Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 13, 2025
First Reading: Sirach 48.1-4, 9-11
1And the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch2He brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the Lord3By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times4In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory9He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses10He is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob11Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship
Psalm 80
1Unto the end. For those who will be changed. The testimony of Asaph. A Psalm. The One who reigns over Israel: Be attentive. For you lead Joseph like a sheep. The One who sits upon the cherubim: Shine fort2in the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Awaken your power and draw near, so as to accomplish our salvation3Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved4O Lord, God of hosts, how long will you be angry over the prayer of your servant5How long will you feed us the bread of tears, and give us to drink a full measure of tears6You have set us as a contradiction to our neighbors. And our enemies have ridiculed us7O God of hosts, convert us. And reveal your face, and we will be saved8You have transferred a vineyard from Egypt. You have cast out the Gentiles, and planted it9You were the leader of the journey in its sight. You planted its roots, and it filled the earth10Its shadow covered the hills, and its branches covered the cedars of God11It extended its new branches even to the sea, and its new seedlings even to the river12So then, why have you destroyed its walls, so that all those who pass by the way gather its grapes13The wild boar of the forest has trampled it, and a single wild beast has laid waste to it14Turn back, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard15and complete what your right hand has planted, and look upon the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself16Whatever has been set on fire and dug under will perish at the rebuke of your countenance17Let your hand be over the man on your right, and over the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself18For we do not depart from you, and you will revive us. And we will invoke your name19O Lord, God of hosts, convert us. And reveal your face, and we will be saved
Gospel: Matthew 17.10-13
10And his disciples questioned him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to arrive first?11But in response, he said to them: "Elijah, indeed, shall arrive and restore all things12But I say to you, that Elijah has already arrived, and they did not recognize him, but they did whatever they wanted to him. So also shall the Son of man suffer from them.13Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist
Sermon
The First Reading from Sirach offers a powerful tribute to the prophet Elijah, describing him as a man who arose like a fire, whose word burned like a torch, and who performed wondrous works including closing the heavens and ascending in a whirlwind. He is presented as a pivotal figure, destined to lessen wrath, reconcile hearts, and restore the tribes of Jacob. In the Gospel, immediately following the Transfiguration where Elijah appeared with Moses, the disciples question Jesus about the scribes' teaching that Elijah must come first. Jesus affirms that Elijah indeed comes to restore all things, but then reveals that Elijah "has already arrived" in John the Baptist, who was unrecognized and suffered, foreshadowing the suffering of the Son of Man.
These two texts illuminate the nature of prophecy and its fulfillment. Sirach encapsulates the traditional Jewish expectation of Elijah's glorious return, a powerful figure arriving dramatically to usher in the messianic age. However, Jesus reinterprets this expectation, revealing that God's plan unfolded not always in the spectacular manner anticipated, but through the humble, often unrecognized witness of John the Baptist. John, though not literally Elijah returned in a fiery chariot, embodied Elijah's spirit of prophetic zeal, preparing the way for the Lord, calling for repentance, and striving to "reconcile the heart of the father to the son," just as Sirach prophesied. Yet, this new Elijah faced rejection and suffering, mirroring the suffering Christ Himself would endure.
This teaches us a profound lesson about spiritual discernment and our own expectations of God. We often anticipate God's presence and action in grand, dramatic gestures, much like the anticipated return of the ancient Elijah. But the Lord frequently works in unexpected ways, through the humble, the unrecognized, and even through suffering and sacrifice. We are called to be attentive to the subtle movements of the Holy Spirit and to recognize God's messengers and His saving work, even when it challenges our preconceived notions. Our task is to prepare hearts for Christ in our own time, embracing our call to repentance and reconciliation, even if our efforts are humble or met with misunderstanding, trusting that God's plan unfolds in His own perfect, sometimes surprising, way.