Daily readings

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Holy Innocents. Christmas. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationHoly Innocents

TypeFeast

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 Sunday December 28, 2025?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday December 28, 2025 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, psalm Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, second reading Colossians 3:12-21,and Gospel Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.

What is the Gospel for Sunday December 28, 2025?

The Gospel for Sunday December 28, 2025 is Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Sunday December 28, 2025?

The psalm for Sunday December 28, 2025 is Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5. 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 Sunday December 28, 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

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

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.

3:2Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved.

3For God has made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, has confirmed it upon the children.

4He that loves God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.

5And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure.

6He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

12Glory not in the dishonour of your father: for his shame is no glory to you.

13For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.

14Son, support the old age of your father, and grieve him not in his life;

2

Psalm

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

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.

128:1Unless the Lord build the house, they work in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

2It is vain for you to rise before light, rise you after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved,

3look the gift of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.

4As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.

5Blessed is the person who has satisfied the desire with them; he shall not be put to shame when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.

3

Second Reading

Colossians 3:12-21

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.

3:12Put you on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:

13Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also.

14But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection:

15And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, in which also you are called in one body: and be you thankful.

16Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.

17All whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them.

20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.

4

Gospel

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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.

2:13And after they were departed, look an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell you. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.

14Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:

15That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

19But when Herod was dead, look an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,

20Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.

21Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee.

23And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.

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

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

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 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

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

Colossians 3:12-21

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

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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 Sunday December 28, 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.