--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for December 18, 2019 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/2019/12/18/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for December 18, 2019 Dec 18, 2019 5:01:17 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox Reflection by Jennifer Durney ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 1:18-25](http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121819.cfm)*** St. Joseph, the silent foster-father of Our Lord, often feels like the unsung hero of the Holy Family. He surely isn’t the Son of God who came to Earth as a tiny, helpless baby to save us. He didn’t physically carry this baby Savior and give birth to Him in a stable. He wasn’t immaculately conceived without sin or “incarnate of the Holy Spirit”. He doesn’t have a single spoken word attributed to him in the entire Bible but this was a man of great faith. The faith of St. Joseph, a man who much like Moses does not live to see the ending of the massive task God has called him to, is the kind of faith that I long to know. I know that the Christ Child that St. Joseph held in his arms died on the cross for my sins, but I don’t have the unquestioning faith it took St. Joseph to wake from a dream and do “as the angel of the Lord had commanded him”. I know that on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave and defeated death forever, but I can’t claim that I have Joseph-like faith evident in the actions of my life, be they big or small. St. Joseph knew nothing about the life that this child would lead and yet dedicated himself to caring for and protecting Jesus. I have the advantage of knowing everything written and passed down through tradition about Jesus and His life, death and resurrection and yet, comparatively my faith is nowhere near that of good St. Joseph. St. Joseph and I are both imperfect sinners who love Jesus and try our best. One day, through prayer and practice, I hope to be able to imitate the enormous faith shown by this great hero of God. ### Ponder: How can you prepare your faith this Advent for the birth of Jesus? How can you prepare your faith this Advent for the Second Coming of Jesus? ### Pray: Lord, I long to know and love Your Son like St. Joseph did while he was on Earth. Give me the grace to grow my faith so that my actions show my great love for You. --- *Copyright 2019 Jennifer Durney* Jennifer Durney ministers to the young church of the Diocese of Erie in a variety of roles, all of which try her patience and stretch her heart in the best ways possible. She is blessed to share her passions and her life with her husband, Matt, and is in love with being Momma to their beautiful daughters, Vivianne and Gianna. **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%2F2019%2F12%2F18%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019%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%2F2019%2F12%2F18%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2019%2F12%2F18%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20December%2018%2C%202019) [![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%2F2019%2F12%2F18%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2019%2F12%2F18%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-18-2019%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 December 6, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/12/06/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-6-2018/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for December 10, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/12/10/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-10-2018/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for December 20, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/12/20/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-20-2018/) ## 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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