Daily readings

Thursday, December 4, 2025

John Damascene. Advent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationJohn Damascene

TypeOptional Memorial

SeasonAdvent

Year2025 archive

The Roman Catholic readings for this date are shown below on-site. Use plain reading mode if you want clearer modern wording, or switch back to the original Douay-Rheims wording at any time.

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Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

The on-site reading text is drawn from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources. Plain mode is a built-in reading aid that modernizes older wording for easier understanding while keeping the same Roman Catholic reading references for the day.

What are the Mass readings for Thursday December 4, 2025?

The Catholic Mass readings for Thursday December 4, 2025 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 26:1-6, psalm Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Matthew 7:21, 24-27.

What is the Gospel for Thursday December 4, 2025?

The Gospel for Thursday December 4, 2025 is Matthew 7:21, 24-27. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Thursday December 4, 2025?

The psalm for Thursday December 4, 2025 is Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a. It is included below in the same reading order used at Mass, between the first reading and the Gospel.

Are these the USCCB daily readings for Thursday December 4, 2025?

The same day's Catholic readings are gathered here on-site, with the official readings link available below in the source note.

First Reading

Isaiah 26:1-6

How to approach it

Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.

26:1In that day shall this canticle be sung the land of Juda. Sion the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set in it.

2Open you the gates, and let the righteous nation, that keepeth the truth, enter in.

3The old error is passed away: you will keep peace: peace, because we have hoped in you.

4You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty forever.

5For he shall bring down them that dwell on high, the high city he shall lay low. He shall bring it down even to the ground, he shall pull it down even to the dust.

6The foot shall tread it down, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.

Psalm

Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

How to pray it

The psalm is meant to be prayed, not rushed. If the wording feels older, focus on the main movement of the prayer: trust, praise, sorrow, gratitude, or hope.

118:1Give praise to Lord, for he is good: for his mercy lasts forever.

8It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have confidence in man.

9It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in leaders.

19Open you to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and give praise to the Lord.

20This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it.

21I will give glory to you because you have heard me: and art become my salvation.

25O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.

26Blessed be he that comes in the name Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

27The Lord is God, and he has shone upon us. Appoint a solemn day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the alter.

Gospel

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

What to watch for

The Gospel is the center of the reading set. Pay close attention to what Jesus says, what Jesus does, and what response he is asking for.

7:21Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24Every one therefore that hears these my words, and does them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock,

25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.

26And every one that hears these my words, and does them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand,

27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.

How the readings move through Mass today

The Liturgy of the Word normally moves from the first reading to the psalm, then to the second reading when one is appointed, then to the Gospel, and then into the homily. On weekday Masses, the second reading is often omitted, so the Church moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

First Reading

Isaiah 26:1-6

The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It prepares the heart to hear how God has been acting through his covenant and promises.

Psalm

Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

The psalm is the Church’s prayerful response to the first reading. It helps the congregation answer God’s word with trust, praise, repentance, or hope.

Second Reading

Usually omitted today

There is no second reading at many weekday Masses. On days like this, the liturgy moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

Gospel

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

The Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Catholics stand because Christ himself speaks to his people in a special way through the Gospel proclamation.

Homily

After the Gospel

The homily follows the Gospel. It should gather the day’s readings together, explain the mystery being celebrated, and help people carry the word of God into ordinary life.

What the homily usually draws together

A Catholic homily usually gathers the first reading, the psalm, and the Gospel into one spiritual movement. It may explain how the Old Testament prepares for Christ, how the apostles witness to the risen Lord, how the psalm teaches the Church to pray, and how the Gospel calls for faith and conversion now.

If you are preparing before Mass, try to carry one sentence, one image, or one invitation from the readings with you. That usually makes the homily easier to follow because you already know what part of God's word has stayed with you.

What about the Prayers of the Faithful for Thursday December 4, 2025?

The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written locally by a parish, diocese, or celebrant, so there is not always one universal text for this exact day. The scriptural readings above are the stable part the whole Church receives, and they usually shape the petitions that follow at Mass.

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Friday, December 5, 2025

Source note

The day's references and liturgical celebration data come from the Catholic Readings API, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources so the day's readings can be read directly on the page.