HOMILY FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
THEME: Our call is to be the light and salt of the world today.
BY: Fr. Deotatious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalm 111:4-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN
*INTRODUCTION*
Today dear brethrens we celebrate the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time in the Liturgical Calendar Year A.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard how the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah. The Lord wanted His people to live worthily of Him, by showing love to one another and to show compassion on the poor and the weak, to be merciful and just in their way of life and actions.
This can only be achieved today, if we learn to resist the temptations of our desires for selfish pleasures, and if we can truly dedicate ourselves to the service of God and to do what He has told us to do, then surely we will have lived our lives worthily of the Lord.
*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
In our second reading, we heard how St. Paul told the people about his perseverance in proclaiming the message of God’s truth and Good News in their midst, resisting the temptations of worldly power and glory, and instead, proclaiming fearlessly about the Crucified Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, to an audience that were sometimes lukewarm and at times even hostile against his efforts.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel passage today, Jesus spoke of the parable to His disciples comparing them to two important products, that is salt and light, two commodities that are still important and crucial today, but which were even more indispensable and important back then in the time of Jesus.
*WHY THE SALT?*
Jesus compares us to salt, because salt flavors things and makes the food tasty. We know how tasteless and sickening to bite a food if there is no salt. We eat food because it tastes well and salted perfectly. So also with us Christians, we have to radiate Christ and make Christian values credible and attractive to other people.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
*WHY THE LIGHT?*
light is also something very important in our life, today many countries are experiencing loadshedding and we see how difficult it is to live without electricity. Darkness disturbs our normal life especially at night when we want to see well.Jesus identifies letting our light shine with the doing of ‘good works’ that others can see.
*CONCLUSION*
Imagine just how useless it is for salt to lose its taste, and how useless and pointless also for light to be hidden without been used to dispel the darkness wherever they are needed, for this light to be hidden and not used as a source of inspiration, hope and assurance, in the times of darkness. What the Lord wanted to say to us today is that, our lives have to be meaningful, virtuous, righteous, good and just, filled with the virtues and righteousness of God, with Christian values and goodness, with all the things that the Lord Himself has shown and taught us to do.
The Lord be with You!
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