Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 07, 2026

07th January 2026 (Wednesday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: 1 John 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 R. (see 11)

R/. All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed among the nations, glory to you, O Christ, believed on in the world

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Mark 6:45-52

[After the five thousand men were satisfied,] Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to 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, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Wednesday – After Epiphany

Main Point: Problems never leave us, suffering never disappears completely, but there is no need of crushing our hope in God

1. Fear often blinds our vision not to recognize the presence of the Lord. How rightly John in his epistle remarks that there is no fear in love because perfect love drives out fear! Surely in our life often like the disciples in the gospel, we too are tossed about strong storms and fear grips us. We feel that we are sinking and perishing.

2. What is more worrisome is that the Lord seems away and even his presence is mistaken to be that of a ghost. Sight gets blurred as fear grips and faith wavers. It is because our love for the Lord is not perfect. It is so weak and fragile, easily shaken and wavering.

3. What to do and how to counter such a situation? The solution is not to avoid all the storms and disturbances, because that is never possible since life will never be fully free from all the troubles. Rather what is better is to deepen and perfect our love for the Lord, so that it dispels all our fear.

4. If we love him deeply, we will trust unshakably that the Lord will never abandon us. He would not allow us to sink. He will surely come to our rescue.

5. Therefore, enhance the sense of focus on the Lord. Love God and abide in intimacy with Him. Often, like disciples, one loses focus on the Lord, frightened and discouraged by the life- difficulties. The Lord never leaves us but comes to our rescue. He constantly assures us, “Do not be afraid. I am with you!”. Hear constantly the assuring voice of the Lord, “Fear not, I am with you!”

My Practice: Life is never free from storms and there is every possibility to be frightened. But never worry. The Lord is ever with us to come to us and to subside our fears and storms