First Reading - 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel - Mark 6:34-44
The First Reading from 1 John makes a bold and comforting claim. Love does not begin with us. It begins with God. We do not invent love, earn it, or negotiate for it. God loves first. And this love is not vague emotion or kind intention. It is concrete and costly. God sends his Son into the world so that we might live. Love is defined not by what we feel, but by what God has done. When we truly grasp this, faith stops being a burden and becomes a response of gratitude.
This changes how we see ourselves and others. If love begins with God, then our worth is not measured by productivity, success, or approval. We are already loved. And if we are loved this way, then love cannot remain private. It must move outward. Those who receive love are called to become signs of it.
The Gospel from Mark shows us what this divine love looks like in action. When Jesus sees the crowd, he is not irritated by their neediness or overwhelmed by their demands. He is moved with compassion. He sees people who are hungry, confused, and worn down, like sheep without a shepherd. His first response is not to fix the problem quickly, but to teach, to stay, and to be present.
Then comes the practical challenge. The disciples see scarcity. They see limits. They see what is missing. Jesus sees possibility. He asks them to offer what they have, however small it seems. Five loaves and two fish are not impressive, but they are enough when placed in his hands. Love does not wait for ideal conditions. It begins with what is available and trusts God to do the rest.
This story speaks directly to our lives. Many people hesitate to love because they feel inadequate. We think we do not have enough time, patience, energy, or generosity. The Gospel gently corrects that fear. God does not ask us to supply everything. God asks us to offer what we have. When love is shared rather than hoarded, it multiplies.
What is most striking is that no one leaves hungry. Not because resources suddenly appear from nowhere, but because compassion guides action. The miracle begins in the heart of Jesus and flows outward through the willingness of the disciples.
Together, the readings give us a clear message. Love is not an idea to admire; it is a reality to live. It begins in God, takes shape in compassion, and becomes visible when we choose to give rather than withdraw.
The invitation today is simple and demanding. Believe that you are loved first. Let that love shape how you see others. Do not wait until you feel fully prepared to care, forgive, or share. Place what you have in God’s hands.
When we do, we discover something quietly miraculous. Love grows. Needs are met. Hope is restored. And we become part of the way God continues to feed a hungry world.
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