YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

Homily for the 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

Based on (Gospel), (First Reading) and (Second Reading)

From the Series: “Reflections and Teachings of the Desert”

YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE

“In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men” (Mt 5:16)

The Gospel reading for this 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A) is Mt 5:13-16.

Verse 13 says:“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Mk 9:50 - Salt is a good thing, but if salt becomes insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

2.       Lk 14:34-35 - Salt is a useful thing. But if salt itself loses its taste, how can it be seasoned again (v. 34)? It is good for neither soil nor manure heap. People throw it out. Listen, anyone who has ears to hear (v. 35)!’

3.       Lv 2:13 - You must salt every oblation that you offer, and you must never fail to put on your oblation the salt of the Covenant with your God:^e to every offering you are to join an offering of salt to Yahweh your God. Footnote ^e says“Salt was believed to have a purifying effect, Ezk 16:4; 2 K 2:20; cf. Mt 5:13. The Assyrians used it in worship and nomad tribes in meals of friendship or of covenant.”

4.       Nb 18:19 - All that the sons of Israel set aside for Yahweh from the holy things, this I give to you, and to your sons and daughters, by perpetual ordinance. This is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh, for you and your descendants after you.

Verse 14 says: You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Si 20:30 - Wisdom concealed, and treasure undiscovered, what use is either of these?

2.       Jn 8:12 - When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said: ‘I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life’.

Verse 15 says: No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Mk 4:21 - He also said to them, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand?

2.       Lk 8:16 - No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it ona lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.

3.       Lk 11:33 - No one lights a lamp and puts it  in some hidden place or under a tub, but on the lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.

Verse 16 says: In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Jn 3:21…but the man who lives by the truth^j comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done by God.’Footnote^j  says“Lit. ‘does the truth’, cf. 1 Jn. 3:19+.”

2.       Jn 15:8 - It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.^d Footnote^d says “Var. ‘and so prove to be my disciples’. In this way the Father is ‘glorified in the Son’, 14:13. Cf. 21:19.”

3.       1 Co 10:31 - Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God.

The First Reading is from Is 58:7-10.

Verse 7 says: To share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked, and not turn from your own kin?

Parallel texts are:

1.       Tb 4:16 - Give your bread to those who are hungry, and your clothes to those who are naked. Whatever you own in plenty, devote a proportion to almsgiving; and when you give alms, do not do it grudgingly.

2.       Jb 22:7…you have grudged water to the thirsty man, and refused bread to the hungry…

3.       Jb 31:16 - Have I been insensible to poor men’s needs, or let a widow’s eyes grow dim?

Verse 8 says: Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of Yahweh behind you.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Is 52:12 - But you are not to hurry away, you are not to leave like fugitives. No, Yahweh will go in front of you, and the God of Israel will be your rearguard.

2.       Ps 85:13 - Righteousness always preceding him and Peace^d following his footsteps. Footnote ^d  says “‘Peace’ conj.; ‘will put (his steps on the path)’ Hebr.”

3.       Is 40:5 - then the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken’

4.       Ps 145:18…standing close to all who invoke him, close to all who invoke Yahweh faithfully.

Verses 9 and 10 say: Cry, and Yahweh will answer;  call, and he will say, ‘I am here’. If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, If you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed,  your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.

Parallel texts are:

1.       Pr 11:25 - Your generous soul will prosper, he who waters, will be watered.

2.       Jb 22:11 - Light has turned to darkness^c and it blinds you, and a flood of water overwhelms you.  Footnote ^c says “Corr. Following Greek”.

3.       Ps 112:4 - For the upright he shines^c like a lamp in the dark, he is merciful, tenderhearted, virtuous.  Footnote ^c says “Lit. ‘he rises’.”

4.       Jn 8:12 - When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said: ‘I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life.

The Second Reading is from 1 Cor 2:1-5.

Verse1 and 2 say: As for me, brothers, when I came to you, it is not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God has guaranteed.^a During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ.  Footnote ^a says “Lit ‘the testimony of God’, i.e. to the message of Jesus. Var. ‘the mystery of God’.

