Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 35.1-6a, 10
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;2it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.4Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Psalm 146
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.3Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.4When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets the prisoners free;8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.9The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.10The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Second Reading: James 5.7-10
7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 11.2-11
2Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"4And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.6And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'11Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Sermon
In today's Gospel, we witness John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing doubt, sending his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?" Jesus' reply points not to his identity directly, but to his actions: "The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor are evangelized." These are not random acts; they are the very signs prophesied by Isaiah in our first reading—the desolate land rejoicing, the eyes of the blind opened, the lame leaping, the tongue of the mute untied. Isaiah foretold God's vindication, God himself arriving to save, bringing joy and healing. Jesus' response to John is a declaration that these ancient promises are now being fulfilled, in him. It is a profound confirmation of God's active presence in the world, bringing salvation and transformation.
Like John, who, despite his immense faith and prophetic role, still sought confirmation amidst his suffering, we too can experience moments of doubt, weariness, or even desolation. We may look at the world, or our own lives, and wonder where God's promises are, when the "desolate land" will truly rejoice. It is here that the words of James become so vital, urging us to "be patient, brothers, until the advent of the Lord," to "strengthen your hearts." We are called to cultivate an expectant patience, not a passive resignation, but an active watchfulness, like the farmer who anticipates the precious fruit. We are to look for the signs of God's work in our midst—the unexpected kindness, the quiet healing, the word of hope shared with the poor in spirit. These are the ways Christ continues to answer John's question in every age, inviting us to see His glory and the beauty of our God in the everyday, even amidst our waiting.
The ultimate moral lesson woven through these readings is one of profound trust and patient anticipation. God's timing and methods are often not our own, and the "advent of the Lord" can be subtle or dramatic, unfolding across history and in our personal lives. John expected a different kind of Messiah, perhaps one of judgment and immediate overturning of earthly powers. Yet, Jesus revealed himself through acts of humble service, healing, and evangelization. We are called to strengthen our hearts against cynicism and impatience, to recognize that God's kingdom is breaking in, even when sorrow and pain still persist. Our task is to cultivate eyes that see His subtle signs, ears that hear His quiet voice, and hearts that patiently endure, confident that our God will indeed arrive to save us, bringing everlasting joy that pain and sorrow cannot touch. Let us therefore live in joyful expectation, faithful in our waiting, and always ready to witness to the transforming power of His love.