Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 12, 2025
First Reading: Zechariah 2.10-13 or Revelation 11.19a; 12.1, 3-6a, 10ab
10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD.11And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.12And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem."13Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.5She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,6and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Judith 13
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Gospel: Luke 1.39-47
39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Sermon
The prophet Zechariah paints a glorious vision of the Lord dwelling among His people, causing Zion to rejoice and drawing many nations into His fold. This ancient prophecy, given to a people rebuilding after exile, looks forward to a time when God's presence will be tangible and universal, prompting a profound silence of reverence. We see the profound beginning of this promise in the Gospel, where Mary, bearing the Lord within her, journeys to Elizabeth. At Mary's greeting, the infant John leaps in his mother's womb, a spontaneous outburst of joy recognizing the presence of the Messiah. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blesses Mary and marvels that the Mother of her Lord has come to her, confirming the prophetic words that God indeed dwells in our midst.
These readings beautifully intertwine, showing the transition from prophecy to fulfillment. Zechariah declares God's intent to "dwell in your midst" and cause "many nations" to join Him, while Luke demonstrates the very initial, intimate realization of this dwelling. The presence of Christ, carried by Mary, elicits an immediate and joyful response, a spiritual recognition that transcends words. This encounter reminds us that God truly desires to be present in our daily lives and within us, not just in distant sacred spaces. Like Mary, we are called to bring Christ to others, recognizing that our faith, like hers, makes God's promises actionable and brings His joy into the world. Our lives, then, become spaces where the Lord dwells, prompting us to approach each day with expectant hearts, ready to experience and share the profound joy of His presence, even as we cultivate a silent reverence for His holy work within and around us. The Magnificat, Mary's song of praise, serves as a timeless example of how to respond to God's incredible grace—with a heart overflowing with joy and gratitude for a God who lifts up the humble and fulfills His promises.