Parallel texts for verse 1 are:

1.       Rm 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the Good News; it is the power of God saving allwho have faith^j- Jew first,^k but Greek as well. Footnote ^j says “Faith, which is the response of a human being to God as truth and goodness and so the one source of salvation, relies on the truth of God’s promises and on God’s faithfulness to them (Rm 3:3f; 1 Th 5:24; 2 Tm 2;13; Heb 10:23; 11:11) and on his power to implement them (Rm 4:17-21; Heb  11:19). After the  long O.T. period of preparation (Heb 11) God has spoken through his Son (Heb 1:1). We must believe the Son (cf. Mt 8:10+; Jn 3:11+) and the kerygma or proclamation (Rm 10:8-17; 1 Co 1:21; 15:11, 14; cf. Ac 2:22+) of the Good News (Rm 1:16; 1 Co 15:1-2; Phl: 27; Ep 1:13) made by the apostles (Rm 1:5; 1 Co 3:5; cf. Jn 17:20). The kerygma proclaims that God raised Jesus from the dead, made him Kyrios (Rm 4:24f; 10:9; Ac 17:31; 1 P 1:21; cf. 1 Co 15:14, 17), and thorough him offers life to all who believe in him (Rm 6:8-11; 2 Co 4:13f; Ep 1:19f; Col 2;12; 1 Th 4:14). Faith in the name, or person, of Jesus (Rm 3:26; 10:13; cf. Jn 1:12; Ac 3:16; 1 Jn 3;23) who is the Messiah (Ga 2:16; cf. Ac 24;24; 1 jn 5:1), the Lord (Rm 10:9; 1 Co 12:3; Ph 2:11; cf. Ac 16;31) and Son of God (Ga 2:20; cf. jn 20:31; 1 jn 5:5; Ac 8;37; 9:20) is thus the necessary condition of salvation (Rm 10:9-13; 1 Co 1:21; Ga 3:22; cf. Is 7:9+; Ac 4:12; 16:31; Heb 11:6; Jn 3:15-18). Faith is not only intellectual assent, it is to trust and obey (Rm 1:5; 6:17; 10:16; 16:26; cf. Ac 6:7) the life giving truth (2 Th 2:12f). Faith which thus unites a person with Christ (2 Co 13:5; Ga 2:16, 20; Ep 3:17) also confers the Spirit on him (Ga 3:2,5,14;cf. Jn 7:38f; Ac 11:17), the Spirit of the sons of God (Ga 3:26; cf. Jn 1:12). Faith is reliance on God and not on self (Rm 3:27; Ep 2:9) and thus contrasts with the old order of the Law (Rm 7:7+) with its vain search (Rm 10;3; Ph 3:9) for  holiness by works (Rm 3;20,28; 9:31f; Ga 2:16; 3:11f): only faith can effect rue holiness, the saving holiness of God himself (Rm 1:17+; 3:21-26), received as a free gift from him (Rm 3:24; 4:16; 5:17; Ep 2:8;cf. Ac 15:11). Faith relates to the promise made to Abraham (Rm 4; Ga 3:6-18) and so makes salvation accessible to everyone, pagans included (Rm 1:5,16; 3:29f; 9:30; 10:11f; 16:26; Ga 3:8). It is coupled with baptism (Rm 6:4+), calls for public profession (Rm 10:10; 1 Tm 6:12), and expresses itself in charity (Ga 5:6;cf. Jm 2:14+). Faith is obscure (2 Co 5:7; Heb 11:1; cf. Jn 20:29), and involves hope as its concomitant (Rm 5:2+). It must  be allowed to grow (2 Co 10:15; 1Th 3:10; 2 Th 1:3) amid struggles and sufferings (Ph 1:29; Ep 6:16; 1 Th 3:2-8; 2 Th 1:4; Heb 12:2; 1 P 5:9), demanding fortitude (1 Co 16:13; Col 1:23;) and tenacity 2 Tm 4:7;cf. 1:14; 1 Tm 6:20) right up to the vision and possession of God (1 Co 13:12;cf. 1Jn 3:2).”; and Footnote ^k says “In the actual development of salvation history, the Jews come first; ‘salvation comes from the Jews’ (Jn. 4:22). Cf. Rm. 2:9-10, Mt. 10:5f, 15:24, Mk. 7:27, Ac. 13:5+. But abuse of this privilege could condemn them.”

