--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for January 21, 2018 - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 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/2018/01/21/daily-gospel-reflection-january-21-2018-3rd-sunday-ordinary-time/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for January 21, 2018 - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Jan 21, 2018 5:01:06 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: [Mark 1:14-20](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012118.cfm) - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time*** Our pastor lamented recently of a time when he approached members of our parish to serve in various roles, such as trustee or a member of the finance council. The frequent answer was, “I’ll have to get back to you on that,” or “Let me go talk about it with my husband/wife.” Rarely if ever did anyone reply yes right on the spot. Sure enough, there are probably good reasons to consider how their decision to say yes might affect others. Yet we see at various times in Scripture when those whom Jesus called said yes right on the spot: the calling of Matthew (Matthew 9:9); Mary, when she was told that she would become the mother of Our Lord (Luke 1:38); and, of course, in today’s Gospel, the disciples “abandoned their nets and followed him” (v. 18); “They left their father Zebedee in the boat … and followed him” (v. 20). What if any of these whom the Lord called told him, “I’ll have get back to you on that, Jesus,” or “Let me go talk about it with my husband/wife”? What if that hesitation had cost them the best thing that could ever happen to them – a chance to be a close friend of our Lord Jesus Christ? We also see in Scripture a time when some would-be disciples gave the “OK, but first…” answer to Jesus (Luke 9:57-62) – they are told they are not fit for the kingdom of God! Throughout our days we are presented with many opportunities to follow Christ, whether it’s putting our own plans for the day aside to care for a sick child or offering to help our spouse even if it means giving up our own free time. Are we prepared at every minute to say yes to Jesus’s call to serve? ### Ponder: Am I fit for the kingdom of God, or do I often “look to what was left behind” before I choose to follow him? ### Pray: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Lord, please forgive me for times I hesitated to follow You, and grant me the courage to answer Your call no matter what the cost might be to me. --- *Copyright 2018 Tina Dennelly* Tina Dennelly is a freelance writer, editor, and owner of [Serviam Editing](http://Serviam-Editing.com). 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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 24, 2019 - 3rd Sunday of Lent Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/03/24/daily-gospel-reflection-for-march-24-2019-3rd-sunday-of-lent/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for December 12, 2021 - 3rd Sunday of Advent Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-12-2021-3rd-sunday-of-advent) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for October 28, 2018 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/10/28/daily-gospel-reflection-for-october-28-2018-30th-sunday-in-ordinary-time/) ## 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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