Gospel: December 11, 2025
December 11, 2025 (Thursday)
2nd Week of Advent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
St. Damasus I, pope
Ps 145:1 & 9, 10-11, 12- 13ab
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
1st Reading: Isaiah 41:13-20
Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15
I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women; and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John, the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered; and violent men seize it. Up to the time of John, there was only prophesy: all the prophets and the law. And if you believe me, John is indeed that Elijah, whose coming was predicted. Let anyone with ears listen!
Reflection:
“In our weakness, we rely on the Lord.”
The people of Israel are presented in very puny terms in the first reading today. The people are called “poor worm” and “so frail.” We find the metaphor of the worm at various points in the Bible o mean insignificance, smallness, ugliness or decay. The phrase in Psalm 22 of “a worm and not a man” is applied to Christ’s suffering and disfigurement in his Passion. Here, Isaiah is using “worm” to describe Israel as weak and mall. Yet, the expression is not made simply to belittle Israel, but rather to show that their strength comes not from themselves as a people, but from the Lord. Similarly, Psalm 22 ends in words of triumph. Saint Teresa of Avila describes herself as a worm in reference to her weakness, her sinfulness and her smallness before God. She also describes all souls initially as worms, but she elaborates on her image to say that we are like silkworms, and so her image is one of beautiful transformation, as we die to self and live our new life of union with Christ. This she represents as a white butterfly. Thus, in our weakness, we rely on the Lord, who is “our assistance.”
