Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - A – February 9, 2014

Salt and Light

How are we like salt? How are we like light? These two simple images are powerful simply because they are so common and have been so for thousands of years. The question the readings present to us is: How are we like salt and light for the Lord?

BLOG LINK  What defines our "slat and light?"

MP3 PODCAST In this audio podcast, we’ll discuss the almost universal metaphors of salt and light, and how Jesus gave those metaphors a direction.

FIRST READING Isaiah 58 spoke to a callous and dejected populace: “Share with others and you will see the light of YHWH.”

PSALM In Psalm 112, the author addressed immature spirituality, a view of God’s blessings as immediate gratification or somehow earned. The psalmist pointed to a spirituality that was greater than the self.

SECOND READING St. Paul told his audience in Corinth that the power of his preaching did not come from his eloquence or his insight, but from the power of the message: Christ crucified.

GOSPEL In Matthew 5, Jesus used the metaphors of salt and light to describe the true disciple, the one who lived out the Beatitudes.

CHILDREN’S READINGS In the story for the first reading, we compare selfless Sandy to selfish Jerry. Who let’s their light shine and not live in the dark? In the story for the gospel, we hear the true story of Billy the high school wrestler, the handicapped boy who’s gritty determination was a light to all who saw him compete.

CATECHSIM LINK In the Catechism Link for this week, we explore the Communion of Saints.

FAMILY ACTIVITY In this week’s family activity, experiment with salt and dirt to show the power of the salt metaphor.