5^th Sunday in O.T. (A); February 9, 2020

Is 58:7-10   Ps 112   1 Cor 2:1-5   Mt 5:13-16

Deacon Jim McFadden

 

            These Sundays leading up to Lent, the liturgy offers us teachings from the Sermon of the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. The Beatitudes launch the Sermon, providing the structure for subsequent teachings, which emphasize Jesus’ words describing his disciples mission in the world. Today, he uses the metaphors of salt and light, which are directed not only to his followers in first century Palestine, but to us as well since we are meant to be disciples of Jesus by virtue of our baptism.

Our Lord invites us to reflect on his light, which is witnessed by good works. We hear: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”

(Mt 5:16). These words drive home the point that we are recognizable as true disciples of the One who is the Light of the World, not in words, but in the way we live our lives. Indeed, our behavior will accurately mirror what we truly believe. By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, and the Sunday celebration of Holy Mass, we have received the great Light of Faith, which permeates our soul if we cooperate. We have received it through Christ Jesus and the loving action of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, this Light is meant to be shared: we can’t hold onto it as if it was our private preserve. Instead we are called to make it shine throughout the world—in our homes, workplace, in our political, economic, and social milieus. And, how to do we bring the Light of Christ to the world?—through our good works, which is love put into action!

            We need little reminder how much the world needs the Light of the Gospel. We live in a hostile secular nihilistic culture that has eroded the natural family, compromised traditional moral values, and fragmented our communities with an aggressive individualism and an exaggerated sense of freedom. We are called to bring his Light into this darkness. The task is daunting but we know that the Gospel is transformative, that it heals, and that it guarantees salvation to those who receive it.   We must convey this Light through our good works.

Sharing the Light of Christ is not a zero-sum game! Usually, when you give something away, you have less of it.   But, when we give of ourselves through service to others, the Light does not fade but strengthens! Conversely, it can weaken and dim if we do not nurture it with love and charitable works. In this way the image of light compliments that of salt.

            The Gospel passage, in fact, tells us that, as disciples of Christ Jesus, we are also to be “the salt of the earth” (v. 13). Salt is the ingredient that gives flavor and keeps food from turning and spoiling. Our Christian mission in our contemporary society is giving “flavor” to life, which is based on sharing the love that Jesus has given us, and at the same time, keeping away the contaminated, toxic seeds of self-absorption, envy, resentment, injustice, slander, name-calling and so on. To fulfill this mission it is essential that we intentionally live our life according to our Father’s purposes because He is the center of our life, not our culture.

What would that look like? The prophet Isaiah in the first reading shows us the way:

“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” (Is 58:70.

 

In other words, we do what God does: we give ourselves away by participating in this Loop of Grace: we share our gifts, talents, and time with our brothers and sisters. We share the Eucharistic bread with those who are hungry for real Life by bringing Christ to them. To those who have lost their connection to the one true God and who are leaving the Church in droves, we enthusiastically give witness that there is an alternative, life-giving way of living that will liberate and bring them home. When we “move, live, and have our being” in Jesus, we are truly free and grounded in that is True and Good. When we are being conformed to Christ, we become transformed and it shows. In you, people will know Christ. For some in our secular society, the only Gospel they’ll read is seeing the way you live our life.

People of God, each of us is called to be light and salt, in the environment of our daily life. We’ve got to persevere in the task of regenerating the human reality because we are Jesus’ arms, legs, hands, and voice. He is depending upon us to convey the spirit of the Gospel and to help bring about the Kingdom of God. And, be assured that we have lots of help: together with the Holy Spirit, we have our Blessed Mother Mary, who is the first disciple of Christ and a model for all believers.   May she help us to be purified of our worldly attachments and enlightened by her Son Jesus, so at to become, in our turn, “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” Amen.