{"id":13074,"date":"2025-09-01T22:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prayerfulness.com\/?page_id=13074"},"modified":"2026-01-10T01:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T01:33:13","slug":"december-25-sunday-readings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/prayerfulness.com\/index.php\/december-25-sunday-readings\/","title":{"rendered":"December 25 Sunday Readings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Scripture\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 2025 Sunday Readings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Scripture<\/strong> Readings for Sundays in December 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Follow the Scripture readings for Sundays of the Year. Read and reflect on them as part of your daily prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Select Month:<\/strong> January<\/a><\/strong> \/ February<\/strong><\/a> \/ March<\/strong><\/a> \/ April<\/strong><\/a> \/ May<\/strong><\/a> \/ June<\/strong><\/a> \/ July<\/strong><\/a> \/ August<\/strong><\/a> \/ September<\/strong><\/a> \/ October<\/strong><\/a> \/ November<\/strong><\/a> \/ December<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday Mass Readings for<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

December 2025  – Year A<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 30th November 2025 – First Sunday of Advent<\/a>
Sunday 7th December 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent<\/a>
Sunday 14th December 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent<\/a>
Sunday 21st December2025 – Fourth Sunday of Advent<\/a>
\nWednesday 24th December 2025 – Christmas Eve<\/a>
\nThursday 25th December 2025 – Christmas Day<\/a>
\nSunday 28th December 2025 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

_________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure> <\/p>\n\n\n

Sunday 30th November 2025 – First Sunday of Advent <\/b><\/p> \n\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n

A reading from the Book of Wisdom 11:22-12:2<\/b><\/font color>
\n\nYou are merciful to all, because you love all that exists<\/i><\/p>\n\n

In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,
\nlike a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
\nYet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things
\nand overlook men\u2019s sins so that they can repent.
\nYes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,
\nfor had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
\nAnd how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist,
\nhow be conserved if not called forth by you?
\nYou spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life,
\nyou whose imperishable spirit is in all.
\nLittle by little, therefore, you correct those who offend,
\nyou admonish and remind them of how they have sinned,
\nso that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPsalm: 121(122):1-2, 4-5, 6-9<\/font>
<\/b>\n\nI rejoiced when I heard them say:
\n\u2018Let us go to God\u2019s house.\u2019
\nAnd now our feet are standing
\nwithin your gates, O Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n

It is there that the tribes go up,
\nthe tribes of the Lord.
For Israel\u2019s law it is,
\nthere to praise the Lord\u2019s name.
\nThere were set the thrones of judgement
\nof the house of David.<\/p>\n\n

For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
\n\u2018Peace be to your homes!
\nMay peace reign in your walls,
\nin your palaces, peace!\u2019<\/p>\n\n

For love of my brethren and friends
\nI say: \u2018Peace upon you!\u2019
\nFor love of the house of the Lord
\nI will ask for your good.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans 13:11-14<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nOur salvation is near<\/i><\/p>\n\n

You know \u2018the time\u2019 has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon \u2013 let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Gospel of St Matthew 24:37-44<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nThe Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect<\/i><\/p>\n\n

Jesus said to his disciples: \u2018As it was in Noah\u2019s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
\n\u2018So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.\u2019<\/p>
\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure> <\/p>\n\n\n

Sunday 7th December 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent<\/b><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/p> \n\n\n

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 11:1-10<\/b><\/font color>
\n\nA shoot springs from the stock of Jesse<\/i><\/p>\n\n

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots:
on him the spirit of the Lord rests,
a spirit of wisdom and insight,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)
He does not judge by appearances,
he gives no verdict on hearsay,
but judges the wretched with integrity,
and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.
His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless,
his sentences bring death to the wicked.
Integrity is the loincloth round his waist,
faithfulness the belt about his hips.

The wolf lives with the lamb,
the panther lies down with the kid,
calf and lion feed together,
with a little boy to lead them.
The cow and the bear make friends,
their young lie down together.
The lion eats straw like the ox.
The infant plays over the cobra\u2019s hole;
into the viper\u2019s lair
the young child puts his hand.
They do no hurt, no harm,
on all my holy mountain,
for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters swell the sea.

That day, the root of Jesse
shall stand as a signal to the peoples.
It will be sought out by the nations
and its home will be glorious.<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPsalm: 71(72):1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nO God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king\u2019s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice
and your poor in right judgement.<\/p>\n\n

In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the Great River to earth\u2019s bounds.<\/p>\n\n

For he shall save the poor when they cry
and the needy who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor.<\/p>\n\n

May his name be blessed for ever
and endure like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blessed in him,
all nations bless his name.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans 15:4-9<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nChrist is the saviour of all men<\/i><\/p>\n\n

Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
\nIt can only be to God\u2019s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you. The reason Christ became the servant of circumcised Jews was not only so that God could faithfully carry out the promises made to the patriarchs, it was also to get the pagans to give glory to God for his mercy, as scripture says in one place: For this I shall praise you among the pagans and sing to your name.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Gospel of St Matthew 3:1-12<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nThe one who follows me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire<\/i><\/p>\n\n

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: \u2018Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.\u2019 This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.<\/i>

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, \u2018Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, \u201cWe have Abraham for our father,\u201d because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire. I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.\u2019<\/p>
\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure> <\/p>\n\n\n Sunday 14th December 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent <\/b><\/p> \n\n

\"\"<\/p> \n\n\n

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 35:1-6,10<\/b><\/font color>
\n\nGod himself is coming to save you<\/i><\/p>\n\n

Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,
let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,
let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,
let it rejoice and sing for joy.

