Fifth Week

5th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Year I

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In today’s First Reading the story of Creation concludes with the Lord looking upon all he has created as very good, and resting from his works. The Lord has placed us at the head of his creation; he blessed the creatures of the sea and the air and commanded them to multiply and grow, and he commanded us to thrive as well, using all the things he created for our use.

Sometimes we don’t feel like we’re in a world of abundance. We have bills, budgets, and empty pockets. Many people are barely making ends meet. Creation reminds us that we need to use what the Lord has given us not only to help ourselves, but to help everything to thrive and to grow. That doesn’t mean saving the trees; it means using the abundances that still exist in the world to help others and to help Creation thrive at all levels for the good of man.

How about taking a little time this Sunday to see how you can help Creation thrive?

Readings: Genesis 1:20–2:4a; Psalm 8:4–9; Mark 7:1–13. See also 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B.

5th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday, Year I

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Today’s First Reading begins book of Genesis with the story of Creation, the beginning of everything we experience in this life. The first thing the Lord creates is light, and the presence and absence of light marks the difference between night and day. Usually it takes a blackout for us to appreciate the gift of light, not so much as a sign of electricity, but as something that enables us to see. Close your eyes tight and imagine a world without light. Genesis reminds us today that even before the sun, moon, and stars were made, the Lord brought light into the world.

John in the prologue to his Gospel, inspired by the creation of light in Genesis, describes Our Lord as the true light coming into the world. In today’s Gospel the news of Jesus’ miraculous healing makes him a “beacon” that everyone seeks for the sake of their sick loved ones and friends. Sin introduced a darkness into creation; Our Lord has come to banish that darkness with his light.

Let’s thank Our Lord today for the light he brings into the world.

Readings: Genesis 1:1–19; Psalm 104:1–2a, 5–6, 10, 12, 24, 35c; Mark 6:53–56. See also 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday.

 

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

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In today’s First Reading Isaiah describes the importance of helping the poor and being just in the way we treat each other. As Christians we’re expected to practice the corporal works of mercy described by Isaiah today. We are called to materially help those in need and not turn a blind eye to them or their needs. Justice is giving each person their due, and they’re not only due our support when they are in need. They are also due our respect, even when well fed, clothed, sheltered, and free from persecution.

This dignity is not only owed to the needy, but toward everyone. Everyone should be taken into consideration and respected, whether rich or poor, lovable or detestable. This concern for justice has an incredible healing power in our own lives as well. Isaiah connects this light with “vindication”: vindication means being cleared from blame. He also connects it with our own healing. Acting justly brings us out of the darkness of indifference and sin that often afflicts this world and doesn’t just bring us into the light, but transforms us into a source of light.

In today’s Second Reading Paul reminds us that what we accomplish is not due to how slick we are, but to how powerful God is. This light comes from God. Paul doesn’t take credit for the fruits of his work of evangelization among the Corinthians. He knows his mission, just like ours, is to make the power of God shine through. If the Lord wasn’t at work, nothing would happen. Proclaiming a mystery is challenging, which is why we need the Lord himself through his Spirit to show that power at work. When we share the Gospel we shouldn’t be concerned about our qualifications, but being the Lord’s instrument for bringing light to the lives of others.

In today’s Gospel Our Lord teaches us that it’s not enough to have this light, or to use it for ourselves. We have to make that light shine and illuminate others as well. Christians are not just meant to glow; they’re meant to shine, to provide so much illumination that they light up the world. Yet, just as not every lighting is the same, the light of Christians lights the way back to that source of light: to Christ. When a Christian shines people don’t just praise them; they praise God who made them shine.

Don’t just glow today in your faith. Shine!

Readings: Isaiah 58:7–10; Psalm 12:4–9; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16. See also 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, Year I and 10th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday.

5th Week of Easter, Saturday (2)

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In today’s First Reading there is a momentous new person, place, and pronoun that show the Acts of the Apostles are starting to head in our direction, geographically and historically. We hear of Timothy for the first time, a Jewish-Gentile convert whom Paul takes with him on his missionary voyage. Timothy would later be the recipient of two letters by Paul that form part of the canon of Scripture: 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. These Pastoral Epistles by Paul show Timothy years later continuing Paul’s work of caring for the Churches, and in Paul’s advice we see the Church taking shape as we live in it today.

Paul today has lots of ideas for where to go next in his missionary voyage, but the Spirit reins him in. Little does he know the Spirit is saving him for something big: Macedonia. The difference between Macedonia and most of the places mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles is that Macedonia is in Europe: by going to Macedonia Paul goes from Asia Minor, where most of his missionary work took place, into a new continent, and for those of us with a European background, the Acts of the Apostles start heading in our direction.

Lastly, there is a momentous change of pronoun: Luke suddenly goes from speaking of “they” to speaking of “we”: though it can’t be definitively confirmed, this “we” seems to indicate that Luke is actually accompanying Paul for the rest of the mission. Paul’s story draws closer to us, historically and geographically, but that “we” also leaves room for us to get involved. Where can we go to continue the work Paul started? How can we help to care for the Churches today? Let’s ask St. Paul, St. Timothy, and St. Luke to intercede for us and help us to see how we can help build on what they started.

Readings: Acts 16:1–10; Psalm 100:1b–3, 5; John 15:18–21. See also 5th Week of Easter, Saturday.

5th Week of Easter, Friday (2)

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In today’s First Reading the Council of Jerusalem concludes by sending a letter and envoys to Christians from a Gentile background, as well as the converts from Judaism who were telling them they had to be circumcised and follows Mosaic Law for salvation. Nothing more would be expected of them than had been expected of Gentiles living among Jews in the past (the norms mentioned in the letter come in part from Leviticus 17, which had norms for non-Jews living among Jews). Paul and Barnabas return to their Church to share the good news, and Judas and Silas come with them to show that the decision is legitimate.

When the letter is read to the Christians assembled in Antioch we can only imagine their relief. Jewish strictures were very demanding and would have involved a dramatic change of lifestyle for the Gentiles who were already trying to bring their lives into conformity with the Gospel. Here we see the birth pangs of the Church as she goes beyond the cultural confines of Judaism. Even today the faith goes beyond any one culture, while reflecting the culture of the believers who comprise the Church. The Gospel seeks to enrich every culture while not being enslaved to them, and that sense it will at times be counter-cultural.

Let’s not be shy about being counter-cultural if it means conforming our lives to the Gospel. If a decision comes between my culture and the Gospel, the Gospel should win.

Readings: Acts 15:22–31; Psalm 57:8–10, 12; John 15:12–17. See also 5th Week of Easter, Friday.