Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 35.1-6a, 10
1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.2It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.3Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.4Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Psalm 146
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Second Reading: James 5.7-10
7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Gospel: Matthew 11.2-11
2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.7And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?8But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that 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.