Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 28, 2025
First Reading: Sirach 3.2-6, 12-14
2Sons, listen to the judgment of your father, and act accordingly, so that you may be saved3For God has honored the father in the sons, and, when seeking the judgment of the mother, he has confirmed it in the children4He who loves God will plead with him on behalf of sins, and will keep himself away from sin, and will be heeded in the prayers of his days5And, like one who stores up treasure, so also is he who honors his mother6He who honors his father will find happiness in his own children, and he will be heeded in the day of his prayer12Do not boast in the disgrace of your father; for his shame is not your glory13For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a father without honor is a discredit to the son14Son, support your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his life
Psalm 128
1A Canticle in steps. Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways2For you will eat by the labors of your hands. Blessed are you, and it will be well with you3Your wife is like an abundant vine on the sides of your house. Your sons are like young olive trees surrounding your table4Behold, so will the man be blessed who fears the Lord5May the Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the good things of Jerusalem, all the days of your life6And may you see the sons of your sons. Peace be upon Israel
Second Reading: Colossians 3.12-17
12Therefore, clothe yourselves like the elect of God: holy and beloved, with hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, and patience13Support one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive one another. For just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also must you do14And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection15And let the peace of Christ lift up your hearts. For in this peace, you have been called, as one body. And be thankful16Let the word of Christ live in you in abundance, with all wisdom, teaching and correcting one another, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing to God with the grace in your hearts17Let everything whatsoever that you do, whether in word or in deed, be done all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him
Gospel: Matthew 2.13-15, 19-23
13And after they had gone away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.14And getting up, he took the boy and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt15And he remained there, until the death of Herod, in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Out of Egypt, I called my son.19Then, when Herod had passed away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt20saying: "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For those who were seeking the life of the boy have passed away.21And rising up, he took the boy and his mother, and he went into the land of Israel22Then, hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in sleep, he withdrew into parts of Galilee23And arriving, he lived in a city which is called Nazareth, in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "For he shall be called a Nazarene.
Sermon
Today's readings invite us to reflect on our responsibilities within the family and the wider Christian community, and on the profound implications of our obedience to God's will. Sirach calls us to honor our parents, particularly our fathers, reminding us that God Himself has elevated their position, and that supporting them in their old age brings happiness and ensures our prayers are heard. This ancient wisdom provides a foundation for the virtues Paul exhorts the Colossians to "clothe themselves" with: hearts of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, patience, and above all, charity. These qualities are not merely suggestions but the very fabric of life for God's elect, binding us together in peace and enabling us to forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven us. Living this way, with Christ's word dwelling richly within us, ensures that everything we do, in word or deed, gives thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
The Gospel perfectly illustrates these principles through the actions of St. Joseph. Faced with grave danger to the Child Jesus from Herod, Joseph, without question or delay, rises in the night and flees with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, later returning to Nazareth under divine guidance. His prompt, unwavering obedience to the angel's instructions in his dreams embodies the humility, trust, and selfless love described in Colossians. Joseph’s quiet strength and protective spirit are a testament to honoring his divine son and foster-wife, providing for their safety and well-being, much like Sirach's advice to care for one's parents. He sets an example of how true fatherhood, indeed any Christian life, is lived through attentive listening to God and courageous action, even when it means disrupting our plans and facing uncertainty.
These readings collectively challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we truly honoring those God has placed in our care, whether our parents, our children, or our brothers and sisters in Christ, by embodying the virtues of mercy, kindness, and patience? Do we, like Joseph, listen for God's guidance in our daily lives, and are we ready to respond with immediate and faithful obedience, even when it demands sacrifice? Let us strive to live each day clothed in charity, allowing the peace of Christ to rule our hearts, and doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, confident that in doing so, we fulfill His divine plan for our lives and the lives of those around us.