Word to the Wise
Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Isa 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Matt 5:13-16]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. [Isaiah] "You are the salt of the earth......the light of the world" [Matthew]
One might wonder what Isaiah would say to us if he were living today? He'd probably say the same things!! Certainly our news and social medias provide us with enough news of and samples of oppression, false accusation and malicious speech! When Jesus speaks in the gospel scripture today about our light shining before others, how bright is it? We have a secular symbol called the Statue of Liberty with a torch held high. Who can see it for what it means?
Is it that there is a lack of others doing "good deeds?" I don't think so. Every day there are good people reaching out to the poor, hungry, naked and afflicted in our land. But the task is enormous and never-ending.
The simple fact is that our faith must be lived every day. Our political system provides us with more than enough malicious speech and false accusation, despite the good intentions of those who undertake public political service. At times it appears that their faith is excluded from the decisions that result and the burden of good people doing good things on the local level is increased because of political decisions.
Christianity is not simply a private thing. It is meant to be lived in the "public arena." If Christian values are excluded from our national identity and civic life in the name of separation of church and state, then almost "anything goes." Jesus and Isaiah offer a challenge to us all, locally and nationally!! AMEN