Daily Gospel Reflection for December 9, 2025

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14

My experience as a mother often becomes the lens by which I experience the Gospels. When Jesus shares parables about a shepherd’s care for his sheep, I easily slip myself into the scene. How many times have I been at a playground and dropped everything to go after a little explorer? Or stayed up late at night, waiting for a teen to make it home safely?

I am grateful for the gift of motherhood and ever grateful that this has been a vehicle for growth in my faith, especially learning to trust and hope in the Lord.

Today’s Gospel begins with the question “What is your opinion?” Jesus then presents the case of a man with 100 sheep willing to leave 99 in search of the one that strayed. I’m taken with the question, especially that Jesus uses this appeal to common sense. Of course, my response is “go get the lost sheep!” I find so much hope in this Gospel. Jesus does go after His lost sheep. It’s a great consolation to know this in a landscape where so many families experience this with their dear ones.

Ponder:

How do you answer the question posed by Jesus? What is your opinion about the man who leaves his many sheep to find the stray one?

Pray:

Dear Lord, thank You for your tender loving care for each and every one of us. Thank You for loving us collectively and treasuring us individually. 

Copyright 2025 Maria Morera Johnson