Daily Readings - Tue Jan 05 2021
1 John
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Mark
34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:36Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.42And they did all eat, and were filled.43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.44And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound nature of God's love and its practical expression in our lives. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that love is not merely an emotion but a divine gift that flows from God's very essence. John emphasizes that love is not something we initiate but rather a response to God's prior love for us. This love is most vividly demonstrated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was sent to redeem us from our sins. The reading calls us to recognize that genuine love for others is a reflection of our relationship with God.
The Gospel from Mark illustrates this love in action through the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowd, takes the little that the disciples have—five loaves and two fish—and multiplies it to satisfy everyone's hunger. This miracle is not just about providing physical nourishment; it is a sign of God's abundant love and care for his people. The leftovers, twelve baskets full, symbolize the excess of God's grace and the call to share generously with others. This story challenges us to trust in God's providence and to use whatever resources we have to serve others.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that love is both a gift and a responsibility. Like the disciples, we may feel inadequate or limited in what we can offer, but when we place our resources in God's hands, he can accomplish extraordinary things through us. Let us strive to love one another as God has loved us—selflessly, generously, and without reservation. May we become instruments of God's love in a world that so desperately needs it.