First Reading

Reading from the first letter of the apostle Saint John

1 John 4:11-18

Beloved: If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.

Thereby we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God.

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because we are as he is in this world.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Mark 6:45-52

After the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.

When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea while he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were troubled and rowing hard because the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea and seemed to be passing by.

When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.