Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our first reading in Isaiah, the Lord says it very clearly, “If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” This past Advent, I heard a lot, more than usual, about darkness into light. Everything in darkness will be in the light no matter what! Good or bad.
Our first reading tells us how to be like Christ by clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, etc. I know sometimes it is east to stay in your comfort zone and think, well someone else will take care of it, but as St. Paul says in the second reading, “I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”
And in our gospel Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, it is thrown out and trampled. We need to be his apostles, his salt, in this modern age to proclaim the good news to others, so that they may not only hear the word of God but also taste Him in the Holy Eucharist by bringing others back to him! Is there a way you can do that? The simpler the better. Let’s get out of our comfort zones and bring God’s message to all we meet.
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections