December 2023: Mass Readings and Resources

In the gospel for Friday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time, Jesus talks about how we know what season it is by what we see around us. In the same way, we will know when we are near to the Kingdom of God.

In the gospel for Saturday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus talks about being awake, vigilant, and prepared for the unknown tribulations coming to our lives.

The readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B are a call to be alert in waiting for the coming of the Lord. So perhaps this Sunday talk about some ways we can make ourselves ready to be transformed by the Advent season. Here are some ideas.

In the gospel for Monday of the 1st week of Adventl, a Roman centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant. And he has the faith to know that Jesus can do it without even entering the house.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent, Jesus prays to the Father in the Spirit. We hear Jesus praising the Father in this lovely outpouring.

December 6 is the feast day of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a fourth century bishop who is the origin of the Santa Claus story. He was known for his generosity and his habit of secret gift giving.

St. Ambrose was a 4th century bishop. He was known for his humility. He was instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine and was the one who baptized him.

December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holy day is often misunderstood. It celebrates the conception of Mary, not Jesus.

St. Juan Diego was a native American peasant who is known for telling the world about Our Lady of Guadalupe. He was the first saint who was indigenous to the Americas.

The readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B tell us of John the Baptist and his call to repentance. Some possible topics for this weekend are baptism, reconciliation, or the sacraments in general. Here are some ideas.

In the gospel for Monday of the 2nd week of Advent, some men help a friend by lowering him through the roof so Jesus can heal him.

December 12 is the feast day of the Our Lady of Guadalupe. She appeared to Juan Diego, a Native American, in1531 and her image miraculously appeared on his cloak.

December 13 is the feast day of St. Lucy (or St. Lucia). Lucia means light. St. Lucy is the patroness of the blind, martyrs,epidemics; salesmen, throat infections, and writers.

December 14 is the feast day of St. John of the Cross. He was a sixteenth century mystic and poet who worked with St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite order.

In the gospel for Friday of the 2nd week of Advent, Jesus speaks of people who complain no matter what he is doing.

In the gospel for Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent, Jesus compares John the Baptist to Elijah, and comments that the people did not recognize him as a prophet.

The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent Year B (Gaudete Sunday) encourage us to rejoice because our salvation is near. Some possible topics for this weekend are hopeful waiting, humility, and joy. Here are some ideas.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 18, Joseph is told in a dream that he should not divorce Mary because she is pregnant. He hears that she will bear God with us and he trusts in the message.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 19, Zechariah learns from the angel Gabriel that he and Elizabeth will have a son, who will turn hearts and prepare the way of the Lord. But he doubts and is struck mute.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 20l, we hear how the angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her she has be chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. She responds with her fiat, let it be done.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 21, we hear of the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. John the Baptist leaps in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary, the bearer of our Lord, greets her.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 22, Mary praises God in her beautiful prayer, the Magnificat. She sings of God’s mercy, especially for the lowly and those without power.

In the gospel for an Advent weekday on December 23, we hear of the birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah affirms the child’s name, even though it is not a family name, and then he is able to speak of it. Those who witnessed this were amazed.

The readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent Year B speak of the original Ark of the Covenant and of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the new Ark of the Covenant. So perhaps talk about Mary and her role in our salvation. And think about how we can also be a dwelling place for our Lord.

The Christmas season starts on December 25 and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. It includes the Feast of the Epiphany.

December 26 is the feast day of St. Stephen, the first martyr. He was a deacon in the early Church. He was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death.

St. John the Evangelist was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. His feast day is December 27.

December 28 is the feast day of the Holy Innocents. This day commemorates the children who were executed by Herod in fear that the newborn messiah would take his throne.

December 29 is the feast day of St. Thomas Becket, Martyr. He was the chancellor of King Henry II and was later appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury.

In the gospel for the 6th day in the Octave of Christmas, the prophetess Anna finally sees what she has been waiting for, the child who will redeem her people.

The readings for the Feast of the Holy Family Year B focus on the importance of family. So the topics for this weekend could include what it means to be a member of God’s family. Different types of families – biological families, faith families, intentional families – could also be discussed.