Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 11, 2025

11th December 2025 (Thursday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20

I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab R. (8)

R/. The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, ”Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Thursday – Second Week of Advent

Main Point: For those who trust in God, life is never a loss or misery, but is ever a rediscovery of hope and joy

1. Listen then if you have ears, so ends Jesus today’s gospel passage. Yes, we need the inner ear of faith to constantly listen to what God ceaselessly repeats into our ears. Endlessly he drills into our hearts how much he loves and cares for us, how much he assures us and instills confidence and courage into us.

2. The very same words that he pronounces through his prophet Isaiah to his people, are repeated today to all of us as well: “I am the Lord, your God. I strengthen you and tell you, do not be afraid; I will help you”. He knows that we are small and weak. He knows that our enemies, the evil forces are strong, violent and oppressing and frightening.

3. But it is not our strength that will be in action. It is his unsurpassable power that will prevail over all the hostile forces. He will change dry land into flowing springs, and deserts into pools of water, and barren land into forest. These are God’s promises.

4. They are never empty or shallow or unreliable like those of men or many leaders. He says to the people of Israel: Fear not, I am your assistance. I will make you a thresher, new and with sharp double teeth. You will thresh hills and mountains, crushing them and reducing them to chaff. You will winnow them.

5. These words apply exactly to John the Baptist. Like Elijah, he lives as a true prophet, passionate, courageous and faithful. He urges people to repent and to be converted. But from our part, what is needed is to understand this and do our part in humility, courage and dutifulness like him.

My Practice: We are really blessed that we are rated even greater than John the Baptist himself, the greatest born of women, if only we strive sincerely on behalf of the kingdom of God.