Thursday — 8th January “God Is Love”

St John gives us one of the most famous lines in Scripture today:

“God is love.”

But John does not mean a feeling.
And he does not mean kindness alone.

He explains exactly what he means.

John says: “Love comes from God.”

That matters.

Because we often think love begins with us —
our generosity,
our patience,
our effort.

John says the opposite.

Love begins with God
and flows toward us.

And then he defines love in the clearest possible way:

“This is the love I mean:
not that we loved God,
but that He loved us
and sent His Son
as a sacrifice for our sins.”

Love is not first our action.
It is God’s gift.

And it is costly.

The Gospel shows us what that love looks like in action.

Jesus sees the crowd
and is moved with compassion.

Why? “Because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

They are hungry —
not just for food,
but for meaning,
direction,
hope.

So Jesus teaches them.

And then, when evening comes,
He feeds them.

Not because they asked perfectly.
Not because they planned well.

But because He loves them.

Then comes the moment that concerns us.

Jesus turns to the disciples and says:

“Give them something to eat yourselves.”

That command sounds impossible.

They do not have enough.
They are tired.
They feel inadequate.

And yet Jesus works with what they bring.

Five loaves.
Two fish.

Small offerings
placed in His hands.

And they become enough.

This is the connection between the readings.

God loves first.
God gives first.

But He invites us to take part.

We are not asked to save the world.
We are asked to offer what we have.

Time.
Attention.
Patience.
Forgiveness.

Placed in Christ’s hands,
small things become instruments of grace.

St John tells us that God is love.

The Gospel shows us what that love does.

It sees need.
It teaches truth.
It feeds hunger.
It multiplies what is offered in faith.

So today the Lord asks us the same question He asked the disciples:

Will you trust Me with what you have?

If we do,
His love will do the rest.