Archive for February 4, 2023

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: February 4, 2023 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Light Breaking Forth: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Isaiah 58:7–10

Psalm 112:4–9

1 Corinthians 2:1–5

Matthew 5:13–16

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Jesus came among us as light to scatter the darkness of a fallen world.

As His disciples, we too are called to be “the light of the world,” He tells us in the Gospel this Sunday (see John 1:4–4, 9; 8:12; 9:5).

All three images that Jesus uses to describe the Church are associated with the identity and vocation of Israel.

God forever aligned His kingdom with the kingdom of David and his sons by a “covenant of salt,” salt being a sign of permanence and purity (see 2 Chronicles 13:5, 8; Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 43:24).

Jerusalem was to be a city set on a hill, high above all others, drawing all nations toward the glorious light streaming from her Temple (see Isaiah 2:2; 60:1–3).

And Israel was given the mission of being a light to the nations, that God’s salvation would reach to the ends of the earth (see Isaiah 42:6; 49:6).

The liturgy shows us this week that the Church, and every Christian, is called to fulfill Israel’s mission.

By our faith and good works we are to make the light of God’s life break forth in the darkness, as we sing in this week’s Psalm.

This week’s readings remind us that our faith can never be a private affair, something we can hide as if under a basket.

We are to pour ourselves out for the afflicted, as Isaiah tells us in the First Reading. Our light must shine as a ray of God’s mercy for all who are poor, hungry, naked, and enslaved.

There must be a transparent quality to our lives. Our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow citizens, should see reflected in us the light of Christ and through us be attracted to the saving truths of the Gospel.

So let us pray that we, like St. Paul in the Epistle, might proclaim with our whole lives “Christ, and him crucified.”

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: February 4, 2023 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We all want to be known as disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ do we not? He is our Good Shepherd there is nothing we shall want! We declare this when we pray psalm 23 and yet what about the want or rather the will of our Lord for His sheep? Especially His sheep of other flocks?

We all know that we are to carry our cross and follow after our Lord, but do we know that we cannot be His disciples if we are not also shepherds of His flock? While we may not all be leaders, can we not obey our leaders and do what is takes to tend to His flock, in our parish, in our communities?

Are we truly our Lord’s disciples then if….

  • We are not prepared to take up any form of leadership when we are called to?
  • We do not have a heart for the community. That is to pray with, guide and worship the Lord as One?
  • We refuse to attend community prayer meetings of any kind?
  • We do share the Gospel with family, friends, community or even in our ministry?
  • We will not sacrifice time or talent in building our Lord’s Kingdom?

Lord I am ready, let be me a shepherd after Your own heart for Your flock. Amen

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First reading

Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21 ·

May God turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ

Through Christ, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God.

    Obey your leaders and do as they tell you, because they must give an account of the way they look after your souls; make this a joy for them to do, and not a grief – you yourselves would be the losers. I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

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Gospel

Mark 6:30-34

They were like sheep without a shepherd

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.