Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2023

Peter H. Davids

Ordinary Time • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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People look for light to shine into darkness, but scripture speaks of Christ crucified as God's light in releasing people from the oppression of sin and leading them to join him in giving our lives for the world.

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Title

He is the Light

Outline

There is a lot of talk today about bringing things to light

There are dark deeds - bring them to the light

There are hidden realities in society - bring them to the light

The light, then, does not remove the deeds but instead opens the scandal for all to see

There is something to this, of course, for hidden sin is poison in the system, but there is also something wrong, for in this case the light often brings shame, division, and denial - it does not bring repentance, healing, and devotion to God.

Isaiah speaks of light shining up the people

If fact they become light, for “your light will break forth like the dawn”

The precondition for this is a specific type of fasting, of repentance: “loose the bonds of wickedness” and “undo the thongs of the yoke” and “let the oppressed go free” and “share your bread with the hungry” and “bring the homeless poor into your house.” In other words, they do not simply feel sorry for sin, but they change their behavior (for all of these are taught in the Torah) and do so at their own cost (and thus it is a fast).

The light that shines from them is God’s: “your righteousness shall go before you” and “the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” like the shekinah with the ark coming after the forward company of soldiers.

Jesus indicates a similar purpose in life

The collective disciples are salt that preserves and transforms the flavor of food. They are a light, like a city on the hill. But how are they ti be this? “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Their light is the teaching of Jesus and they expose it by living the teaching (similar to the deeds of repentance in Isaiah) and the result is not their glory but the honor of the heavenly Father who enlightened them, who is shining through them.

Finally we have Paul

He is not depending on apologetic arguments, although he uses them at times, nor on his oratory, although one can see his progymnastic education. He did not toss away what God had given him.

Paul “resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” The Messiah who loved to the extent that he went into total shame for Romans (he is writing to Corinth, a Roman colony). This was “a demonstration of spirit and power” - the transformation of others through the suffering of God.

Notice that Paul rarely says anything about his miracles and when he talks about the gifts of the Spirit he almost always talks about them being given to the church, not personally to him. But he does talk about his being the worst of sinners and what the grace of God did in reconciling him to God.

God released the oppressed and in particular those oppressed by the devil and bound by their own sins in darkness.

So, Sisters, we need to keep Jesus Christ central

I noted that our retreat master kept a crucifix on the lectern and after each talk we not only repeated the Sanctus with him, but he quietly kissed the crucifix before tucking it into his habit. He kept his eyes on what was central.

Our goal in life is not good apologetic arguments or great skill in presentation or great power in signs and wonders. These can be useful if God chooses to grant them, but even then they can be a distraction if we focus on them.

Our goal is the presentation of God’s love through the proclamation of Christ crucified, and then the demonstration of that love as we join him in giving our lives for the world.

All else is distraction and likely division, if not demonic.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 2-5-2023: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Isaiah 58:7–10

7 Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,

bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

and not turning your back on your own flesh?

8 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.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”

If you remove the yoke from among you,

the accusing finger, and malicious speech;

10 If you lavish your food on the hungry

and satisfy the afflicted;

Then your light shall rise in the darkness,

and your gloom shall become like midday;

Catholic Daily Readings 2-5-2023: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 12:4a

4 May the LORD cut off all deceiving lips,

and every boastful tongue,

PSALM

Psalm 12:4–9

4 May the LORD cut off all deceiving lips,

and every boastful tongue,

5 Those who say, “By our tongues we prevail;

when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?”

6 “Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the LORD;

“I will grant safety to whoever longs for it.”

7 The promises of the LORD are sure,

silver refined in a crucible,

silver purified seven times.

8 You, O LORD, protect us always;

preserve us from this generation.

9 On every side the wicked roam;

the shameless are extolled by the children of men.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-5-2023: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 2:1–5

1 When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive [words of] wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Catholic Daily Readings 2-5-2023: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 8:12

12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:13–16

13 “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. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 2-5-2023: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Isaiah 58:7–10

Response Psalm 12:4a

Psalm Psalm 12:4–9

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:1–5

Gospel Acclamation John 8:12

Gospel Matthew 5:13–16

GREEN

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