Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 7, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 4.11-18
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
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 6.45-52
45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Sermon
The First Letter of John reminds us that God's immense love for us calls us to love one another. If we truly love, God abides in us, and His love is perfected, dispelling all fear. To confess Jesus as the Son of God is to have God dwell within us, granting us confidence, for perfect love casts out the anxiety associated with judgment and punishment. In the Gospel of Mark, we see the disciples struggling against a violent storm, alone on the sea, after Jesus had dismissed the crowds and gone to pray. When they were at their most vulnerable, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, yet they mistook him for a ghost and cried out in terror. Jesus immediately reassures them with, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid," and when he entered the boat, the wind ceased, leaving them utterly astonished, their hearts still hardened in understanding.
These readings illuminate the profound connection between divine presence, love, and the overcoming of fear. John teaches that God's indwelling love perfects us and drives out fear, offering confidence in our relationship with Him. Mark shows Christ, in a moment of intense struggle and fear for his disciples, revealing his divine authority by walking on water and calming the storm, actively commanding them not to be afraid. The disciples' terror and subsequent astonishment reveal their human limitations and the incomplete understanding of Jesus's identity, despite having just witnessed his miracles. Their fear arose from not fully grasping who was with them, much like our own fears often stem from forgetting God's steadfast presence and power in our lives.
In our daily lives, we too encounter storms, both literal and metaphorical, that can fill us with fear and doubt. Just as Jesus came to his struggling disciples, he is present with us in our anxieties, urging us to recognize his loving presence and power. To live in God's perfect love, as John describes, means to trust deeply in Him, allowing that love to banish our fears and empower us to love others in turn. When we confess Jesus and strive to live lives of charity, we allow God to abide in us, providing the peace and confidence that anchors us through any storm, transforming our astonishment into unwavering faith and love, rather than the blindness that held the disciples captive.