Psalm reflections for December
RESPONDING TO THE PSALMS – December 2025
a project of the Spirituality Committee of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
We offer the Sunday Responsorial Psalm as a focus for prayer and reflection
during the week ahead for yourself or to share with others.
You could note your own thoughts as a possible personal journal.
We are coming to the end of our celebrations of the Year of Jubilee, the Holy Year, as Pilgrims of Hope. Let us thank God for its blessings and pray for Pope Leo as he closes the Holy Doors.
Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.
No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.
In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind.
And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to men of good will as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvellous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?
Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit, because in his great love for us he took pity on us, and when we were dead in our sins he brought us to life with Christ, so that in him we might be a new creation. Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh.
Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.
Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not drive away so great a guest by evil conduct and become again a slave to the devil, for your liberty was bought by the blood of Christ. from a Christmas Homily of Pope St Leo the Great +461
Sunday 7 December 2nd Sunday of Advent
Sunday 14 December 3rd Sunday of Advent
Sunday 21 December 4th Sunday of Advent
Thursday 25 December The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Sunday 28 December Feast of the Holy Family
Sunday 7 December 2025 2nd Sunday of Advent
Responsorial Psalm Ps 72(71):1-2. 7-8. 12-13. 17. ℟ cf. 7
IN HIS DAYS SHALL JUSTICE FLOURISH, AND GREAT PEACE FOR EVER.
O God, give your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice,
and your poor in right judgement.
Pray that Christ’s coming may bring justice to all people, especially those suffering unjust imprisonment.
Pray that we will be just in all our actions and dealings with others.
In his days justice shall flourish,
and great peace till the moon is no more.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the River to the bounds of the earth.
Pray for peace in this Advent time and for a just settlement to all war and conflict.
Pray for all who have earthly power that they may realise their ultimate dependence on God.
For he shall rescue the needy when they cry,
the poor who have no one to help.
He will have pity on the weak and the needy,
and save the lives of the needy.
Pray that Advent will stir up our hearts and those of others to help all who are needy and poor
Pray that people will show true concern for the weak and help them find their own strength
May his name endure for ever,
his name continue like the sun.
Every tribe shall be blest in him,
all nations shall call him blessed.
Pray that the Christmas celebrations will help people appreciate the blessings they enjoy from God
Pray for a deeper sense of mission to bring all people to bless the Lord
Sunday 14 December 2025 3rd Sunday of Advent
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146(145):6c-7. 8-9a. 9b-10. ℟ Matthew 5:3
COME, LORD, AND SAVE US.
It is the LORD who preserves fidelity for ever,
who does justice to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the LORD who sets prisoners free.
Pray that Advent will help us deepen our sense of faithfulness to the Lord.
Pray for the hungry, for prisoners and their families. How will we help them?
The LORD who opens the eyes of the blind,
the LORD who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the LORD who loves the just,
the LORD who protects the stranger.
Pray that Advent will open our eyes to the needs of others and the presence of Christ in them
Pray for the blind, the oppressed, the marginalised who will find Christmas difficult.
The LORD upholds the orphan and the widow,
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The LORD will reign for ever,
your God, O Sion, from age to age.
Pray that through Advent we will celebrate goodness and the Lord will deliver us and all people from evil.
Pray for orphans, widows, widowers that they will find company and support this Christmas
Sunday 21 December 2025 4th Sunday of Advent
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24(23):1-2. 3-4b. 5-6. ℟ cf. 6
LET THE LORD ENTER; HE IS THE KING OF GLORY.
The LORD’S is the earth and its fullness,
the world, and those who dwell in it.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the rivers he made it firm.
Let us intensify our spiritual preparations for Christmas to show more people its true meaning
How can we help the world see that the Christ child is indeed the king of the universe?
Who shall climb the mountain of the LORD?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose soul is not set on vain things.
