Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 14, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 35.1-6a, 10
1The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,2it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.3Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;4say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.6Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.10and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Psalm 146
1Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.4When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,6the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the LORD, who remains faithful forever.7He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,8the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.9The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Second Reading: James 5.7-10
7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 11.2-11
2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."7As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces.9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.10This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'11I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he 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.