The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,
the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;
they shall see the glory of the Lord,
the splendour of our God.

Strengthen all weary hands,
steady all trembling knees
and say to all faint hearts,
\u2018Courage! Do not be afraid.

\u2018Look, your God is coming,
vengeance is coming,
the retribution of God;
he is coming to save you.\u2019

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
the ears of the deaf unsealed,
then the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy
for those the Lord has ransomed shall return.

They will come to Zion shouting for joy,
everlasting joy on their faces;
joy and gladness will go with them
and sorrow and lament be ended.<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPsalm: 145(146):6-10<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nIt is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,<\/p>\n

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.<\/p>\n

It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion\u2019s God, from age to age.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Letter of St James 5:7-10<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nDo not lose heart; the Lord’s coming will be soon<\/i><\/p>\n\n

Be patient, brothers, until the Lord\u2019s coming. Think of a farmer: how patiently he waits for the precious fruit of the ground until it has had the autumn rains and the spring rains! You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord\u2019s coming will be soon. Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Gospel of St Matthew 11:2-11<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\n\u2018A greater than John the Baptist has never been seen\u2019<\/i><\/p>\n\n

John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, \u2018Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?\u2019 Jesus answered, \u2018Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.\u2019
As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John: \u2018What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says:

\u2018Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;
he will prepare your way before you.<\/i>

\u2018I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.\u2019<\/p>
\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure> <\/p>\n\n

Sunday 21st December 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Advent<\/b><\/p> \n\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 7:10-14<\/b><\/font color>
\n\nThe maiden is with child<\/i><\/p>\n\n

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, \u2018Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019 Ahaz answered \u2018I will not put the Lord to the test.\u2019
Then Isaiah said:

\u2018Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child
and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call Immanuel,
a name which means \u201cGod-is-with-us.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n

\nPsalm: 23(24):1-6<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nThe Lord\u2019s is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.<\/p>\n

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things.<\/p>\n

He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans 1:1-7<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nOur apostolic mission is to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations<\/i><\/p>\n\n

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God\u2019s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.<\/p>\n\n

\nA reading from the Gospel of St Matthew 1:18-24<\/font color>
<\/b>\n\nHow Jesus Christ came to be born<\/i><\/p>\n\n

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, \u2018Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.\u2019 Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son
and they will call him Emmanuel,<\/i>

a name which means \u2018God-is-with-us.\u2019 When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.<\/p>
\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure> <\/p>\n\n\n

CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL<\/font color><\/p> <\/b>\n

Readings for Wednesday 24th December \u2013 CHRISTMAS EVE \u2013 Vigil Mass (before Midnight)<\/font color><\/p>\n\n

Christmas<\/p>\n\n

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah 62:1-5<\/font color><\/b>
\n\nThe Lord takes delight in you.<\/i><\/p> \n\n

About Zion I will not be silent,
\nabout Jerusalem I will not grow weary,
\nuntil her integrity shines out like the dawn
\nand her salvation flames like a torch.<\/p> \n\n

The nations then will see your integrity,
\nall the kings your glory,
\nand you will be called by a new name,
\none which the mouth of the Lord will confer.
\nYou are to be a crown of splendour in the hand of the Lord,
\na princely diadem in the hand of your God;
\nno longer are you to be named \u201cForsaken\u201d,
\nnor your land \u201cAbandoned\u201d,
\nbut you shall be called \u201cMy Delight\u201d
\nand your land \u201cThe Wedded\u201d;
\nfor the Lord takes delight in you
\nand your land will have its wedding.<\/p> \n\n

Like a young man marrying a virgin,
\nso will the one who built you wed you,
\nand as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride,
\nso will your God rejoice in you.<\/p>\n\n \n

Psalm: 88(89):4-5, 16-17, 27, 29<\/font color><\/b>
\n\n\u201cI have made a covenant with my chosen one;
\nI have sworn to David my servant:
\nI will establish your dynasty for ever
\nand set up your throne through all ages.\u201d<\/p> \n\n

Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
\nwho walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
\nwho find their joy every day in your name,
\nwho make your justice the source of their bliss.<\/p> \n\n

\u201cHe will say to me: \u2018You are my father,
\nmy God, the rock who saves me.\u2019
\nI will keep my love for him always;
\nwith him my covenant shall endure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\nA reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17, 22-25
<\/b><\/font color> \n\nPaul\u2019s witness to Christ, the son of David.<\/i><\/p> \n\n

When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia, he stood up in the synagogue, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
\n\u201cMen of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out.
\n\u201cThen he made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, \u2018I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.\u2019 To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David\u2019s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, \u2018I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.\u2019\u201d<\/p> \n\n

\nA reading from the Gospel of St Matthew 1:18-25
<\/b> <\/font color>\n\nMary will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus.<\/i><\/p> \n\n

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, \u201cJoseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.\u201d Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:<\/p>\n\n