From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'" I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:34-44)

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; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.

Late in the day, Jesus sees the vast crowd following him like sheep without a shepherd. Moved with pity for them, he begins teaching them when the disciples approach him and ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go to nearby villages to find something to eat. He tells them, "Give them some food yourselves." When the disciples tell him that it would be impossible to buy the amount of food needed, Jesus asks how many loaves there are. Taking the five loaves they give him, Jesus prays, says a blessing, and breaks the loaves and fishes. At this, Mark simply says, "They all ate and were satisfied." After they ate, the disciples picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments from the crowd of five thousand. Why does Jesus tell the disciples to give the crowd some food themselves? It seems in that question, he is teaching the disciples to rely not on themselves but on the word of God, as we hear in the Gospel according to John, when he says, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."

God, help me understand the motivation of Jesus when he sees the crowd and feels great compassion for them. Why is it that the way Jesus first feeds the crowd is by teaching them many things? The disciples see the practical need; it is getting dark and the people need to go find food. Jesus sees the spiritual need that goes beyond physical hunger. Satisfying the hunger of the crowd takes place as the Son of God blesses the food and looks to you in prayer. In his word, just as in his crucifixion, what is broken is not divided and diminished but multiplied and increased in superabundance. Give me the grace, Lord, to trust in the food that you give for the life of the world in Jesus Christ your Son. Give us this day our daily bread.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'" I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 4:12-17, 23-25)

His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.

"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." With these words, Jesus picks up where John left off after he had been arrested. The mission of Jesus begins to unfold in Galilee as he teaches in the synagogues, proclaims the kingdom of God, and cures every disease and illness. In doing this, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: "Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." And the light he brings is healing to those whose illnesses are physical, mental, and spiritual. He continues to do that today.

God, give me the grace and wisdom to do as great crowds did in following Jesus. The Gospel acclamation says, "Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people." Strengthen my faith, Lord. Nourish me through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where you are truly present—body and blood, soul and divinity. Be my light in the darkness, and throughout the day let me trust in your merciful care and power to heal mind, body, and soul.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”