Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust is in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Isaiah 55:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
December 4, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm from the Memorial of Saint John of Damascus: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
Reflect on the Word //
Words.
I am surrounded by words. And whose words they are matters more than I'd ever taken the time to notice.
I wake up and groggily meander to our kitchen for my morning cup of coffee. The mug I grab reads "full of grace" and I smile as the Lord’s words greet me. I plop down in my prayer chair, open the daily Readings and His words meet me again in the present moment. I sense my body relax further into my chair as my mind lets go of the to-dos, worries, and distractions. His words really are “more precious than gold” and sweeter than syrup or honey (Psalm 19:11); all of me experiences this truth. Our day begins and we're on the go. A song plays on my playlist, and the lyrics echo within my car. I scroll social media and am surrounded by words. So many words.
I feel the tension in my body, heart, and mind rise from the day’s exposure to so many words. And the words keep coming as my day carries on. Words and more words—the stream is endless.
"Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life” (John 6:63).
I am reminded to turn to God's Word within my day-to-day, to check in with myself about what I am consuming and from where or whom.
Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint John of Damascus, who was an avid proponent of iconography—an art form that serves as a window to heaven, making known the invisible by way of the visible. God calls each of us to be an "icon," to reflect God's Word, Spirit, and life into the world today.
He wants His Word to be our refuge, so that it may guide our words, accompanying us throughout the ebbs and flows of each day, anchoring us in and through all things regardless of what each day brings. He wants His Word to be our Spirit and life today—that we may breathe Him in in order to breathe Him out.
Relate to the Lord // What words from the Lord in the daily Readings will you cherish in your heart today?
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.
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