DAILY MASS READINGS

Thursday 4 December 2025

Thursday of the 1st week of Advent 

 or Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor 

Liturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).

Readings at Mass

________

First reading

Isaiah 26:1-6

‘Let the righteous nation that keeps faith enter in.’

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

‘We have a strong city;

he sets up salvation

as walls and bulwarks.

Open the gates,

that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the LORD for ever,

for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

For he has humbled

the inhabitants of the height,

the lofty city.

He lays it low, lays it low to the ground,

casts it to the dust.

The foot tramples it,

the feet of the poor,

the steps of the needy.’

________

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 118(117):1, 8-9. 19-21. 25-27a. ℟26a

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

or: Alleluia.

Give praise to the LORD, for he is good;

his mercy endures for ever.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in anyone else;

it is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes. 

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

or: Alleluia.

Open to me the gates of righteousness:

I will enter and thank the LORD.

This is the LORD’s own gate,

where the upright enter.

I will thank you, for you have answered,

and you are my saviour. 

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

or: Alleluia.

We beseech you, O LORD, grant salvation;

We beseech you, O LORD, grant success.

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the house of the LORD;

the LORD is God, and has given us light. 

Blest is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

or: Alleluia.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Isaiah 55:6

Alleluia, alleluia.

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near.

Alleluia.

________

Gospel

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

‘One who does the will of my Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

    ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.’