Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 23, 2019
First Reading: Malachi 3.1-4; 4.5-6
1Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts2And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb3And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice4And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years
Psalm 25
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. To you, Lord, I have lifted up my soul2In you, my God, I trust. Let me not be put to shame3And do not let my enemies laugh at me. For all who remain with you will not be confounded4May all those who act unjustly over nothing be confounded. O Lord, demonstrate your ways to me, and teach me your paths5Direct me in your truth, and teach me. For you are God, my Saviour, and I remain with you all day long6O Lord, remember your compassion and your mercies, which are from ages past7Do not remember the offenses of my youth and my ignorances. Remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, O Lord8The Lord is sweet and righteous. Because of this, he will grant a law to those who fall short in the way9He will direct the mild in judgment. He will teach the meek his ways10All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to those who yearn for his covenant and his testimonies11Because of your name, O Lord, you will pardon my sin, for it is great12Which is the man who fears the Lord? He has established a law for him, on the way that he has chosen13His soul will dwell upon good things, and his offspring will inherit the earth14The Lord is a firmament to those who fear him, and his covenant will be made manifest to them15My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pull my feet from the snare16Look upon me and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor17The troubles of my heart have been multiplied. Deliver me from my needfulness18See my lowliness and my hardship, and release all my offenses19Consider my enemies, for they have been multiplied, and they have hated me with an unjust hatred20Preserve my soul and rescue me. I will not be ashamed, for I have hoped in you21The innocent and the righteous have adhered to me, because I have remained with you22Free Israel, O God, from all his tribulations
Gospel: Luke 1.57-66
57Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her59And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah60And in response, his mother said: "Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.61And they said to her, "But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.62Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called63And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "His name is John." And they all wondered64Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God65And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea66And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: "What do you think this boy will be?" And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, purification, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. In the first reading from Malachi, we hear about the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord. This messenger is none other than Elijah, the prophet, who will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. Malachi emphasizes that this preparation involves purification and cleansing, much like refining fire, so that we may offer sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. The prophet’s words are a call to repentance and readiness, reminding us that God’s justice and mercy are about to be revealed in a profound way.
In the Gospel, we witness the birth of John the Baptist, the one who would fulfill Malachi’s prophecy by preparing the way for Jesus. The story of John’s naming is filled with signs and wonders—Zechariah’s silence is broken, and he proclaims the name given by God. This moment is a testament to the power of obedience and trust in God’s plan. Just as Elizabeth and Zechariah trusted in God’s mercy, we too are called to trust in His will, even when it challenges our expectations. The neighbors’ question, “What will this child be?” hints at the larger purpose John will serve, pointing us to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger story, one of preparation and purification. Like Elijah and John the Baptist, we are called to be instruments of God’s plan, turning hearts to Him and to one another. In our daily lives, this means being open to God’s will, seeking purification through repentance, and building relationships rooted in love and reconciliation. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we preparing our hearts for the Lord’s coming? Are we allowing God to refine us like gold and silver, so that we may shine as witnesses of His love? May we, like John the Baptist, be faithful in our mission to point others to Christ, the true Light of the world.