Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 06, 2026

06th January 2026 (Tuesday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: 1 John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 R. (see 11)

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

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Mark 6:34-44

At that time: When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Tuesday – After Epiphany

Main Point: It is only Jesus that can give the real, deep and lasting satisfaction, because only his presence and action quench the deeper hunger and thirst, the thirst for fullness and fulfilment.

1. Jesus feeds the five thousand. It is not a mere charity action, done often by many politicians or a rich man or an activist as a duty or for publicity. It is an act moved out of genuine compassion and care. He cares for the hungry, he is attentive to their needs and difficulties.

2. It is not merely a material satisfaction but is symbolic of the deep spiritual satisfaction. Only Jesus can satiate our deeper yearnings and needs. Only he can quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger. One who comes to him, one who spends time with him and for him, one who listens to him, one who gives priority to Jesus more than all other concerns, will never go hungry and dissatisfied. They will be filled to the full.

3. Further, this miracle of multiplication of loaves and fish is also a happy blend of human situation of little, deficiency and dissatisfaction, and the divine intervention of might, sufficiency and satisfaction. A miracle is nothing but an encounter between the divine abundance and human littleness, and miracles continue to happen.

4. When Grace and human effort combine together, situations will change and miracles will happen. Five loaves and two fish – very little to feed five thousand; but in God’s hands, touched and blessed by God, the little gets transformed and multiplied.

5. Scarcity turns into abundance, deficiency into sufficiency, dissatisfaction into satisfaction, anxiety into serenity, and problem into celebration. This is truly the touch of the divine and grace. In God’s sight, nothing is little or insignificant. Everything counts.

6. He wants to work with our little, and work on what is available. True faith does not exclude our human effort, i.e. not doing our part. It is well said, there is no use leaving a candle to a blowing breeze and praying to God to protect it from being blown off.

7. Further, a note on “collecting what is left over”: Yes, nothing of Grace is wasted. It is a check against “wasting” our God-given resources or energies or talents or gifts, when they are abundant. Abundance can easily lead one to complacence and extravagance, arrogance and unaccountability. Everything is accountable. Basketfuls cannot neglect scraps!

My Practice: Loving is not merely a matter of heart, and knowing is not merely a matter of mind. But both lead to the concrete action of benevolence.