Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 22, 2025
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1.24-28
24And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child25And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli26And Hannah said: "I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord27I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him28Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord." And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said
1 Samuel 2
Gospel: Luke 1.46-56
46And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord47And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour48For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed49For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name50And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him51He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart52He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble53He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty54He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy55just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.56Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house
Sermon
Today's readings present us with two women of profound faith, Hannah and Mary, both responding to God's miraculous intervention in their lives. In the first reading, Hannah, having been granted her petition for a son, faithfully brings young Samuel to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, dedicating him to God's service, just as she had promised. Her act is one of ultimate gratitude, returning the precious gift back to its divine source. Similarly, in the Gospel, Mary, having conceived by the Holy Spirit, responds to her cousin Elizabeth's greeting with the magnificent Magnificat, a joyful hymn of praise. She extols God for looking with favor on her lowliness, for doing great things for her, and for His everlasting mercy that exalts the humble and fills the hungry.
Both Hannah and Mary stand as testaments to God's faithfulness and His unique way of working through the humble. Hannah’s sacrifice of her long-awaited son is not a loss, but an act of profound trust that places Samuel within God’s greater plan for Israel. Mary’s song, while deeply personal, is also a prophetic declaration of God’s justice, celebrating His power to overturn human hierarchies, scattering the proud and lifting up the lowly. Their responses are deeply personal yet universal, demonstrating how divine grace calls for a response of dedication and praise, reminding us that God often chooses the unassuming to accomplish His greatest works and to fulfill His ancient promises.
What do these women teach us for our own lives? They invite us to reflect on our own gratitude for the blessings God bestows, and how we, in turn, dedicate our gifts—our children, our talents, our very lives—back to Him. When God grants us a petition, or calls us to an unexpected service, do we respond with Hannah’s profound sacrifice and trust, or Mary’s exuberant praise and humble acceptance? We are called to cultivate a heart that magnifies the Lord, recognizing His hand in our daily lives, trusting that He continues to do great things through the humble and to fulfill His promises of mercy from generation to generation.