Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 24, 2025

24th December 2025 (Wednesday)

Psalter: Week 4

Readings of the Day

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 R. (2)

R/. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. O Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death!!!

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Luke 1:67-79

At that time: Zechariah, father of John, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Wednesday – Fourth Week of Advent

Main Point: In a world where ingratitude is becoming a norm, we are expected to be loud and clear voices of gratitude and praise for God’s infinite mercy and generosity

1. Today’s gospel contains the Benedictus of Zechariah. As we know, this has striking similarities with Mary’s Magnificat. The very fact that these both became integral parts of our Lauds and Vespers indicates their preeminence.

2. They are not mere praises by two individuals. The Benedictus in today’s gospel is not merely an exuberant vote of thanks. It is actually the fundamental gratitude that the whole owes to God. It is the voice of a humble soul that has experienced the magnitude of God’s mercy and proclaims it aloud.

3. The Benedictus is a rich container, manifestation, and acclamation of God’s saving nature, and actions. It underlies What God is to us, what He does, What happens to our life, and what we are expected to do.

4. God is the most “blessed” because He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation. He shows tender mercy and renews the covenant. He gives light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. He would save us from our enemies.

5. This experience of God leads to a duty of a way of living and a mission of doing His will. That is, we are called to be prophets, to prepare his ways. We must serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days. And we need to work to give knowledge of salvation to all in the forgiveness of their sins.

My Practice: As we experience God’s immense mercy, we must be profoundly grateful. This gratitude must be translated into an authentic way of living and concrete actions of renewal