Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 20, 2025
Saturday – Third Week of Advent
20th December 2025 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
In those days: The Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 R. (see 7c and 10b)
R/. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Third Week of Advent
Main Point: God has wonderful plans for us. At times and oftentimes, how he executes them may not be clear and even confounding. But no worries!
1. The other day, through His angel, God encountered Zechariah and revealed His plan for the birth of John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Today, God through His angel encounters the virgin Mary and reveals His plan for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour in her virginal womb.
2. But if we analyse a little, the immediate consequences of such a happening, that is the birth of a child, are contrasting. In the case of Elizabeth, it is in fact, a great grace, a matter to rejoice. Her barrenness would be eliminated. But in the case of Mary, it is a matter of disgrace. Her dignity and integrity would come under suspicion.
3. Here comes the great depth of Mary’s faith. Once she knows that it is all God’s plan, there is no more question. No argument, no reluctance, no hesitation. No seeking concession. No request for making things clear to her husband and family. No worries at all about the future consequences of a suspect pregnancy.
4. Her faith comprises profound humility, wholehearted docility, and an unreserved surrender. She declares emphatically, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”.
5. A little note on the Salutation of the Angel to Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. Mary is worthy of the salutation by God Himself. She is full of grace. In a world where sometimes it is difficult to have even a fraction of grace, Mary stands as the fullness of grace. She is full of grace because the Lord is with her.
My Practice: Like Mary, we are also called, not to be afraid when things go wrong or remain unclear. Being free is possible only when we find favour with God
