06/02/2011 - 5TH. SUNDAY IN ORDINARY SEASON - Year A
1Reading Is 58,7-10 Psalm 111 2Reading 1 Cor 2,1-5 Gospel Mt 5,13-16
Last Sunday we heard Jesus proclaim the Beatitudes, that is how he sees his disciples
and, of course, all men, that their life is full of consolation and joy. In fact,
where people are formed and educated according to this wisdom, one lives in serenity,
joy, peace. So that this wisdom is spread, it is necessary that someone commits
himself to live it with the decision without any reductions. Nobody can do it if
not who accepts Jesus in the heart. Who welcomes him and lives with him becomes
his disciple and becomes "master" of life and of comfort for the world
around him. Jesus is aware, and so today he says this beautiful word: "you
are the salt of the Earth", then "you are the light of the world".
Who lives with him and is obedient to him becomes precious, indispensable to the
world. These are not empty words: if we look around we see the truth. Where there
are the disciples of Jesus, there is an opportunity for forgiveness and love and
compassion grow, and above all, one can start to trust someone else. On the other
hand, where Jesus is absent, there is not the possibility to trust no one, neither
can you trust, nor can we hope to find compassion for ourselves or for others. Jesus
does not want his own to become conceited and continues with a warning: the salt
must be salted to be useful. If the salt is no bland, then it is thrown away. Likewise,
the lamp is no good to anyone if it is hidden. With these simple observations Jesus
is saying to his disciples that they should really carry him in themselves, otherwise
they are without flavor, and must allow him to transpire without hiding or camouflage,
otherwise they are useless. He is the flavor, is the fullness of love that only
he carries. He is the source of light, who is to be seen, otherwise nobody is enlightened.
We are aware of being poor men, even sinners. How can it be that our life is useful
in the world so that it will acquire peace and wisdom from our presence? Surely,
we know that we are weak and fragile: the richness is not us, but Jesus in us, like
a treasure in clay pots; the vessel remains fragile, but valuable for its content.
This is exactly what St. Paul is saying in the Second Reading. He presents himself
to the community of Corinth knowing of being weak person, but that carries in himself
the richness of the presence of Jesus, that Jesus who was crucified for loves' sake.
A man who dies on the cross is weak, but since he dies loving, show us and gives
us the size and power of love at the same time of its greatest weakness. We are
not ashamed not even of our poverty and misery, but we pride ourselves always and
only in of our Lord, whom we carry in the hearts and minds and in the works willed
by him and which show his wisdom.
The First Reading, suggests some of the works that manifest the being of God, the
social works that raise suffering and poverty: through them we show the loving and
merciful heart of God. And Jesus brings to an end his short parables by encouraging
us to shine in front of everyone that love which the Father hath sown in us, so
that he can manifest himself through us and so others can come to know him too.
Those who come to know the Father, knows that they are not alone in the world and
starts to experience salvation. Those who come to know the Father already enjoy
the joys of heaven!