Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 29, 2025
First Reading: 1 John 2.3-11
3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.7Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.9Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Psalm 96
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!2Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!9Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;12let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy13before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Gospel: Luke 2.22-35
22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,29"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;30for my eyes have seen your salvation31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from 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.