💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 7 💖

First Reading - 1 John 4:7-10 

Gospel - Mark 6:34-44

One of the deepest human desires is to be loved. We search for love in different ways — through family, friendships, achievements, and even in material possessions. Yet, we often feel that love is scarce or limited. Today’s readings remind us that God’s love is never limited. It is abundant, boundless, and life-giving. When we open ourselves to this love, we can become instruments of that love, allowing it to multiply and transform the world.

In the First Reading, St. John tells us clearly that “God is love.” He doesn’t say that God 'has' love or 'shows' love — He says God 'is' love. Everything God does flows from His very nature as love. John reminds us that we don’t initiate this love. Rather, “God sent His Son” as the ultimate expression of His love. This love is not earned; it is freely given. It is a love that reaches out to us in our brokenness, lifts us up, and restores us.

In the Gospel, we see this love in action. Jesus looks at the large crowd following Him, and His heart is moved with compassion. He doesn’t see them as a burden but as people in need of care and nourishment. Even when the disciples focus on the limitations — pointing out that they only have five loaves and two fish — Jesus focuses on what is possible through love. He takes what they have, blesses it, and multiplies it to feed everyone. 

This miracle is more than a story about bread and fish. It shows us that God’s love is not limited by what we have or what we lack. In human terms, the five loaves and two fish were not enough, but in God’s hands, they became more than enough. When we bring whatever we have to God — our time, talents, or resources — He blesses it and makes it more than we could imagine. God’s love always multiplies when we share it.

This message is especially important in our world today, where we often focus on scarcity — not enough time, not enough resources, not enough love. We see problems that seem too big to solve, and we become overwhelmed, like the disciples in the Gospel. But Jesus teaches us to trust in God’s abundance. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we are called to offer what we do have, trusting that God will bless it and make it enough.

This can be seen in our daily lives. A kind word, a small act of compassion, or a moment of forgiveness may seem insignificant, but in God’s hands, it can multiply and bring healing and hope to others. Love is never wasted. It grows when we share it.

Dear friends, as we reflect on these readings, we are invited to ask ourselves: Are we holding back from sharing God’s love because we feel we don’t have enough? Are we focused on our limitations instead of trusting in God’s ability to multiply what we offer?

God’s love, as St. John reminds us, is the foundation of who we are. When we live in that love, we become capable of extraordinary things. Like the disciples who distributed the bread and fish, we can be instruments of God’s compassion, bringing His love to a world that desperately needs it.

Let us remember that love is not something we hoard — it is something we share. And when we share it, God’s love multiplies beyond anything we can imagine. May we have the courage to offer what we have, trusting that in God’s hands, it will always be more than enough.