--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for January 16, 2021 description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/DGR-daily-1024x512.jpg --- [![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/daily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021#) [DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/tag/daily-gospel-reflections) # Daily Gospel Reflection for January 16, 2021 Jan 16, 2021 12:15:00 AM  |  by [Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/elizabeth-estrada) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/DGR-daily-1024x512.jpg) *Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.* ***Today's Gospel: [Mark 2:13-17](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011621.cfm)***   I have read this passage many times and have heard many homilies about it, but it never ceases to make me ponder how merciful and loving God is, even if I don’t deserve it. He is so humble and good to me and gives me the benefit of the doubt always. There are times when I feel like the tax collector and there are times when I feel like a bystander looking at how wonderful Jesus was to sit and break bread with a man who was hated and misunderstood by many. It is interesting how sometimes the people who know us, friends and family, think of us as a tax collector. They mock our faith, think we are holier than thou, and criticize our Catholicity. I need to be close to our Lord not because I am holy but because I am not; my sinfulness, my attachments, need to be rescued by God. He made my cross perfect for me even though many times it feels enormous; He knows what I need. He has called me not just to follow Him but to bring His love to others, but do I tell others how good He is to me? The hardest thing I have found is not to share my love of God with strangers, but rather to share it and witness it to friends and family who doubt and don’t believe that God is my rock. It is hard to be able to show how I follow God through my life no matter the circumstances. To live like I believe I am not alone even through disease, trials, pandemics may come. But even if it is hard I must gather the courage to share His goodness. My prayer for you is that in this new year you try to bring the love of the Lord to others through your belief that you are not alone, no matter where 2021 takes you, in word and deed.   #### Ponder: Why can't I talk to family and friends about my relationship with Jesus?   #### Pray: Jesus, please help me to follow You no matter how heavy my cross is to carry. --- > [Click to Tweet > I need to be close to our Lord not because I am holy but because I am not; my sinfulness, my attachments, need to be rescued by God. #dailygospel](https://ctt.ac/ePOfS) ![DailyGospelReflections_1080x1080](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DailyGospelReflections_1080x1080.png?width=1080&name=DailyGospelReflections_1080x1080.png) --- Copyright 2021 Elizabeth Estrada ### 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%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021%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%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20January%2016%2C%202021) [![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%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-january-16-2021%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Elizabeth%20Estrada%201.jpeg) ### [Elizabeth Estrada](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/elizabeth-estrada) Elizabeth Estrada, a public-school teacher, is an avid reader and enjoys crafting. She is in formation to become a Third Order Carmelite soon with her son Agustin. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for April 11, 2022: Monday of Holy Week Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-04112022) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for May 30, 2022 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-05302022) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for June 13, 2022 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-06132022) ## 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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