--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for December 30, 2015 description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/30/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for December 30, 2015 Dec 30, 2015 6:00:48 AM  |  by [Ebeth Weidner](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/ebeth-weidner) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 blue outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-blue-outline-400x400-81.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-blue-outline-400x400-81.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-blue-outline-81.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Luke 2:36-40](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/123015.cfm)*** Here is Anna, a woman praying for the world for the remainder of her life, giving herself to the Church. Her part seems so small in the big picture, but she is really the meat and potatoes of what our world needs. Her life isn’t full of glory and fame; there isn’t any money or earthly perks involved in this way of life, but if not for her life, how different would our world be? This gospel, I think, is the precursor of religious life for women. It is a key role that may look small and mundane, but who could ever know what the world would be like without our religious, praying women? Prayer is powerful; all over the world there are groups of men and women praying for you and me, for peace, for mercy, and for God’s protection. Yes, there are things that are still going dreadfully wrong, but without the prayers of these devoted religious people, how would our world survive? Look again at Anna; do you see how joyful she is? Do you see how devoted she is in a life of fasting and prayer? She does not seem sad, starved, depressed, or lonely; rather she praises her God and rejoices in seeing the baby Jesus. Men and women of religious service are happy and joyful people. Their faith is unwavering as Anna’s was, and their hope is in their heavenly Father. What a testament Anna is to those discerning the call of our Lord! ### Ponder: Do you have a daughter or son in your home that may be called to religious life? Are you being called to serve? Are you brave enough to take the next step? What is the next step? ### Pray: Dear Jesus, you chose each of your disciples for a reason, help us to know how you have chosen us. Open our hearts and minds to your call. Also, please help us to know how to respond as parents of a called child. We want to know, love, and serve you! Amen. *We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of [Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips](http://bookstore.wau.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=985). To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit [The Word Among Us](http://bookstore.wau.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=985).* *Copyright 2015 Ebeth Weidner* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F30%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F30%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F30%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20December%2030%2C%202015) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F30%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F12%2F30%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-30-2015%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Ebeth Weidner](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/EBETH%20WEIDNER.jpeg) ### [Ebeth Weidner](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/ebeth-weidner) Ebeth Weidner, a Master Catechist and cradle Catholic who considers herself a Catholic information junkie, writes from her heart about the faith and hope she finds in the Catholic Church. She is the author of [“A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars”](http://acatholicmumclimbingthepillars.blogspot.com/) blog. She is the wife of a research science Professor and mom to 3 great young adults people living on the coastal side of North Carolina. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 30, 2015 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/30/daily-gospel-reflection-for-september-30-2015) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for April 30, 2015 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/04/30/daily-gospel-reflection-for-april-30-2015) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for June 30, 2015 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/06/30/daily-gospel-reflection-for-june-30-2015) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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