Tuesday after Epiphany

• First Reading – 1 John 4:7-10: We should love one another because God is love. He showed His love by sending His Son to give us life and forgive our sins.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 72: God’s justice will bless the king, bringing peace and protection to the poor. His reign will stretch across the earth, and all nations will honor and adore him forever.
• Gospel – Mark 6:34-44: Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with five loaves and two fish. After blessing the food, everyone ate and was full, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.

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.

Mark 6:41

On the Tuesday after Epiphany, the readings from 1 John and the Gospel of Mark focus on love, compassion, and Jesus’ care for His people. These themes remind us how we are called to live with love and to trust in God’s care for us.

• God is love: The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that love comes from God. To know God is to love others, as He has loved us first.
• Jesus’ compassion for the crowd: In the Gospel, Jesus sees the crowd and has compassion on them. He recognizes their need and responds with care and kindness, showing us how to respond to others.
• Feeding the hungry: Jesus feeds the large crowd with five loaves and two fish. This miracle teaches us about God’s generosity and how He provides for our needs when we trust in Him.
• The call to love one another: 1 John reminds us that if we know God, we must love each other. Loving others is a sign that we truly know and follow God’s way.
• Jesus as the Good Shepherd: Jesus acts as a shepherd, leading and caring for His people. Just as He guides the crowd in the Gospel, He guides us today through His teachings.
• Selflessness in serving others: Jesus’ actions in the Gospel show selflessness. He puts the needs of the crowd before His own, teaching us to serve others with love and compassion.

The Tuesday after Epiphany calls us to live in love, just as God loves us. We are reminded to trust in His care and to share that love with others through our actions and service.

The Tuesday after Epiphany offers us a chance to reflect on God’s love, Jesus’ role as our shepherd, and the call to live with compassion and generosity. Through the readings, we see how God’s love is not just a feeling but an action that touches every part of our lives. These reflections help us understand how to live out that love in practical ways.

Love Comes from God

The first reading for the Tuesday after Epiphany reminds us that love originates from God. If we truly know God, we will naturally show love to others because that is His way. God’s love is not based on what we deserve, but on His generous and unending care for us.

Loving others is not always easy, but it is a clear sign of living in relationship with God. When we love, we reflect God’s love to the world. Our actions become a way of showing His presence in our lives.

The Tuesday after Epiphany challenges us to examine how well we are loving others. Are we patient, kind, and forgiving? We are called to love not just in big moments, but in the small, everyday interactions with family, friends, and even strangers.

Jesus the Shepherd

In the Gospel for the Tuesday after Epiphany, Jesus acts as a shepherd, caring for the large crowd that follows Him. A shepherd’s role is to guide and protect the sheep, and this is what Jesus does for the people. He sees their need for teaching and nourishment, and He responds with compassion.

Jesus doesn’t just provide for their physical needs; He also offers them spiritual guidance. He is concerned for both their bodies and souls, reminding us that God cares about every part of our lives. His leadership is gentle, but firm, guiding us toward what is good and right.

On the Tuesday after Epiphany, we are reminded that Jesus is still our shepherd. He continues to lead us through His teachings in the Gospels and through the Church. Our task is to listen, follow, and trust in His guidance, knowing that He will always lead us on the right path.

Compassion and Generosity

Both the first reading and the Gospel for the Tuesday after Epiphany show God’s compassion and generosity. In the first reading, God shows His love by sending His Son to save us. In the Gospel, Jesus shows His care by feeding the crowd with just a few loaves and fish, making sure everyone is nourished.

God’s love is active; it meets our needs, both physical and spiritual. He doesn’t just tell us He loves us—He shows it through His actions. Jesus’ miracle of feeding the crowd is a reminder that God’s care for us is practical and real.

On the Tuesday after Epiphany, we are called to reflect on how we can show the same compassion and generosity to others. Like Jesus, we are invited to notice the needs of those around us and respond with love. It can be as simple as sharing what we have or offering a kind word. In this way, we become God’s hands and feet in the world.

---

On the Tuesday after Epiphany, we are reminded of God’s deep love for us and His call for us to love others. By following Jesus’ example of compassion and generosity, we can reflect His love in our daily lives. Let us trust in His guidance as our shepherd and seek to share His love with everyone we meet.

Prayer

Lord, help us to live with love and compassion, as You have shown us. Guide us to see the needs of those around us and respond with care. Teach us to follow Jesus, trusting in His guidance, and sharing Your love in all we do. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can I show love to others in small, everyday ways?
• In what areas of my life do I need to trust Jesus more as my shepherd?
• How can I practice generosity and compassion with the people I meet?
• What can I do to better reflect God’s love in my actions and words?

USCCB Reflection: Saying Yes to Jesus

In a USCCB video reflection for the Tuesday after Epiphany, Fr. John McKenzie reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish. He connects this to the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who said yes to Jesus and bore great fruit through her work with the poor and in education. Fr. McKenzie encourages us to say yes to Jesus, allowing Him to change our lives and lead others to Him. When we trust in God’s mission, the results will be greater than we can imagine.

What date is the Tuesday after Epiphany?

The next date is Tuesday January 7, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for the Tuesday after Epiphany?

The Mass readings for Tuesday January 7, 2025 are:
First Reading  – 1 John 4:7-10: Love Comes From God
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 72: The Nations Will Adore You, Lord
Gospel – Mark 6:34-44: Jesus Feeds the Crowd

What does it mean to love others as God loves us in the first reading for the Tuesday after Epiphany?

Loving others as God loves us means showing kindness, patience, and care without expecting anything in return. We must practice this kind of love in our daily lives.

Why does 1 John focus so much on love?

Love comes from God. If we know God, we must love others because that is the way He wants us to live.

How can I apply the message of love from 1 John to my life?

1 John teaches that love for others is a sign of knowing God. We can apply this by making sure we are kind, patient, and forgiving with everyone around us.

How does Jesus show compassion in the Gospel for the Tuesday after Epiphany?

Jesus sees the crowd and knows they need help. His care for them shows us how we should respond to the needs of others.

What is the meaning of the miracle of the loaves and fish?

The miracle of feeding the crowd teaches us that God provides for our needs, even when things seem impossible. We can trust in God’s care and generosity.

Why does Jesus refer to the crowd as sheep?

Jesus refers to the crowd as sheep to show how much they need guidance and care. Just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, Jesus cares for us and leads us in the right direction.

What can we learn from Jesus’ actions in the Gospel?

Jesus shows selflessness and care for others. We can learn to be more generous and compassionate, always thinking about how we can help others.

How can I be more compassionate like Jesus?

The readings invite us to follow Jesus’ example by looking for ways to help others, especially when they are in need. We can start by being kind and understanding to those around us.