Being a Light for Others, An Instrument of Peace, A Salty Seasoning to Bring Others to Christ and to Get into Heaven!

This week in church, the mass readings talk about how we need to be lights for others in darkness, we need to be instruments of peace for this world, we need to be salt, to season others and bring them to Christ, to get into Heaven too, to put people on the right track of discipleship for God so we can all get into Heaven and spend eternity with Jesus Christ! What a blessing! It will be so nice to be with my family again and even some of my grandparents that I never knew or met. I know them some as my parents must have been like them.  The just man is a light in darkness to the upright. That is what we all need to do. Today it is hard to find many upright, especially in our government and the elected and so-called leaders. Like the second reading says, our faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Put only God on a pedestal, trust only in Him! Remember what Jesus said, "I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life." God wants much of us, he wants our lights to shine for others, he believes that we must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father.  Be a light for others, the salt, show others about that city set up on that mountain, Heaven, so all know about where we can go when we leave this Earth School!  Take care of others! God wants us to spend eternity with Him! 

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Isaiah  58:7-10
Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
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.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

Alleluia
John 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."