5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
Service to God. The opening lines of the reading echo the moral standards required by the divine king in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Mt 25:31-46). People who serve the kingdom of heaven reach out to the less fortunate. The list of such people includes the hungry, the homeless, and the naked. These can be easily dismissed by worldly interests. But God’s servants esteem them and love them as they love themselves. The reading concludes in a similar vein, with the addition of vices that must be removed from society: oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech. Such things may be valued in the court of earthly kings, but they have no place among those serving the court of heaven. If God’s people exhibit the high moral character promoted in this reading, they will become a light in the world, scattering, the darkness of sin and ignorance.
God’s response. God’s servants will also experience advantages only God could give them. God will heal them from spiritual wounds and weaknesses. God will protect them, serving as a “rear guard” that shields them from furtive influences that would do them harm. God will always be close and answer them when they call out for help.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes the mission of the disciples by using the metaphors of salt and light. These two images emphasize the disciples’ call to be engaged with the world. The time for hiding, quiet caution, and fear is over. Now is the time to be bold, to shine bright, and to let everyone know what the disciples stand for.
Tasteless salt. The first metaphor Jesus uses is one of salt that has lost its taste or flavor. Chemists say that technically salt cannot lose its taste or flavor, but it can become contaminated. Some commentators think that this reference might be to the low-grade salt found around the Dead Sea which was considered by most people to be useless. Others see the reference to the salt that was used to line cooking ovens. After a while this salt would be contaminated by smoke and grease. It had to be removed and replaced with fresh salt. The old contaminated salt was good for nothing.
Light of the world. The disciples are to enlighten the world through the bold proclamation of the Gospel. Nothing about the challenges of the Gospel should remain hidden. They are to be fully exposed and their brightness should be like a bright light placed prominently on a lampstand. The disciples and the Church should assume the role of that bright light
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius