WEDNESDAY AFTER EPIPHANY - Gospel (Mk 6:45-52) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" (Mk 6:50)

FIRST READING - 1 John 4:11-18

A reading from the Letter of John

Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also must love one another.

No one has ever seen God.

Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,

that he has given us of his Spirit.

Moreover, we have seen and testify

that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.

Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,

God remains in him and he in God.

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

In this is love brought to perfection among us,

that we have confidence on the day of judgment

because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love,

but perfect love drives out fear

because fear has to do with punishment,

and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 6:45-52

From the Gospel according to Mark

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,

while he dismissed the crowd.

And when he had taken leave of them,

he went off to the mountain to pray.

When it was evening,

the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.

Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,

for the wind was against them.

About the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

He meant to pass by them.

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

They had all seen him and were terrified.

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.

They were completely astounded.

They had not understood the incident of the loaves.

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

WEDNESDAY AFTER EPIPHANY - Gospel (Mk 6:45-52)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God teaches people how to live according to the Word of God in today's world:

Look at the example of Jesus Christ. When He finished teaching His faithful disciples, He Himself had to be closely united with God the Father, praying and being with Him.

Through the shining example of Jesus Christ on the way of life oriented towards God, He also wants all His children: when following and working for God, to leave behind all that is unnecessary, spend time with God, let Him accompany you, let Him give you strength to fight against the temptations of Satan.

Today's Word of God also teaches His disciples that: when following God, always look back at how God's love and grace have provided for our bodies and souls. Therefore, each day we must increase our faith and strong trust in God's work with the power placed on our bodies and souls. By doing so, we can have more of God's power residing in us to resist the temptations and threats of the world, of Satan and the flesh. Looking back at the image of the faithful apostles of Jesus Christ in the past, to learn from their bright examples and always cling to the teachings of God's Word, always closely unite with God, live more intimately with Him, have absolute faith in His power and grace manifested on our own bodies and souls and fight against the temptations of Satan with strong faith, with hope, trust in His power in the face of great storms, challenges, and darkness of faith that Satan brings.

Today's Word of God teaches His disciples: know how to rely on His absolute power at all times and in all places, do not leave Him, and do not doubt His power manifested in your own body and soul. Trust and rely on God's grace and believe that He can do all things; even Satan must submit and prostrate himself under His power. These are the things that God warns His disciples about when following His work, to be alert to the temptations of Satan, to submit to the will of God in all places, at all times. Having complete trust in God's power manifested in their own bodies and souls, in the Realistic Word of God, in the graces that God grants to have power over Satan. To do those things, to receive those graces, He wants His disciples to go into the work of God, all His children to unite more closely with God through prayer, like the image of Jesus Christ after work, then at night He stays with God, drawing from His Father the source of strength to fight against the demons of Satan.

Thanks be to God. Amen.