The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010516.cfm) reminds me that God loved us first.
We all want to be loved. There are a lot of people who are looking for love. There are a lot who are praying for the love of their life. We want to feel loved and to be taken care of. However, sometimes we fail to forget God – who loves us more than we can imagine, and has always been there loving us.
God loved us first. and he is continuing to love us.
The first reading tells us that God sent his son to save us, because he loved us. and he loved us not because we love him or we deserve to be loved. He loved us because he is love. He loved us first. and in the gospel, we see this in action. Jesus was being followed by the people. They were getting their fill of him. his wisdom. His healing. And Jesus showed his love for them by filling them with things spiritual and physical. He did not need them to prove his love for him. Jesus loved them first.
God loves you.
No matter how we feel, no matter what we have been doing, no matter what our issues are – God loves us. he loved us first, and he will continue to love us, regardless if we love him or not. He will continue to love us regardless if we deserve it or not. And this is something that should make us happy. This is an affirmation of our worth, of how much God values us. God loves us for who we are – with all the shortcomings and sins, and he will continue loving us.
May this give us a new perspective, not only on ourselves, but on God’s love for us. and may it move us to love him back, to love him more.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for loving me. Lord, sorry for the times I look for love in the wrong places. I am sorry for the times I feel unloved just because others don’t appreciate me. and sorry for the times I overlook your love. Than you for your unending love. From now on, I will be more conscious of your love for me. I will allow you to love me and to fill me. I will receive your love. And I ask that as I do so, you make me more and more like you. I ask that you use me to bring your love to others as well. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
January 5, 2016
Reading 1 1 Jn 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8
R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Alleluia Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 6:34-44
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men
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