Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 23, 2025

23th December 2025 (Tuesday)

Psalter: Week 3

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4; 4: 5-6

Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 R. (see Luke 21:28)

R/. Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. O king of all nations and keystone of the church; come and save them man, whom you formed from the dust

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Tuesday – Fourth Week of Advent

Main Point: The Lord has marvellous plans for us and our salvation. He specially chooses some to become powerful instruments in executing these plans.

1. The event of God’s incarnation is steadily and progressively unfolding. It is a beautiful embroidery with fine threads of annunciation, Joseph’s vision, visitation, Magnificat, the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth, and today his birth and naming.

2. All through these episodes, what is very evident is God’s marvelous and meticulous planning and execution. But it is all for our good. In this mega project, besides Joseph and Mary, John the Baptist has a vital role. That is why his birth is very significant and is narrated with many details.

3. He is unique in many ways – a child of old age; an issue that eliminates the disgrace of the barrenness of his mother; a cousin of the Saviour; filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb; one who was totally consecrated to the Lord and so “he must not drink wine or strong drink (as per the angel’s directive to Zechariah); and one with whom was the hand of the Lord.

4. In fact, all the words spoken about him to his father Zechariah in his vision (Luke 1. 20-25) fit exactly the picture of the messenger in the first reading from Malachi. He is the messenger sent by the Lord. He will prepare the way of the Lord. “He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers”.

5. We too are called like John the Baptist to be the precursors of the Lord, to prepare the way of the Lord. But it is not a status, position, or dignity. It calls for a true imitation of him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be totally consecrated to Him without any drink or vice, to speak and stand for God, and accomplish the mission of repentance and renewal.

My Practice: It is not enough that we admire John the Baptist for his austerity, authenticity, and courage. We need to be charged with the same spirit