Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 4, 2022
First Reading: 1 John 4.7-10
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.
Psalm 72
1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let 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
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
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.