--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for December 15, 2018 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/daily-gospel/2018/12/15/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for December 15, 2018 Dec 15, 2018 5:01:09 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 17:9A, 10-13](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121518.cfm)*** Today we hear about the call of Matthew to become a disciple of Christ. Matthew was a tax collector, and therefore a collaborator with the Roman government. For those reasons, he was not well liked by his fellow countrymen. But when Jesus calls, he answers immediately, rising up to leave everything behind. And as though being a tax collector were not bad enough, Matthew also associated with other known sinners, inviting them to his home, where he is hosting Jesus and the other disciples. The Pharisees there saw this and wondered how any good teacher of the Law could associate with those who do not keep it. The righteous only keep company with the righteous, lest they become impure themselves. And to some extent, they are right. We are known by the company we keep. If we hang out with sinners we must be in danger of becoming one too. While we must always guard ourselves against sin and impurity, our call is not to serve those who are already righteous but to serve those who need help. We must be out among those who are in trouble, ministering to them, helping them, perhaps even inspiring them to come back to Christ. To paraphrase Pope Francis, we must be the shepherds who smell like the sheep. If we wait for people to come to us, they may never come. ### Ponder: Which person in my life is God calling me to reach out to, to offer compassion and hope? ### Pray: Jesus, You sought me when I was still lost. Help me to find others like myself and to bring them to You. --- *Copyright 2018 Carol Ann Chybowski* Carol Ann Chybowski is a long-time member of the Catholic Writers Guild. She has published book reviews at various websites and appears in two volumes of A Community of Voices: An Anthology of Santa Barbara, as well as in Spiritual Awakenings: Stories of Praise and Redemption, and Word by Word: Slowing Down With The Hail Mary. **Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning!** * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * **Interests ** Daily Digest Daily Gospel Reflections Sunday Brunch Specials Catholic Mom.com Book Club   [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline.png) ### 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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018%2F%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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20December%2015%2C%202018) [![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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F12%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-15-2018%2F%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/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) 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 [ Daily Gospel Reflection for March 9, 2019 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/03/09/daily-gospel-reflection-for-march-9-2019/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 21, 2019 - Feast of St. Matthew Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/09/21/daily-gospel-reflection-for-september-21-2019-feast-of-st-matthew/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 17, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/02/17/daily-gospel-reflection-february-17-2018/) ## 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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