Pastor's Message

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"I am the light of the world, says the Lord: whoever follows me will have the light of lifessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”   John 8.12         

       Three Sundays ago, Jesus was presented to us by Mathew, beginning the Mission of his Father, with the proclamation; “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

       Jesus then set to lay the Foundation of the New Israel, with the call of the first four Apostles (Peter and Andrew, James, and John) and all heeded the call with an immediate response.

        Last Sunday Jesus was presented to us as the “New Moses.”  The New Law Giver, who unlike Moses who had received God’s Commandments on Mount Sinai, Jesus, God with us, gave the law himself; Revealing the will of God that brings fullness of Life in His Kingdom.

        Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God, Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted, Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth, Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied, Blessed are they who are merciful for they shall have mercy shown them. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. …

       Today, Jesus reveals the Mission or say the motivation of those who live the virtues listed in the beatitudes. You, the faithful disciple, “are the salt of the earth!” “Are the Light of the World!” “Are a City set upon a Mountain!”

        By this, Jesus affirms, our significance in the World. We are indispensable, for without faithful disciples, the World is tasteless and dark! This is great responsibility, yet with it, Jesus elevates a disciple, to a honorable position. He elevates us into a position closer to himself, because as He said in St John’s Gospel; He, Himself is the true light of the World;

       Jesus calls us to this noble mission; for a reason; “that others may see our good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven!” And which are these “Good Deeds?” Isaiah, the Prophet, in the first reading today, reminds his fellow Jews, what God commanded them to practice; charity towards their needy neighbors.

       It’s only by doing this, that they could prove their love for God and expect God to respond in return;

       “If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious talk, if you bestow your bread on the hungry, shelter for the homeless and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall break forth for you like the dawn! And you shall cry for help, and the Lord will answer: Here I am!”

       God responds to our availability to him and our generosity to our neighbor, with the gift of his presence. Blessed are you, because you believe.