{"id":8951,"date":"2023-02-05T11:05:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-05T16:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=8951"},"modified":"2023-02-05T11:05:55","modified_gmt":"2023-02-05T16:05:55","slug":"5th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/5th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-2\/","title":{"rendered":"5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A<\/a>
Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
February 5, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week we heard the beginning of Jesus\u2019 Sermon on the Mount from Matthew\u2019s gospel.  We will continue to hear from Jesus\u2019 Sermon each Sunday until we begin Lent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our passage today begins with Jesus saying to his disciples, this includes us, \u201cYou 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.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salt is used for two purposes.  It can be used to preserve food.  That was very important in Jesus\u2019 day when there were no refrigerators.  It made salt valuable.  Salt is also used to season food, to make it taste better.  If salt loses its taste, it loses this purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As disciples of Christ, we are to do our part to make the world a better place.  In doing so, we are \u201cthe salt of the earth.\u201d <\/em> We do this by bringing the light of Christ to the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Rite of Baptism, after a person is baptized, a candle is light for them from the Paschal Candle.  The flame of the Paschal Candle is the Light of Christ.  The baptismal candle is then presented to the person with the words, \u201cReceive the Light of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Light of Christ is precious in a world with much darkness.  The Light of Christ enables us to see through the darkness to what Christ offers us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not a light to be kept hidden.  We must shine the light brightly to others.  One does not \u201clight a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket.<\/em>\u201d  That would defeat its purpose of giving light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receiving the Light of Christ, we must share it with steadfast hearts.  How do we do this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah presents ways to do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n