REFLECTIONS: FR. JUDE'S -- FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

[desousa246@aol.com]

1-2-05 (Feb. 1, 2005)

Dear Friend,

Often when talking of believers, we talk of a 'practicing catholic' as one
who attends Sunday mass, as though practicing the faith meant only regular
attendance in church! Perhaps for some believers their faith begins and ends
with performing their Sunday obligation. But true faith is seen not merely
in the observance of ritual practices and obligations but in witnessing to
our faith in fulfilling our social obligations towards others. May His word
prod us to action. Have a 'concern-filled' weekend! -Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of the Year Faith seen in action 6-2-05
Readings: Isaiah 58: 7-10: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16;
In the first reading from Isaiah, the prophet speaks plainly about what is
expected of the true believer. In earlier Jewish history, fasting and fast
days were part of the liturgy, in which rich and poor 'humbled' themselves
before God. The rich fasted and expected a divine reply in the form of
greater prosperity. They asked why God did not answer their prayer. In today
's reading the prophet tells them that for fasting to be acceptable to God
it must be meaningful. Genuine fast before God requires the social awareness
and concern spelled out by the prophet. "Share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see naked..then your light
will shine like the dawn." It is by such action that genuine worship gives
glory to God.

Be not simply good..
Alexander Solzhenitsyn recalls, as he says, 'with shame', an incident he
witnessed when he was captain in the Russian army. "One day I saw a sergeant
of the secret police, on horseback, using a whip on a Russian soldier who
had been captured serving in a German unit. The man, naked from the waist
up, was staggering under the blows, his body covered in blood. Suddenly he
was me and cried out: "Mister Captain, save me!" "Any officer in any army in
the world should have put a stop to this torture, but I was a coward. I said
nothing, I did nothing. This picture has remained in my mind ever since." He
could have brought light into a dark situation but he didn't. "Be not simply
good," says Thoreau, "be good for something."
Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies'

In the second reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians,
Paul is addressing the various factions that were cropping up among the
Corinthians and their fascination for various philosophies that were in
circulation at that time. Paul tells them that he did not come to propose a
new philosophy of life but to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ. The only
knowledge I claim to have is about Jesus, and only about him as the
crucified Christ." Our faith has not to depend on human philosophy but on
the power of God.

Today's gospel speaks of the practical implications of being followers of
Jesus Christ. Jesus uses simple images which would be easily understood by
his Palestinian followers. "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light
of the world." His listeners knew how essential salt was in those days. In
fact people traded in salt as they traded in silver and gold. Salt was
essential to flavour and preserve food. Its absence in food was immediately
noticeable. Light too played an essential function of enlightening, guiding,
and making ordinary task possible. What Jesus is saying through these images
is that his disciples have an essential function to play in the world.
Belief has to be seen in action.

I have seen love in action.
A man visited Mother Teresa's home for the poor and dying in Calcutta. He
arrived just as the sisters were bringing in some of the dying off the
streets. They had picked up a man from the gutter, and he was covered with
dirt and sores. Without knowing that she was being watched, one of the
sisters began to care for the dying man. The visitor kept watching the
sister as she worked. He saw how tenderly she cared for the patient. He
noticed how as she washed the man she smiled at him. She did not miss a
detail in her attentive care for that dying man. After carefully watching
the Sister the visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, "When I came here
today I didn't believe in God, and my heart was full of hate. But now I am
leaving here believing in God. I have seen the love of God in action.
Through the hands of that Sister, through her tenderness, through her
gestures, which were so full of love for that wretched man, I have seen God's
love descend upon him. Now I believe."

Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies'
When Jesus spoke of letting our light shine among men he was not speaking of
parading our good works, or of attracting attention to ourselves. The
purpose of putting on the light is not that we might look at the light but
be able to see things and do whatever needs to be done. Our good deeds
should inspire others to do what needs to be done in their own lives. "Your
light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they
may give praise to your father in heaven." Our deeds do not have to be
spectacular because even little deeds done regularly can make a difference
in peoples lives. As Christians we have a very positive role to play in the
world. We have something to offer, something the world desperately needs,
even though it may not always welcome it.
Shedding light and witnessing to the light not only make people see things
clearly but it also puts our own life under the spot light; we can be
vulnerable and exposed. Yet the light should not be hidden it has to burn
brightly. Just as salt is worthless if it looses its saltiness and light is
useless if it is kept under covers, so the Christian life is meaningless
unless faith is witnessed in love and concern for others. Religion is no
private affair between me and my God. Our lives have to impact others and
lead them to God.

"A mother and her small child once drove past the restored home of Abraham
Lincoln in Springfield. It was night and the national shrine of the United
States was brightly lit. "Look, mama," the child said excitedly, "Mr. Lincoln 
has left his lights on." The mother smiled. "Yes" she replied; "he
left them on for the whole world to see." Although Lincoln has been dead
since 1865, he is still a tremendous inspiration to all people. But in a
much more true sense Christ, 'God from God, Light from Light' remains and
will remain to the end the shining beacon for all peoples of all times.
Christ has shared his light with us his disciples and asks us to be what we
are: the light of he world."- Vima Dasan.

May our lives and daily deeds proclaim our faith in God!

Fr. Jude Botelho
jude@netforlife.plus.com

PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my website:
www.netforlife.net Thank you!