Tuesday after Epiphany
(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)
Among the bleakest words in English literature come from Shakespeare’s
masterpiece King Lear. After being blinded by Lear’s cruel daughters,
the Earl of Gloucester laments: "As flies to wanton boys are we to the
gods; / They kill us for their sport".
In today’s first reading John, the Presbyter, looks toward the biblical
God in an entirely different way.
The God in whom we believe loves His subjects far and
wide. He gave us His Son so that in bearing
hardships with patience, we might be relieved of all suffering. The Gospel today demonstrates God’s
love. Jesus reveals himself as God by not
sending his listeners home hungry. Rather
he feeds them so that they can return home completely satisfied.
Love in Scripture is not simply the well-wishing of the
Scholastics. It is doing something
beneficial for others. It is cleaning
out the family dishwasher or visiting the imprisoned. By such acts we show ourselves as true
children of God and heirs of eternal life.
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