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Tuesday after Epiphany
I John 4:7-10
Psalm 72: 1-2, 3-4, 7-8
Mark 6: 34-44
Summary
The first reading describes how much God loves us all and that when we love
one another we know God. The Gospel tells the story of Jesus feeding 5000
people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, while he taught them.
Reflection
The common them in all of these readings is LOVE. Love one another as God
loves us is the message from the first reading. For to know love is to know God.
What a beautiful message! God loves us so much that he sent his only Son to us
knowing the pain and suffering his Son would endure. As the mother of a beau-
tiful daughter, I can’t imagine sending her off to suffer and die. But in looking
at her I know the love that God has for us all. The Gospel story tells also a story
of love. Jesus loves us and wants us to know our Heavenly Father and therefore
teaches us the way to Heaven. He did not want the people to go “unfed” and
therefore performed the glorious miracle of feeding 5,000 people with only
two fish and five loaves of bread. During this Christmas season, we need to re-
member this miracle and what it signifies to us today. To love our neighbor, to
love our community, to love our faith and share in that miracle by sharing our
talents, resources so that none are in need. This is about how much God loves
us and takes care of his people and our love can be shown by passing along that
love.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father – Thank you so much for loving your people and provid-
ing all that we have. I ask, Lord, that in this beautiful season of Christmas, that
the love you have for us can be reflected through our own thoughts of actions,
especially to those in need. Let us love and care for those, as you always have
for us. I ask this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.Amen.