--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for December 6, 2016 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/2016/12/06/daily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for December 6, 2016 Dec 6, 2016 5:30:19 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 18, 12-14](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120616.cfm)*** Have you ever rebelled interiorly and became the sheep that wandered away from the Shepherd? The skeptic that sits through the homily fuming inwardly, “No one’s gonna tell me what to do!” all the while trying not to scowl? I slid into an extended indolence. I dragged my family and myself to Mass and dutifully received the Eucharist. My stance was minimum compliance without full communion. The barriers were up! I knew what I wanted and was determined to get it. Soon every family member caught the malady of my attitude. Those were years of competition, not camaraderie. The six of us vied for the family resources of time, money and attention – acting out in six rampant ways simultaneously. Our relationships deteriorated until one day I cried out to God in frustration, repentance and surrender to his will. I was broken. He gently picked me up, laid me on his shoulders and carried me back into the fold. He diverted our return route through a renewal movement and then back to my parish with renewed heart, mind and soul. It wasn’t long before I was attending daily mass and two Bible studies. Our children emerged as leaders in Music and Youth Ministries. My husband and I began tithing and helped start a parish prayer group. My rebelliousness of lethargy almost destroyed us. My attitude drove us far from each other and the Lord. One frantic cry of surrender thwarted the enemy and brought our broken family back into the fold. Our faithful shepherd waits for our entreaty to heal our broken hearts as only he can. Then he sets us down in the midst of his loving fold. ### Ponder: When do I express my resistance to God’s will through lethargy? ### Pray: Lord, help me to be open to your will even when I don’t want to follow through.   *Copyright 2016 Nancy HC Ward* [Nancy HC Ward](http://joyalive.net/sample-page/), a convert, journalist, author, speaker and blogger, shares about conversion, Catholicism and Christian community at [JOYAlive.net](http://joyalive.net/) and several websites and magazines. She loves to share her faith story and help others share theirs. Her Sharing YOUR Faith Story Seminar is available on DVD at [JOYAlive.net](http://joyalive.net/shop/), [Create Space](https://www.createspace.com/456330) and [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Sharing-YOUR-Faith-Story/dp/B015EXNW7A/ref=sr_1_4?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1442868708&sr=8-4&keywords=Faith+seminars+on+DVD).  She’s on the board of Catholic Writers Guild, and facilitates the Dallas/Fort Worth Catholic Writers. ### 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%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016%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%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20December%206%2C%202016) [![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%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-december-6-2016%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ How do I share my witness? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/26/how-do-i-share-my-witness) [ One author's take on "The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion" Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/08/30/one-authors-take-catholic-moms-prayer-companion) [ Smile, and Take the Next Step Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/12/28/smile-and-take-the-next-step) ## 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! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.