{"id":1291,"date":"2014-02-09T17:26:32","date_gmt":"2014-02-09T22:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=1291"},"modified":"2014-02-09T17:26:32","modified_gmt":"2014-02-09T22:26:32","slug":"homily-5th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/homily-5th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Homily – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A"},"content":{"rendered":"

5th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A<\/a>
\nIsaiah 58-10
\n1 Corinthians 2:1-5
\nMatthew 5:13-16
\nFebruary 9, 2014<\/p>\n

Jesus says to us as his disciples \u201cYou are the salt of the earth.\u201d\u00a0 Of course, the question becomes in what way are we \u201csalt.\u201d<\/p>\n

We use salt to flavor our food.\u00a0 For those who use salt, it adds flavor to the food.\u00a0 It makes it better.<\/p>\n

We are called to make the world a better place just like salt is used to make food taste better.\u00a0 What can we do to make the world a better place?<\/p>\n

There are people who do not have enough food to eat or a decent place to live.\u00a0 We make things better for them when we heard the words the Lord offers through the prophet Isaiah to share our bread, shelter the homeless, and to clothe the naked.<\/p>\n

People who face these struggles can feel darkness in their lives.\u00a0 We bring light in offering them help.\u00a0 We can help make their day a little brighter.<\/p>\n

We can bring light to people in need in three ways.\u00a0 The first is charity, meaning giving them food, clothing, and shelter right now.<\/p>\n

The second is to change systems that keep people from being able to do better in life.\u00a0 Must often this can take the form of advocacy for programs and\/or regulations that make things better.<\/p>\n

The third way we can bring light is to share our faith.\u00a0 We must let them know that God cares and that we care.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the second way, justice, that I would like to focus on today.\u00a0 How do we make life better in the long run?<\/p>\n

There are a lot of good programs out there but funding is being cut.\u00a0 We feel overtaxed but we need to look at not just what changes can be made today<\/i>.\u00a0 We must also consider the effects of those changes in the long-term.\u00a0 Is the money an investment for the future?<\/p>\n

Each year our diocese selects an issue for us to reflect upon and then ask us to sign petitions for the issue.\u00a0 I think the issue and programs in this year\u2019s petition drive qualify as an investment for the future.<\/p>\n

This year our petitions ask the government to restore some funding for two programs, Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation<\/i>, and Healthy Families New York<\/i> that offer assistance for pregnant mothers and new parents to make sure the children get started on the right foot.\u00a0 A good start makes for a better life.<\/p>\n

If you want it in terms of dollars, a good start should lead the children to be able to better provide for themselves in adulthood, reducing the need later on.<\/p>\n

Some people might want to say no one helped me get ahead.\u00a0 I did it myself, let them fend for themselves.\u00a0 Where is the compassion and faith in that?<\/p>\n

I would look at it from the opposite perspective.\u00a0 If we struggled to get ahead, we should be motivated to help others who come after us.<\/p>\n

For instance, in another town I served in, the parish hosted talks by the Alzheimer\u2019s Association geared to help families with a loved one with dementia.\u00a0 The parish I was in provided refreshments for these talks.\u00a0 Our hospitality coordinator made a phone call to the volunteer at the top of the list to ask them to bake something.\u00a0 They immediately said yes and offered to do it for all the talks.\u00a0 It was several months before I found out why they were so eager to help.<\/p>\n

The husband\u2019s father was the first person diagnosed in that area with Alzheimer\u2019s.\u00a0 There was no support for the families in those days so they knew what it was like to face it \u201calone.\u201d\u00a0 So, when these talks started, they were delighted to hear about it even though the father had long since past because they knew what that support meant.<\/p>\n

Here in Ithaca, we are fortunate to have Birthright to help people in similar ways to these two programs.\u00a0 Birthright can be a light to hope.\u00a0 So can these programs.<\/p>\n

So I hope you see the Lord\u2019s calling to help those in need and I invite to sign petitions that will be available at the various entrances after Mass today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 58-10 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16 February 9, 2014 Jesus says to us as his disciples \u201cYou are the salt of the earth.\u201d\u00a0 Of course, the question becomes in what way are we \u201csalt.\u201d We use salt to flavor our food.\u00a0 For those who use salt, it …<\/p>\n

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