Readings: 1 John 4:7-10, Ps. 72:1-4,7-8, Mark 6:34-44
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)
- In today’s first reading, John speaks about love, saying: “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8). John explains that love is the essence of our worship of God (we cannot claim even to know God if we do not love) and that God is love. If God is love, it means love is more than a physical attraction towards someone.
- St. John shows us that love is giving, giving sacrificially. St. John says: “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10). We did not love God – humanity was at enmity with God yet God so loved the world (we, his enemies) that “He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Cf. John 3:16)
- Here is the full implication of the above: Love is giving our very best to our enemies: those who have no regard for us, those who hate us. Love is giving freely and selflessly to others, not those we are attracted to and, more importantly, not those we expect to receive from.
- If you stop giving because you are not appreciated (the person does not reciprocate), it means you never loved in the first place. Love is kindness to others—a kindness that gives them the freedom to accept or reject, to reciprocate or to hate in return. More importantly, this kindness continues even when the other party responds with hatred.
- In our Gospel passage, we see that love goes beyond merely wishing good for others; it requires practical giving! The disciples told Jesus to send the multitude away to buy food for themselves, but Jesus said: “You give them something to eat.” Love is giving people something to eat, especially people we don’t know.
- Note that these people who ate the five loves and two fish would later walk away from Jesus when he spoke about the Holy Eucharist (rejecting His flesh to eat and His blood to drink). Did Jesus abandon his public ministry after this incident? Not at all. He continued to give; He continued to love. Think of the many sins we commit daily, yet God never stops being kind to us. Is this not love? Love is forgiving constantly and continuously; as St. Paul would say: “Love never ends” (1st. Corinthians 13:8)
- The next time you utter these words: “I love you”, make sure your definition of love aligns with what St. John describes in today’s first reading. Be sure that you are ready to die for this person, even if all you get back is hatred. On the other hand, if your definition of love is: “I want you” or “I want what you have”, you are only deceiving yourself. Love does not consider what to gain from the person. Love is all about giving – sacrificially till nothing is left.
- It was out of love that Jesus opted to feed the multitude. Again, by asking them to sit down in small groups, Jesus taught us the power of small groups as places where we find love. After blessing the bread and fish, Jesus taught another powerful lesson on love by asking them to share. To love is to share; when we share what we have, it multiplies. As the crowd shared the pieces of the five loaves and two fish with love, it multiplied until all ate and were satisfied.
- In truth, while humans may claim to love you, only God truly loves you; only God is ready to sacrifice for you, forgive you as many times as you beg for pardon and give you everything you need without asking you to pay back. However, instead of loving God, we break His big heart by living in sin, refusing to regard Him, or going after false gods. It was love that moved the Magi to visit the infant Jesus. They showed this love by worshipping Jesus and bringing gifts. What is my gift to the baby Jesus?
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, help us to understand what love is and to love others as you loved us. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Tuesday after Epiphany Sunday Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: 1 John 4:7-10, Ps. 72:1-4,7-8, Mark 6:34-44).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu