These are some of my reflections on the 1st reading and the Gospel for today!
Reading 1IS 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.
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.
Gospel MT 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.”
One of the things I noticed in the 1st reading was that the Lord will answer “Here I am”. I am always used to the one with young Samuel in the temple and he says “Here am I” Often a response to a vocational call. In this reading it is the Lord saying “Here I am” When I call he is there!
Both readings speak of Light in darkness. When we do for the hungry and homeless, then our light will shine forth. Jesus speaks of setting our light where all can see it. So being a Christian, having the light of Christ burning within us invites a response to do for others and “the Glory of the Lord” will shine forth! Not only do we say “Here am I” but He also responds to us with “Here I am”!
The 1st reading in particular reminds me of St. Francis of Assisi. When on the way home from town after a day of caring for others, a brother reminded St. Francis that they had been going to town to preach that day. The response of St. Francis we preached all day, once in a while we have to use words. (paraphrased) The light of Christ definitely radiated from St. Francis of Assisi.
From what I can tell Pope Francis is an example of this and his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI paved the way.
We can reflect on how we have let the Light of Christ within us shine forth, how we have cared for another in need, today, yesterday, last week; and pray for the grace to care for those in need tomorrow too!
Have a great week!