Daily Reflection for Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010820.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 John 4:11-18
Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13
Gospel: Mark 6:45-52
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“They had not understood the incident of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.” Mark 6: 52
When meditating on the daily scripture readings, I like to search for the links between the first reading and the Gospel. Usually, both readings highlight an important message, but reach that point from different angles.
The first reading says that God loves us, and we must love one another. If we love one another, God remains in us and we in God. Yes! This is exactly what I believe. I grew up singing “They will know we are Christians by our Love.” In verse 18, John says, “there is no fear in love." Why would I, as a Christian, be afraid to love? Christianity is all about love. God is love. Love one another as I have loved you. Love your neighbor as yourself.
In today’s Gospel, the disciples are in a boat during a storm. Jesus calms the storm and their fears. How does the Gospel tie with the first reading about love? Is fear the connection? The first reading says there is no fear in love. In the Gospel, the disciples were afraid during the storm.
It’s not until the last verse in today’s Gospel of Mark that the connection becomes clear for me. After the miracle of calming the storm, there is this statement: “They had not understood the incident of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.”
Before the boat incident, Jesus was teaching about love. He demonstrated love by feeding the 5,000. The disciples may have seen the mass of hungry people as a practical issue . . . what are we going to do with all these hungry people? Jesus saw it differently.
Rather than feeding the 5,000, Jesus could have blessed the people and cured their hunger. That miracle would have been just as amazing. But Jesus, always the teacher, chose to multiply the bread and fish and had his followers distribute the food to one another. He demonstrated the love He preached and had them participate so they would understand how to love one another.
The Gospel and first reading tell us there is no fear in love. Who am I afraid to love? Who do I think is not deserving of my resources? Who do I see as “them” rather than “us?” We are all God’s people deserving of love. Jesus shows us how to love and how to overcome our hardened hearts.
Blessings to you,
Ruth Mytty