Christmas Weekday

Today's Mass Readings

The First letter from John reminds us that in loving one another, God lives in us. “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8) In loving one another we acknowledge “the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16b) Sometimes loving ourselves, let alone others is itself a challenge. Still loving one another is not optional, if we are to remain in God. In living faithfully the call to love one another, we grow closer to God and love itself is brought more into perfection in us. God is love at its perfection or in its wholeness. This love might be best described using the word Agape, the Greek word for unconditional love. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18a) This true love is the love with which the king from Psalm 72 is supposed to judge and bring justice. It is with this same love, that the Lord hears and has compassion for the lowly and the poor.

The Gospel from Mark is a familiar one. It begins after the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him on the boat while he dismisses the crowd and goes off by himself to pray. Later that evening, Jesus noticed the disciples out at sea being tossed around in the boat. He went out to them across the water. They thought he was a ghost and were terrified. Jesus said to them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” (Mk 6:50) When Jesus got into the boat the wind calmed and the disciples were amazed. If the disciples trusted in Jesus’ love as witnessed through the feeding of the 5000, this miracle may not have be necessary to help them comprehend God’s love. Fear often arises from a lack of trust. Trust flows naturally from the understanding that one is loved.

The readings today challenge us to remember what it means to truly trust in God and how that changes our hearts. Let us take a few moments today, to go off by ourselves, and be attentive to God’s love for us. In doing so Lord, help our hearts be more open to You and to how You are working in the people and the world around us. Amen.

-Michael Montgomery