering Jerusalem as a King: “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Zion, `Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Mat 21: 4-5), referring to (Zech 9: 9).
 His betrayal: “Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced” (Mat 27: 9), referring to (Zech 11: 12-13).
 Dividing His garments at the cross: “Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots” (Mat 27: 35), referring to (Psa 22: 18).
The blessings of St. Mary the mother of God, and the Nativity fast be with us always, Amen.
Belleville, December 1, 2025

رسالة شهر ديسمبر ٢٠٢٥