Celebración de la palabra

Sunday February 9

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Light Should Shine: Salt Should Make Tasty

Greeting

The Lord Jesus, the light of the world,
gathers us together.
May our faces reflect his light
and may he always be with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction

What is striking in today’s message is how much trust Christ puts in us, perhaps more than we do in him. He entrusts to us the mission of being his light shining in the world, the salt that preserves and spices the world with the aroma of the gospel, the mission of being a city of light that attracts people to the Lord. What a responsibility! Today, let us ask Jesus to kindle his light in us.

Penitential Act

How little the light of Christ has shone in us!
Let us seek the Lord’s pardon.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you are the true light
that enlightens all people:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you said of yourself:
I am the light of the world;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you tell us:
You are the light of the world.
Your light must shine in people’s sight:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let the light of your mercy
take away from us the darkness of sin.
Give us the light of life
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that we may do the good works
that lead people to God
(pause)
Loving Father,
we are important to you,
for you keep entrusting to us the mission
of making your name and your love known.
Strengthen us in our weakness,
make us savor the message of the gospel,
that in the footsteps of your Son Jesus
we may bring your light and taste to the world
and carry out this task with great joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

First Reading: Let Your Light Shine On All People

The prophet tells us today: God will be near to you and you will shine with his light if you are near to the needy around you.

Reading 1: Is 58:7-10

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading: I Bear Witness to the Crucified Christ

St Paul reflects on his mission: it is not by philosophizing and making speeches that I preach Christ but by bearing witness to the crucified Lord.

Reading 2: 1 Cor 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

Alleluia: Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Salt and Light of the World

According to Jesus, our task in the world is to live according to the Gospel, so that God’s light can shine in the world.

Gospel: Mt 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You 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
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."

Commentary:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses a series of images to define the disciples and their mission. He shows them primarily as the salt of the earth (v. 13).
The rabbis of Israel used to say: “The Torah—the holy Law given by God to his people—is like salt and the world cannot live without salt.” Taking up this image and applying it to the disciples, Jesus knows how to use an expression that may sound provocative. He does not deny the conviction of his people who believed the sacred Scriptures “salt of the earth,” but says that also his disciples are, if they assimilate his word and let themselves be guided by the wisdom of his beatitudes.
The second function assigned to the disciples is that of being a city set on a hill (v. 14).
Even today, the look of one who walks the streets of Upper Galilee is attracted by the numerous villages, located on the tops of mountains and along the densely wooded hills. It is impossible not to notice them, and especially in the spring, when the crimson anemones covering the countryside around them, seem delightful. The archaeological excavations almost always prove that the summits, on which they arise, were inhabited since the most remote times.
The disciples are called to do good without expecting any praise, admiration, “their right hand should not know what the left is doing” (Mt 6:3). Praises should not be addressed to them but to God.
The invitation is not to conceal, to veil the most challenging parts of the Gospel message. The disciples do not have to worry to defend or justify the proposals of Jesus. They just announce it, without fear, without fear of being ridiculed or persecuted. It will be for people as a lamp “shining in a dark place until the break of day, when the morning star shines in your hearts” (2 Pt 1,19).

Intercessions

Let us now pray to the Father of light that we may truly become the salt and the light of the world. Let us say:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
– That there may be more love on earth, Lord, we ask you to dispose people to be more understanding and friendlier to one another and to share more readily with those in need, so we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
– That there may be greater justice on earth, dispose governments and public officials to make room in their priorities and budgets for the socially deprived and those out of jobs, we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
– That there may be more peace on earth, dispose all nations to put an end to words of hatred and threats of revenge, we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
– That there may be more joy on earth, dispose all those who follow your Son to show sympathy and affection to one another, to be faithful in our friendships and concerned about our communities, we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
– That there may be more faith on earth, dispose all your sons and daughters to live as children of light before you and in the sight of people, we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.
Lord God, we pray that your light may shine on all the earth. However, limited we are, let our words and actions reflect the light of your love, in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Our God and Father,
your Son Jesus gives himself to us
in these signs of bread and wine
as our tasty food and our drink of joy.
By the power that is in him,
help us to bear witness
that life is meaningful and worth living.
Make us people-for-others with Jesus,
that our sense of justice and sharing
may give a taste for life and love
to those around us,
that they may see that your Son
is here with us, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let us give thanks to the Father in heaven that he has let the light of Jesus shine in us so that we too can become lights to the people around us.

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and set us free from the fear
of letting the light of your Son shine
in the darkness of the world.
However dim and wavering,
may our timid lights shine,
until you let us encounter for ever
the true light of earth and heaven,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus the Lord.
He said of himself:
I am the light of the world.
He says to us:
You are the salt that should give taste
to the life of the people around you.
You are the light of the world
that should not remain hidden.
Happy are we, for the Lord trusts us
and invites us to receive him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you have given us the salt and light
of your Word and the Bread of life.
May they make your Christian community
a city of light on a hill-top
to bear witness to your integrity,
love and justice in this world.
Accept our humble thanks
for calling us to praise your name
and sustain us by the power of him
who is the light of the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

May our love be like salt
that makes life tasty and worthwhile.
May our Christian living be a light
to those who live in darkness.
May our Christian communities
be cities of light to be seen from afar
as signs that God lives and works in his people.
And may God bless you all for this mission:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go now, and let the light of Christ shine on all those who live around you. R/ Thanks be to God.