Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 29, 2025
First Reading: 1 John 2.3-11
3And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments4Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him5But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him6Whoever declares himself to remain in him, ought to walk just as he himself walked7Most beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but the old commandment, which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word, which you have heard8Then too, I am writing to you a new commandment, which is the Truth in him and in you. For the darkness has passed away, and the true Light is now shining9Whoever declares himself to be in the light, and yet hates his brother, is in the darkness even now10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause of offense in him11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness, and in darkness he walks, and he does not know where he is going. For the darkness has blinded his eyes
Psalm 96
1A Canticle of David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth2Sing to the Lord and bless his name. Announce his salvation from day to day3Announce his glory among the Gentiles, his miracles among all peoples4For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is terrible, beyond all gods5For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, but the Lord made the heavens6Confession and beauty are in his sight. Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary7Bring to the Lord, you natives of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor8Bring to the Lord glory for his name. Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts9Adore the Lord in his holy court. Let the entire earth be shaken before his face10Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned. For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. He will judge the peoples with fairness11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved12The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad. Then all the trees of the forest will rejoic13before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. For he arrives to judge the earth. He will judge the whole world with fairness and the peoples with his truth
Gospel: Luke 2.22-35
22And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord23just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,24and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him26And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord27And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law28he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said29"Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word30For my eyes have seen your salvation31which you have prepared before the face of all peoples32the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.33And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him34And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: "Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted35And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Sermon
The first reading from St. John reminds us that our claim to know God is validated not by words, but by deeds—specifically, by observing His commandments. The foundational commandment, both ancient and perpetually new, is to love one another. To say we abide in the light while harboring hatred for a brother is a contradiction, for hatred keeps us in darkness, blinding us to our true path. True love perfects God's charity within us and assures us of our dwelling in Him, compelling us to walk as Christ Himself walked.
In the Gospel, we witness the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, an act of humble obedience to the Mosaic Law. Here, the holy man Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognizes the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Christ. He proclaims Him to be "a light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." This divine light, foretold by prophecy, is the very truth that St. John speaks of. Jesus, the Light, comes into the world not just to illuminate, but also to reveal the hidden thoughts of many hearts, bringing about ruin for some and resurrection for others, a truth that will pierce even Mary's soul.
These readings illuminate each other beautifully. The light St. John speaks of, which dispels darkness and calls us to love, is embodied perfectly in Jesus, whom Simeon recognizes as the "Light of revelation." To walk in this light, as St. John exhorts, means actively choosing love over hatred in our daily lives, allowing the presence of Christ to shine through our actions and interactions. It means permitting His light to penetrate our own hearts, revealing our true dispositions and challenging us to shed any lingering shadows of animosity. Our participation in this divine light is not merely intellectual assent, but a transformative commitment to charity, confirming our authentic relationship with God and revealing to the world the transformative power of His love, even amidst the contradictions and challenges of life.