Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 7, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 11.1-10
1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.5Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.9They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.10In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Psalm 72
1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!9May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust!10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!18Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
Second Reading: Romans 15.4-9
4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Gospel: Matthew 3.1-12
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"4Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.5Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.9And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.11"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Sermon
The ancient prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future king, a descendant of Jesse, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord will rest in its fullness. This Messiah will bring forth justice for the poor and meek, and establish a kingdom of profound peace, where even natural enemies coexist in harmony. It is a vision of creation transformed by divine wisdom and righteousness. Into this anticipation, the Gospel presents John the Baptist, crying out in the wilderness, urging us to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near." John serves as the immediate herald, preparing the path for this very Messiah described by Isaiah. His stark call to "produce fruit worthy of repentance" is not merely about acknowledging past wrongs, but about a radical turning of the heart, a necessary purification to welcome the transformative reign that Isaiah foretold.
Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, builds upon this foundation, reminding us that all Scripture is written to teach us, to fill us with patience and hope. He connects the prophetic vision of Isaiah and the urgent call of John to the universal embrace of Christ. Paul explains that Christ came to confirm God’s promises to the Jewish people and, in His mercy, to extend salvation to the Gentiles. This is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that the "root of Jesse" would be a sign for all nations. Just as John called for individual repentance, Paul calls for collective unity, urging us to accept one another, just as Christ has accepted us, so that "together with one mouth, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This mutual acceptance, rooted in Christ's own inclusive love, is the very essence of the harmonious kingdom Isaiah envisioned.
These readings challenge us to embody this coming kingdom in our daily lives. The call to repentance remains ever-present, reminding us that we must continually examine our hearts and align our actions with God's will. We are invited to cultivate the gifts of the Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord—to become instruments of justice and peace in a world that hungers for it. In accepting one another, especially those different from us, we begin to live out the unity that Christ established and the reconciliation that marks His reign. Through humble repentance and active love, we prepare the way for the Lord not just in our own souls, but in our families, communities, and indeed, the entire world, allowing the knowledge of the Lord to fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.