--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for December 23, 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/2019/12/23/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for December 23, 2019 Dec 23, 2019 5:01:56 AM  |  by [Christina Nagy](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/christina-nagy) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ***Today's Gospel: [Luke 1:57-66](http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122319.cfm)*** “What are you thinking? You don’t have any relatives with that name.” Zechariah’s cousin squinted at him in confusion. *Perhaps what ails his tongue has spread to his brain?* he wondered. It was not difficult to imagine his cousin’s thoughts, and Zechariah found himself wishing for the millionth time that he could talk and explain. Desperate to make his point and demonstrate its seriousness, he motioned for his tablet. Holding it up in exclamation, he showed all who were present his declaration: “John is his name.” Suddenly, he felt his tongue loosen, and he began praising God. His cousin’s mouth fell open in shock. “What then, will this child be?” he wondered. “For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” I like to imagine myself playing a role in stories in scripture. Clearly, I add little details here and there to bring them more to life (although I try hard to never change the integrity of the story and presume too much!). This moment in history must have been life-changing for all involved. What had previously appeared to be a more common event had turned into an “Aha!” moment that would reveal more of a prophetical truth than the guests could have ever guessed. If only they had truly understood the identity of the baby they were beholding! He was the one who would make the way straight for all to follow the path to the Christ. Little John would be forever known throughout history as a game-changing character. How do we react to this news? Knowing the rest of the story, do we recognize the game-changer that he was and is? Do we realize that his birth and obedience were vital to our own salvation story? Let us never forget his role in God’s plan for us. ### Ponder: Am I following John the Baptist's example in truly preparing my heart for Jesus' coming? ### Pray: Baby Jesus, as we prepare for Your coming, remind us of the role that John the Baptist played. May his obedience and devotion inspire us to more deeply prepare our hearts for Your birth. --- *Copyright 2019 Christina Nagy* **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%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019%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%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2019%2F12%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20December%2023%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%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2019%2F12%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-december-23-2019%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![CatholicMom Logo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/favicon-catholicmom.png) ### [Christina Nagy](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/christina-nagy) Christina Nagy is a freelance writer and blogger at [www.catholicconundrum.com](http://www.catholicconundrum.com). She is also the creator of the Catholic Conundrum YouTube channel for kids and teens, which offers fun, faithfully Catholic content. She endeavors to bring the joy and beauty of the Catholic faith to others by sharing her experience in caring for her domestic church of 6, homeschooling, caregiving, ministry and business, and hopes to inspire others to pursue their God-given potential on their path to holiness. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 16, 2019 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/09/16/daily-gospel-reflection-for-september-16-2019/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection: January 6, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/01/06/daily-gospel-reflection-3/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for December 24, 2019 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/12/24/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-24-2019/) ## 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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