Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 4, 2022
First Reading: 1 John 4.7-10
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Psalm 72
1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!9May desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust!10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!17May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!18Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!20The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
Gospel: Mark 6.34-44
34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.36Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."37But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"38And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish."39Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.41And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.42And they all ate and were satisfied.43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of love and its practical expression in our lives. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love is not just a feeling or an abstract concept, but it is rooted in the very essence of God. John writes, "God is love," and this love is not something we initiate but something God first extends to us. This divine love is revealed most profoundly in the gift of Jesus, who was sent to save us from our sins. John emphasizes that true love is not about what we do for God, but about recognizing and responding to the love God has already shown us.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with the familiar story of the feeding of the five thousand. Here, Jesus demonstrates what this divine love looks like in action. Moved by compassion for the crowd, who were like "sheep without a shepherd," Jesus teaches them and ultimately provides for their physical needs. When the disciples express concern about feeding such a large group, Jesus challenges them to trust in God’s abundance. With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus performs a miracle, feeding everyone to satisfaction and leaving an abundance of leftovers. This story is not just about the multiplication of bread; it is about the multiplication of love. Jesus shows us that when we share what little we have, God can turn it into something extraordinary.
These readings call us to live out God’s love in our daily lives. Just as Jesus saw the needs of the crowd and acted with compassion, we are called to see the needs of those around us—whether it’s a listening ear, a helping hand, or a word of encouragement. Like the disciples, we may feel inadequate or think we don’t have enough to give, but God invites us to trust in his providence. When we share what we have, even if it seems small, God can use it to make a big difference. Let us ask ourselves: Where can I show love today? How can I trust God to work through me? May we remember that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act, to give, and to trust in God’s abundance.