Daily readings

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Nativity of the Lord. Christmas. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationNativity of the Lord

TypeSolemnity

SeasonChristmas

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.

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 25, 2025?

The Catholic Mass readings for Thursday December 25, 2025 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 52:7-10, psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6, second reading Hebrews 1:1-6,and Gospel John 1:1-18.

What is the Gospel for Thursday December 25, 2025?

The Gospel for Thursday December 25, 2025 is John 1:1-18. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Thursday December 25, 2025?

The psalm for Thursday December 25, 2025 is Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6. 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 25, 2025?

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

1

First Reading

Isaiah 52:7-10

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.

52:7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good news, and that preacheth peace: of him that shows forth good, that preacheth salvation, that says to Sion: Your God shall reign!

8The voice of your watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they shah praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall convert Sion

9Rejoice, and give praise together, O you deserts of Jerusalem: for the Lord has comforted his people: he has redeemed Jerusalem.

10The Lord has prepared his holy arm before all the Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

2

Psalm

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

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.

98:1A psalm for David himself. Sing you to the Lord anew canticle: because he has done wonderful things. His right hand has wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

2The Lord has made known his salvation: he has revealed his righteousness before the Gentiles.

3He has remembered his mercy his truth toward the people of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.

5Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm:

6with long trumpets, and sound of comet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king:

3

Second Reading

Hebrews 1:1-6

How to read it

This reading often teaches Christians how to live with steadiness, charity, and faith. Look for one clear encouragement or warning you can carry into the day.

1:1God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,

2In these days has said to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.

3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sits on the right hand of the majesty on high.

4Being made so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

5For to which of the angels has he said at any time, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he says: And let all the angels of God adore him.

4

Gospel

John 1:1-18

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.

1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.

4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7This man came for a witness, to give teaching of the light, that all men might believe through him.

8He was not the light, but was to give teaching of the light.

9That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that comes into this world.

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11He came to his own, and his own received him not.

12But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.

13Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15John beareth witness of him, and cries out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: The one who will come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me.

16And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace.

17For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18No man has seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he has told him.

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.

1

First Reading

Isaiah 52:7-10

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.

2

Psalm

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

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.

3

Second Reading

Hebrews 1:1-6

The second reading is usually taken from the New Testament letters or Revelation. It helps connect the day’s proclamation to Christian life in the Church.

4

Gospel

John 1:1-18

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.

5

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 25, 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.

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.