5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year II)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ are purified towards holiness by their love for God and others.
Theme: We are purified towards holiness when we are the salt of the earth and light of the world.
Promise: “If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted then the light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (Is 58:10)
Reflection:
The biblical foundation of the mission of Bukas Loob sa Diyos (Open in Spirit to God) is found and enumerated in the First Reading, Isaiah 58: 6 – 7: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: v.6 – releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; v.7 – Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”
A BLD member’s heart is distinguished by such qualities. And this is the kind of fasting God likes because God is interested only in deeds of love and mercy. However, some continue to find this challenging, and we struggle to reconcile our faith with our actions. But we find inspiration, motivation and strength in St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1Cor2:1&4) explaining God’s partiality for the humble, the unloved and the worthless – (v.1) “I did not come with sublimity of words or wisdom…” (v.4) “my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of spirit and power.”
We all know that in the beginning, St. Paul was a persecutor of God and the Church; and so are we, when we continue to sin. Our response to be “hearers and bearers” of God’s word is enough because His word is strong in itself through the power of the Holy Spirit. His Word does not depend on human qualities or effort, because God’s word is able to penetrate hearts. Our works of charity and mercy are all that is needed, because this is the message Jesus Christ espouses for His Word to come alive. It goes without saying then that God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.
There are two lessons in the Gospel reading which we need to practice whatever our circumstances may be. First, in Matthew 5: 13: “You are the salt of the earth” – here, salt refers to God’s wisdom, His word. Disciples of Christ are to say things that make sense, that give meaning to ours, and other people’s lives. With the wisdom of God in our speech, we spread consolation where there is sorrow and pain; we sow goodness where there is hatred and discord. And like salt, we help prevent human corruption, because God’s word does not become stale, neither does it lose its taste.
In Verse 14: “You are the light of the world” – does not invite us to become a show-offs, calling attention to ourselves, to be admired and praised, but rather, we are tasked to be good witnesses to God’s unfailing love in Jesus Christ, in and through our thoughts and actions. We are being exhorted to maintain and to keep our hearts on fire; to persevere in performing visible and concrete works of charity and love because long prayers and beautiful ceremonies are not enough. Our good intentions should be reflected in our actions, in our speech, in our relationship with one another, and in the way we live. Christian disciples never dwell on their past, or do they sulk in the problems of the present, but rather, concentrate on their “mission” to glorify God in every aspect of their life and being.
The Word of God is living and effective, yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is the food that nourishes our spiritual lives. It is the food that renews our minds and strengthens our hearts. Consuming God’s Word therefore should be a daily undertaking, to feed and nourish our minds and hearts that we may come alive. If we are to be the salt and light of the earth, it is imperative that we read and study Scriptures because it is among its pages that we meet and come to know Christ more fully, and deepen our understanding of who He is and His purpose for us. To be the salt and light of the earth is to be like Jesus in every way. To respond to this call is our own accountability to God who sees all and knows all the deepest thoughts and longings of our hearts, for He is our Supreme Judge. It is in Him, for Him and through Him we live and move and have our being. Praise be to God for His Son Jesus Christ!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in Your love and mercy, we ask for forgiveness for the many times we failed to truly fast for Your glory. We ask You now to please grant us the grace and blessing to genuinely surrender our attachments and to follow after You in Spirit and in Truth. May we become the light and salt of the earth that many might come to You and believe in You. Renew us each day; strengthen us and let Your Holy Spirit move us to be Your vessels of love and compassion to those in need. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have I practiced “true fasting”, as enumerated by Isaiah 58:6 & 7? And if not, what prevents me from doing so?
2. Have I been the salt and the light of Christ the past week?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 9, 2014 (Sun) Is 58:7-10/Ps 112:4,5,6,7,8,9/1Cor 2:1-5/Mt 5:13-16
February 10, 2014 (Mon) 1Kgs 8:1-7,9-13/Ps 132:6,7,8-10/Mk 6:53-56
February 11, 2014 (Tues) 1Kgs 8:22,23,27-30/Ps 84:3,4,5,10,11/Mk 7:1-13
February 12, 2014 (Wed) 1Kgs 10:14-10/Ps 37:5,6,30,31,39,40/Mk 7:14-23
February 13, 2014 (Thur) 1Kgs 11:4-13/Ps 106:3,4.35,36,37,40/mnK 7:24-30
February 14, 2014 (Fri) 1Kgs 11:29-32;12-19/Ps 81:10-11,12,1314,15/Mk 7:31-37
February 15, 2014 (Sat) 1Kgs 12:26-32,13:33-34/Ps 106:6-7,19,20,21-22/Mk 8:1-10
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
