The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess how our practices as Christians are adding zest to our relationships and demonstrating mercy, love, and justice in our actions.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah exhorts us to the authentic fast that leads to blessing.
* [58:6–12] Fasting is not genuine without reforming one’s way of life. A true social morality will ensure prosperity. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 58, n.d.)
Psalm 112 praises the Blessings of the Righteous.
* [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111. (Psalms, PSALM 112, n.d.)
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims Christ Crucified.
* [2:3] The weakness of the crucified Jesus is reflected in Paul’s own bearing (cf. 2 Cor 10–13). Fear and much trembling: reverential fear based on a sense of God’s transcendence permeates Paul’s existence and preaching. Compare his advice to the Philippians to work out their salvation with “fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12), because God is at work in them just as his exalting power was paradoxically at work in the emptying, humiliation, and obedience of Jesus to death on the cross (Phil 2:6–11).
* [2:4] Among many manuscript readings here the best is either “not with the persuasion of wisdom” or “not with persuasive words of wisdom,” which differ only by a nuance. Whichever reading is accepted, the inefficacy of human wisdom for salvation is contrasted with the power of the cross. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus uses the metaphor of Salt and Light.
* [5:13–16] By their deeds the disciples are to influence the world for good. They can no more escape notice than a city set on a mountain. If they fail in good works, they are as useless as flavorless salt or as a lamp whose light is concealed.
* [5:13] The unusual supposition of salt losing its flavor has led some to suppose that the saying refers to the salt of the Dead Sea that, because chemically impure, could lose its taste. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Eileen Burke-Sullivan reflects that a few years ago, a dear friend of hers was suffering from crippling depression.
The illness of Clinical Depression is simply that, an illness. Like cancer, heart disease or other ills of the body it requires more than willing it to go away. Like all illnesses it is subject to God’s healing, and we should consistently pray for that for others and for ourselves. For the great swath of humans who experience other forms of the gloom of hopelessness, the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness might well be the light of healing. The light of compassion, after the death of a loved, one may bring surcease from grief’s most insidious anguish. The sense of ennui that pervades so much of Western Culture may be addressed by the labor of bringing the light of hope to others. Anxiety about tomorrow’s possibilities may be healed by confidence that a loving God holds us in care.
It is well for us in the Northern Hemisphere still caught in the throes of deep winter darkness to remember the light that God brings to us through the practices of unselfishness, justice, and compassion. It is worth seeking the path of those ways given in today’s scriptures and the prayers of the Liturgy.
“Care for the needy and your light will break forth like the dawn” - Gospel antiphon of morning prayer. (Burke, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Light of Truth,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
The Lord has already called his disciples the "salt of the earth" because they seasoned with divine wisdom the hearts of the human race which had been made tasteless by the devil. Now he also calls them the "light of the world." For, illumined by his very own self who is the true and eternal light, they too become light within the darkness. For since he himself is the sun of righteousness, he rightly also calls his disciples "light of the world." Through them, as if through shining rays, he poured the light of his knowledge on the entire world. For by showing the light of truth, the Lord's disciples made the darkness of error flee from people's hearts. (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 19.1.1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 5:13-16 comments that our works of mercy can also contribute toward the kind of society that reflects God’s priorities. How? The mercy we show people changes our own hearts. We see other people as beloved children of God, and that affects the way we act. And people notice. When, for instance, we sacrifice a night out so that we can give time or money to the needy, our corner of the world begins to look a little more like God’s kingdom. When his generosity starts to overcome our selfishness or materialism, we help the people around us see that something different, something better, is possible. And, as Isaiah says, our “light shall break forth like the dawn” (58:8).
What concrete ways can God show his mercy through you? Start at your parish. It likely has programs to serve the poor or reach out to those in need. Maybe you could work at a homeless shelter or even start an outreach like serving lunches at a soup kitchen. Get involved, and let the light of God’s likeness shine forth.
“Father, I want my actions to glorify you!” (Meditation on Matthew 5:13-16, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler sets the scene facing the exiles returning from Babylon to disappointment at the state of Jerusalem. The text from Trito-Isaiah points to the failure of the exiles to find God in service to the needy. The approach of Paul to his audience in Corinth is contrasted with the failure to impact the Stoic philosophers in Athens. Friar Jude suggests that our salt and light for the world should be expressed with the joy and happiness of children pouring out of school for recess.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, summarized his wide variety of teachings into seven central themes. We now call them “Seven Themes of an Alternative Orthodoxy.” During the final CONSPIRE conference in 2021, Father Richard shared how these Seven Themes came to be. David Benner, a spiritual writer and friend of Father Richard, writes that The Seven Themes“ are more than simply the themes that have organized Richard Rohr’s life’s work; they are the fundamental issues that any serious Christian must engage in to develop a healthy and holistic spiritual worldview.” [3]
Scripture as validated by experience, and experience as validated by Tradition, are good scales for one’s spiritual worldview. (METHODOLOGY)
If God is Trinity and Jesus is the face of God, then it is a benevolent universe. God is not someone to be afraid of but is the Ground of Being and on our side. (FOUNDATION)
For those who see deeply there is only One Reality. By reason of the Incarnation, there is no truthful distinction between sacred and profane. (FRAME)
Everything belongs. No one needs to be punished, scapegoated, or excluded. We cannot directly fight or separate ourselves from evil or untruth. Evil becomes apparent when exposed to the Truth. (ECUMENICAL)
The “separate self” is the major problem, not the shadow self which only takes deeper forms of disguise. (TRANSFORMATION)
The path of descent is the path of transformation. Struggle, failure, relapse, death, and woundedness are our primary teachers, rather than ideas or doctrines. (PROCESS).
Nonduality is the highest level of consciousness. Divine union, not private perfection, is the goal of all religion. (GOAL) [2] (Rohr, 2023)
The symbols of salt and light help us focus on the nature of the flavour and illumination we are gifted to bring to our environment when others “taste and see” through encounter with us.
References
Burke, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020523.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 58. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/58?7
Matthew, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?
Meditation on Matthew 5:13-16. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/05/601659/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/2?1
Psalms, PSALM 112. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?4
Rohr, R. (2023, February 5). The Seven Themes — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-seven-themes-2023-02-05/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb5
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