Homily (Reflection) for
the Fifth Sunday of the Year (A) (09th February, 2020) on the Gospel
Is 58:7-10;
Ps 111:4-9 (R. v.4);
1Cor 2:1-5;
Matt 5:13-16.
Do you remember ever
staying in a place without light or the day you experienced power failure as we
do often in this part of the world? Before we proceed, blindfold yourself for at
least 3 minutes. If you do this,
you will agree with the author of the book of Ecclesiastes that “Light is sweet”
(Eccl 11:7).
Topic: Be the Light you are.
Jesus
reminds us in today’s gospel, “You are the light of the world ….” This reminds us
of what we are from the beginning. God first created man out of dust but man
remained nothing until God breathed life into his nostrils which made him a
living thing, cf. Gen 2:7. And life is
light, cf. Jn 1:4. That is to say that
what God breathed into man was light because God is light, cf. 1Jn 1:5.
Light according to Psalm
119:105, 130 is synonymous with God’s word and that is what Jesus, the Word
of God, brought into the world to bring us out of darkness into His marvellous
light, cf. Jn 8:12; 12:46; 1Pt 2:9. In the gospel we read:
...this
is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil
hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be
clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God (Jn 3:19-21).
Today’s gospel goes further:
No
one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp
stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light
shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to
your Father in heaven.
It is easy for one to say that he or she is a light of the
world. The letter of St Paul tells us that “the fruit of light is found in all
that is good and right and true” (Eph
5:9). So, do you do what is good and right and true? The First Letter of
Saint John reads, “He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in
the darkness still” (1Jn 2:9).
God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the
saints in light, cf. Col 1:12.
However, it is only those who are led by God’s light and truth that will reach
His holy mountain and to his dwelling, cf. Ps
43:3.
God who is light has set our iniquities before him and our
secret sins are in the light of his countenance, cf. Ps 90:8. So we must be very careful lest the light in us becomes
darkness, cf. Lk 11:35. It is
important to note that “even the darkness is not dark to thee [God], the night
is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee” (Ps 139:12). As those who have been delivered from darkness we ought
to walk as children of light, cf. Eph
5:8. God wants us to rise from our sins and receive light from Christ, cf. Eph 5:14.
It
is not enough to say that one is the light of the world. Every light ought to
shine as light should. Otherwise, such a person in the words of Aristotle can
be best described as a light just in name. It is important to check whether
people give glory to God when they see us act or regret ever meeting us. We
ought to walk in the light of the Lord because He is the true light, cf. Is 2:5.
Bible Reading: Is 42:1-9; Ps 27; Rom 2:17-3:8; Eph 5:3-20; 1Cor
6:14-7:1.
Silent Prayer: Do you exist as light or as darkness?
Let us Pray: God, may we always shine before others so that they
may give glory to you – Amen (cf.
Is 60:19-20).
You
are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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May
God bless you all+
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