Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 7, 2025
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
In today's readings, we are reminded of God's profound love and provision. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that love originates from God, and it is through His love that we are born anew. This love is not passive but active, demonstrated by God sending His Son as an atonement for our sins. The Gospel from Mark illustrates this love in action through the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus, seeing the crowd's need, takes the little offered by His disciples—five loaves and two fish—and multiplies it to satisfy everyone, leaving an abundance of leftovers.
These readings, while distinct, are deeply connected. John's letter speaks to the spiritual love that defines God's nature, while Mark's narrative shows this love tangibly at work in the world. Together, they highlight God's care for both our spiritual and physical well-being. The context of John's letter was a time of encouragement for early Christians to embody God's love, while Mark's story underscores Jesus's compassion and divine power amidst the disciples' limited resources.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's providence. Just as the disciples trusted Jesus with their meager offerings, we too can present our resources, talents, and challenges to Him. This trust allows God to work through us, transforming our limitations into abundance. The moral lesson here is clear: when we act out of love and trust in God, He can take the little we have and use it to make a significant impact. Let us, therefore, embrace God's love and trust in His provision, knowing that He will multiply our efforts beyond our wildest expectations.