In these last days of Advent let us reflect on the great humility of Christ in being born as one of us
Pray to be cleansed of sin and be purer of heart as we celebrate the birth of the Holy One of God
Blessings from the LORD shall he receive,
and right reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the people who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Thank God for all the blessings and rewards we have received from Christ’s presence in our lives
Pray for people who are seeking faith, to know Christ in their lives
Christmas Vigil Mass
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 88(89):4-5,16-17,27,29
I WILL SING FOR EVER OF YOUR MERCIES, O LORD.
‘With my chosen one I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will establish your descendants for ever,
and set up your throne through all ages.’
Jesus is born, God-with-us. Just thank God that he did that for us, giving us Jesus as our way to God.
We are part of the story that goes back to David and is true today. Thank God that this is our story too.
How blessed the people who know your praise,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your righteousness their joyful acclaim.
Christ’s birth shines a new light on the way to live. Ask for that light to grow stronger for you.
Pray to live by that light, to be people of justice, to know true joy.
‘He will call out to me, “You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation”.
I will keep my faithful love for him always;
with him my covenant shall last.’
In sending his Son God shows us he is our rock. Put your trust in him.
It is a guarantee of his love for us always. Offer him your love in return.
Christmas Midnight Mass
Responsorial Psalm Ps 96(95):1-2a. 2b-3. 11-12a. 12b-13b. 13cd. ℟ Luke 2:11
TODAY A SAVIOUR HAS BEEN BORN TO US;
WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.
O sing a new song to the LORD;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
O sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Jesus’ birth is like nothing else on earth! For that just sing a new song in your heart.
Take time to reflect on how by Jesus’ birth God gives us hope for our future, so bless his name.
Proclaim his salvation day by day.
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Take time to reflect on Jesus’ birth. Be glad that God helps us in so many different ways.
Pray to be able to tell others how good God is.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad;
let the sea and all within it thunder praise.
Let the field and all it bears rejoice.
Then will all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
Take a moment to think about creation, and its God given beauty
Ask to use the gifts of the world more carefully.
He will judge the world with justice;
and the peoples with faithfulness.
Christ brings true justice. Pray that we will see what is true and we will act with his justice.
The shepherds are the first to hear the news of Christ’s birth. Pray for all on the margins of society.
Christmas Dawn Mass
Responsorial Psalm 96(97):1,6,11-12
TODAY A LIGHT WILL SHINE UPON US;
FOR THE LORD IS BORN FOR US.
The LORD is king, let earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
The shepherds visit the Christ-child. Take a moment to reflect on how we recognise that baby as the Lord
Pray that all people will one day see his glory as God.
Light shines forth for the just one,
and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, all you just;
to the memory of his holiness give thanks.
Christ’s birth calls us to be just and upright. Ask for those gifts now and for the future.
With Mary treasure the gift of Christ’s presence with us, more than any other gift we receive.
Christmas Day Mass
Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-6
ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH HAVE SEEN THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD.
O sing a new song to the LORD,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord works wonders. Just stop and rejoice that Christ’s birth is such a wonderful gift to the world.
The LORD has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel.
God saves us, shows us justice, truth, love. Decide how you will live out those values for others.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise.
Pray that we, the Church, can find ways to bring the world to know Christ by the way we live the gospel.
Sing psalms to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
raise a shout before the King, the LORD.
Think how in the middle of all our Christmas celebrations we can rejoice in God as our Lord
Sunday 28 December 2025 The Holy Family
Responsorial Psalm Ps 128(127):1-2. 3. 4-5. ℟1a
BLESSED ARE ALL WHO FEAR THE LORD AND WALK IN HIS WAYS.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
You will be blessed and prosper.
Thank God for all who share our Christian faith rejoicing as members of the family of the Church
Give thanks for the fruits of human labour,
especially for people who have to work during these days to serve us
Your wife like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive
around your table.
Thank God for the gift of family life that all families may know the peace of the home of Nazareth
Pray for all young people that they may fulfil their God-given potential
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the husband who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Sion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper
all the days of your life!
Pray today for peace in. Jerusalem and all the Holy Land
As we end 2025 thank God for the blessings you have enjoyed this year.
