📖 Daily Gospel Reading – December 20, 2025
Saturday • Late Advent (December 17–24)
🌅 FIRST READING
Isaiah 7:10–14
The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld or high as the sky!But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!”Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
🎶 RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 24:1–2, 3–4ab, 5–6
Response: Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.
The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
R: Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean.
R: Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him.
R: Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.
✝️ GOSPEL
Luke 1:26–38
(The Annunciation of the Lord)
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.”“Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”Mary said,
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”Then the angel departed from her.
✨ REFLECTION — “May It Be Done to Me”
As Advent reaches its final days, the Church places before us Mary’s yes — the most important yes in human history.
1️⃣ God asks… He does not force
God sends an angel.
God reveals His plan.
But God waits.
The salvation of the world pauses on one human response.
This tells us something powerful:
God respects our freedom.
He invites — He never coerces.
2️⃣ Mary does not understand everything — but she trusts
Mary asks a question:
“How can this be?”
This is not doubt — it is faith seeking understanding.
She does not receive all the details.
She receives a promise:
“Nothing will be impossible for God.”
Faith does not mean knowing how.
Faith means trusting Who.
3️⃣ “May it be done to me” — the prayer of surrender
Mary’s words are simple…
but they change history.
She does not say:
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“I am ready.”
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“I understand.”
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“I am strong enough.”
She says:
“I am the handmaid of the Lord.”
God does not look for ability.
He looks for availability.
4️⃣ A question for your heart today
As Christmas is just days away, ask yourself:
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Where is God inviting me to say yes?
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What fear is holding me back?
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What plan of God am I resisting?
Like Mary, your yes may feel small…
but in God’s hands, it can change everything.
🙏 CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, teach me to trust You like Mary.
Give me a heart that listens,
a faith that surrenders,
and the courage to say yes to Your will.
As Christmas draws near,
may I make room for Jesus in my life,
not with fear, but with faith.
Amen.