An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - December 7, 2025
“Prepare The Way Of The Lord, Make Straight His Paths”
Our readings this Sunday look at the foretelling of the coming of Christ in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. The Church seeks to put us in the minds and in the shoes of first century Jews who the Messiah. All of our readings today help us prepare for the coming of the one who “shall judge the poor with justice” and who will “baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
In our first reading (Isaiah 11:1-10), Isaiah offers hope to the people of Judah at a time when they were besieged by relentless attacks by foreign foes. Isaiah foretells a time when "the wolf will be the guest of the lamb". His prophesy was that “a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was King David’s father and this is a metaphor for the Kingdom of David. Isaiah is saying that even though the Kingdom of David has been cut down, a new shoot (the Messiah) will arise to restore the kingdom and God’s glory. Isaiah writes, “On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.“
In our Epistle reading (Romans 15:4-9), St. Paul echoes the theme of our first reading and offers a vision of hope and peaceful harmony. Similar to Isaiah’s prophesy of a day when “the calf and the young lion will browse together”, it is Christ Jesus who welcomes both Jew and Gentile, who will “with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.“
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12), John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, heralding a new Exodus where God would deliver His people from sin. John was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, who said, "A voice crying out in the desert . . . Prepare the way of the Lord." John heralded the coming of the Messiah Jesus by declaring that, “the one who is coming after me is mightier than I . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ” John was the forerunner of the Messiah, the one who prepared “the way of the Lord.”
For we who hope in Christ during this season of Advent, our call is to prepare our hearts to receive our Lord as if for the first time. We would do well to follow St. Paul’s instruction that "by the encouragement of the Scriptures" we should “think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus”, thus glorifying God. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - November 23, 2025
“Jesus, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom”
During this last Sunday of our liturgical year (before we begin anew with the Advent season), we are reminded of the universal sovereignty of our Lord, Jesus. This feast was commissioned by Pope
Pius XI just after World War I, in a time of increasing secularity in the world. In his encyclical Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI spoke his firm hope that this feast “may hasten the return of society to our loving savior.”
In our first reading (2 Samuel 5:1-3), we hear the story of the anointing of King David by the twelve tribes of Israel. David was the forebearer and precursor of Christ, the King. It was to David that God spoke this covenant, “I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
In our Epistle reading (Colossians 1:12-20), St. Paul offers a brief prayer of thanksgiving to the Father for our inheritance in the kingdom of His beloved son. Paul then proceeds to describe the sovereignty and majesty of our King, Jesus Christ. He is the “Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”.
In our Gospel reading (Luke 23:35-43), we hear of the Son of David, a completely different kind of King. This King is hung on a cross, mocked, reviled and spit upon. This is a King who reigns from the throne of the cross, with humility, compassion and love. This King has power no other earthly king could ever have, the power to save souls. In today’s Gospel, the criminal on the cross next to Jesus acknowledged his sins and simply asked Jesus, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus’ response was forgiveness and eternal salvation. This is similar to what happens in every Sacrament of Reconciliation as we acknowledge our sins and ask Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus’ response is love, forgiveness and eternal salvation.
We are reminded in this Feast of Christ the King that our Jesus is not only King of Catholics, or King of Christians, He is King of all creation - from the beginning of time to the end of time and beyond. May we proclaim His sovereignty with our daily lives.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - November 16, 2025
“By Your Perseverance You Will Secure Your Lives”
This is the next to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Advent begins. Today, our scripture readings direct our attention to the final
judgement day, known as the “Day of the Lord”. There are questions that have pestered humanity since the earliest times—When will the end come? How will we be judged? What do we do while we wait?
In our first reading (Malachi 3:19-20), God offers a stern warning to those of Judah, both leaders and people alike, who have turned away from God and God’s law. For them, the day of judgement will be a horrible day, but those who love the Lord and fear His name will bask in the healing rays of the sun of justice.
In our Epistle reading (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12), St. Paul admonished the beloved in Thessalonica to model themselves after the work ethic he and his companions exhibited when they lived among them. Apparently, some of them thought Jesus’ second coming was so imminent that they stopped working for a living and became disorderly busybodies.
In our Gospel reading (Luke 21:5-19), Jesus described for His disciples what the end-times would look like and what things must happen before that day would come. He then described for them that “before all this happens”, they would endure many persecutions and trials for His name’s sake. But—despite all that, despite even being put to death, “not a hair on your head will be destroyed”.
Yes, the “Day of the Lord” will come and yet we know “neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). What today’s scripture readings help us focus on is how we should live our lives in these “in-between times” - the time between Christ’s first coming and His second. That is the only thing we can control. Following St. Paul’s example to the Thessalonians in today’s Epistle would be a good place to start. Being Paul to others would be an even better way. May we imitate St. Paul’s life and courageous example to those who come into our lives.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111625.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - November 9, 2025
“You Are God’s Building”
The Feast of St. John Lateran Basilica is unusual in the Church’s calendar because it is a feast for a building rather than a saint or an event. The Basilica of St. John is dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Pope’s cathedral. While this feast is for a building, the purpose is to help us reflect on the true Church, the Body of Christ—we the faithful who believe in Jesus, the Christ.
Our first reading is from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12). Ezekiel wrote at a time when the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people exiled to Babylon. His intent was to give them hope of a future time when God would build a new temple in a new Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s vision saw a new temple with a river of life flowing from it that would bring new life to all the land. This river was similar to the river of the Garden of Eden. As the River of Life flowed from the original Eden, it brought life to all the land and watered the whole earth.
In our Epistle reading (1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17), St. Paul tells us that we are the true Church and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. “You are God’s building”, and Jesus is our foundation. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is what inhabits each one of us and makes us holy.
In our Gospel reading (John 2:13-22), we hear John’s account of Jesus cleansing the temple, overturning the tables of the money changers and telling the vendors to “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” Here, Jesus was exercising His authority of the Son of David, who was given the responsibility for maintaining the “House of God.” When questioned for a sign of His authority, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up....But He was speaking about the temple of His body.”
Jesus identifies His body as the new Temple. Thus Ezekiel’s vision of a new Temple applies to Jesus’ body. The river that Ezekiel saw in his vision is the Holy Spirit, the giver of life. While we celebrate today the Cathedral in Rome and the chair of St. Peter, our readings tell us that the true temple is Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit joins each of us to God’s temple.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110925.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.