Bring the Gospel to life – through action, and not just with mere words: We are called to love and to serve.
Thursday after Epiphany Sunday : 8th January 2026
1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Ps 71 (72):1-2, 14-15, 17; Lk 4:14-22 (Ps Wk II)
The emphasis in the first reading from 1 John is on love. The author had just written that God is love and then he declared that we love because God first loved us. Furthermore, we are to share that love with others. We are to obey God’s commandment to love one another. He echoes the two great commandments of Jesus- that anyone who loves God must also love others. This is the mark of those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We must always remember that love shows itself in action, and not so much in words!
When Jesus read the passage from Isaiah, He was outlining His own mission. What He read in the synagogue in Nazareth still applies today. Jesus is the unique One who bears the Holy Spirit; He is the Anointed One who brings the Good News, healing and freedom to the oppressed.
This mission for Jesus has been passed onto us as followers of Christ – with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are to share the Good News, and to look after those who are sick and oppressed, and to reach out to the poor and marginalised. This is the way we can bring the Gospel to life – through action, and not just with mere words. We are called to love and to serve.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to love and serve others as You do.
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