Daily Gospel Reflection for December 28, 2022

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

This Gospel is all about the faithful trust of Mary and Joseph. Joseph trusted God completely, as Mary trusted him. Joseph could have disregarded the message, but instead he chose to trust and to be obedient. Those two words are the ones I struggle with the most in my spiritual life: trust and obedience.

When I look back at my choices, good and bad, the outcome most of the time was due to my trust and obedience to God's will. Sadly, for many years I thought that I was a faithful, Catholic Christian. I went to Mass and prayed; what else could there be?

After my mother’s death almost 22 years ago, I walked away from God. I was angry, hurt, and confused. For many years, I didn’t practice my faith at all. Once in a while I would be drawn to go to Mass, but most of the time, I didn’t.

After many years, I have discovered that it was all due to a lack of obedience and faith. I didn’t quite understand what it meant to really have a relationship with Jesus. It is not just about going to Mass and doing it only on Sunday. It’s about the relationship you strengthen on a daily basis. Yes, going to Mass and the sacraments is beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but without the relationship I couldn’t really give my fiat as Mary and Joseph did completely.

They gave their fiat not only for going to Egypt, but for all of the pain and suffering that was to come. They were obedient and humble. I wasn’t humble, I thought I knew best, and therefore I could question God’s decisions and walk away.

Thankfully, He brought me back to the Church at the end of 2005, when I became pregnant with my son. I can say that our relationship is much stronger than ever, because of His grace.

Ponder:

Have you given the Lord your fiat?

Pray:

Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, help us give Jesus our fiat daily.

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Those two words are the ones I struggle with the most in my spiritual life: trust and obedience. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Estrada