Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 21, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14
10Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,11Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.13And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Second Reading: Romans 1.1-7
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,2Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 1.18-24
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Sermon
Today's readings unfold a beautiful tapestry of divine promise and its fulfillment, centered on the coming of our Lord. In Isaiah, we hear God, through the prophet, offer King Ahaz a sign of reassurance amidst political turmoil. When Ahaz refuses, God declares He will nonetheless provide one: "Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel." This ancient prophecy finds its stunning realization in Matthew's Gospel. Here, we witness Joseph grappling with the mysterious pregnancy of his betrothed, Mary. An angel appears in a dream to affirm the divine origin of the child, conceived by the Holy Spirit, instructing Joseph to accept Mary as his wife and name the son Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew explicitly connects this miraculous birth to Isaiah's prophecy, revealing Jesus as Immanuel, "God is with us."
Paul's letter to the Romans further frames this mystery, asserting that Jesus Christ, born of David's lineage according to the flesh, is truly the Son of God, promised beforehand through the prophets. He proclaims that through Jesus, we have received grace and an apostleship for the obedience of faith among all nations. The interconnectedness of these readings reminds us that God's plan for salvation is not a spontaneous event, but a meticulously woven design unfolding across centuries, culminating in the Incarnation. In our own lives, when confronted with the unexpected or the seemingly impossible, like Joseph, we are called to trust in God's mysterious ways. His presence is not distant; He is Immanuel, "God with us," actively involved in our personal stories, guiding us toward salvation and inviting our humble, faithful obedience, even when His path defies our human understanding.