Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 21, 2025
First Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14
10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,11"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."13Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;2for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory. Selah
Second Reading: Romans 1.1-7
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 1.18-24
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as 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.