Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 28, 2025
First Reading: Sirach 3.2-6, 12-14
This reading is not available in the ESV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.
Psalm 128
1Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!2You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.4Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.5The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!6May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!
Second Reading: Colossians 3.12-17
12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Gospel: Matthew 2.13-15, 19-23
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,20saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."21And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.23And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "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.