2.       2 Co 1:12 - There is one thing we are proud of, and our conscience tells us it is true: that we have always treated everybody, and especially you, with the reverence^b and sincerity which comes from God, and by the grace of God we have done this without ulterior motives. Footnote ^b says “Var. ‘single-mindedness’.”

3.       2 Co 11:6 - As I said before, let no one take me for a fool; but if you must, then treat me as a fool and let me do a little boasting of my own.

Verse 3 says: Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’^b  Footnote ^b  says “‘fear and trembling’; a biblical cliché, cf. Jg 7:3; Ps 2:11; 55:5; Ezk 12:18; Mk 5:33; 1 Co 2:3; 2 Co 7:15; Ep 6:5; Ph 2:12.”

Parallel texts are:

1.       Ga 3:1 - Are you in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on you, in spite of the plain explanation you have had of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?^a Footnote ^a says “The foundation of everything Apostle Paul teaches is the idea that we are redeemed because Christ died and rose again, cf. 1 Co 15:3f.”

2.       Ga 6:1 - Brothers, if one of you misbehaves the more spiritual of you who set him right should do so in a spirit of gentleness, not forgetting that you may be tempted yourselves.

3.       Ph 2:12 - So the, my dear friends, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have; not only as you dis when I was there with you, but even more now that I am no longer there; and work for your salvation ‘in fear and trembling’.

Verses 4 and 5 say: And in my speeches and sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

Parallel texts for verse 5 are:

1.       Ac 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,ⁱ and then you will be my witnesses^j not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth’.^k Footnote ⁱ  says “The Holy Spirit is a favorite theme of Luke (Lk 4:1+); he talks mostly about the Holy Spirit as a Power, Lk 1:35; 24:49;Ac 1:8;10:38; Rm 15:13,19; 1 Co 2:4,5; 1 Th 1:5; Heb 2:4, sent  from God by Christ, Ac 2:38, to broadcast the Good News. 1. The Spirit gives the charismata, 1 Co 12:4f, that guarantee the message; the gift of tongues, Ac 2:4+, of miracles, 10:38, of prophecy, 11:27+; 20:23; 21:11, of wisdom, 6:3,5,10:2, the Spirit fives strength to proclaim Jesus as Messiah in spite of persecution 4:8,31; 5:32; 6:10;cf. Ph 1;19 and to bear witness to him, Mt. 10;20p; Jn 15:26; Ac 1:8; 2 Tm 1:7f,cf. following note; 3. The Spirit guides the Church in her major decisions: the  admission of pagans, Ac 8:29,40; 10:19,44-47; 11;12-16; 15:8, without obligation to observe the  Law, 15:28; Paul’s mission to the pagan worlds, 13:2f; 16:6-7; 19:1 (Western Text) cf. Mt. 3:16+,Ac also mentions the Spirit  as received in baptism and forgiving sins, 2:38, cf. Rm 5:5+.”; Footnote ^j says “The primary functions of the apostles is to bear witness: not only to Christ’s resurrection, Lk. 24:48, Ac 2:32, 3:15, 4:33, 3:32, 24:48,13;31, 22:15, but also to the whole of is public life, Lk 1:21, Jn 15:27, Ac. 1:22, 10:39f.”; and Footnote ^k says “nothing can limit the apostolic mission.”

2.       2 Co 12:12 - Greet one another with the holy kiss.^d All the saints send you greetings. Footnote ^d  says “The liturgical greeting which symbolizes Christian brotherhood, Rm 16:16; 1 Co 16:20; 1 Th 5:26.”

3.       1 Th 1:5…because we brought the Good News^b  to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction…Footnote ^b  says “Var. ‘the Good News of God’, or ‘of our God’.”