Sunday - February 05, 2023
“If we always see God in our minds, and always remember Him, everything will appear tolerable to us.”
--St. John Chrysostom
TODAY'S READINGS
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 73
Reading I
Is 58:7-10
Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
Reading II 1 Cor 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia
Gospel Mt 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."
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Season the World with Your Faith
This Sunday, Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth.” What does it mean to be salt? Think about what salt does. It adds flavor to foods that lack sufficient taste.
Jesus also raises the point that if we lose our flavor, how can it be restored? The answer is: Only by letting God renew us.
In your baptism, you were made flavorful — alive with God’s love, peace, joy, etc. Fruitful Christians are those who evangelize by adding the seasoning of God’s life — God’s love, peace, joy, etc. — to the lives of the people around them.
But beware of trying too hard! What happens when food is over-salted? It tastes horrible. No matter how good our intentions might be, if we come on too strong, we do more harm than good.
People are much more likely to turn to Jesus if they first experience his love from us, and his peace in how we treat them, and his joy in the way we live our lives. They need to discover that Jesus loves them just the way they are, that he is gentle but sincere when inviting them to grow spiritually, and that he can help them turn hardships and troubles into blessings and joys.
Jesus also tells us to be a light that others cannot help but notice — but not a light that blinds. To flavor the lives of others with the presence of Jesus, we have to let his light shine in us. We have to be so lit up by Christ that others cannot help but notice.
Additionally, Jesus says that we have to be a city. We cannot evangelize alone. A “city” is a group of Christians: a parish, a family, a church organization. Being Christian means being in community. When our light is joined to the light of others, our collective glow is much more effective in revealing Christ to the world. Why? Because non-believers learn that the love of Christ is real when they see us living in love with each other: unconditionally, generously, with a servant’s heart (see Acts 2:42-47).
We are the light of Christ for each other. We are seasoning for each other. Without each other, our light dims, our flavor fades, and we become useless to God’s kingdom.
Today's Prayer
May all Your children, Lord, be aware of Your light in us. May we work together so that it may transform the darkness in our hearts. Amen.
God Bless You.....
The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”
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