Daily Readings - Tue Jan 07 2025
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 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.