A New Presentation for Sunday's Liturgy

Let your light shine!
5th Sunday in Ordi.ary Time
February 6, 2005

Click here to download:
(English - 2.12MB, Maltese - 2.3MB, Vietnamese - 2.4MB)
Flash presentation

This presentation is originally prepared in Spanish by
Fr. Cristo Rey García Paredes, cmf.
The original version,along with other very useful materials for pastoral agents and Christians in general can be found at: http://ciudadredonda.org

February 6, 2005 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Light Should Shine: Salt Should Make Tasty

Readings:
Is 58:7-10; Ps 112:4-5,6-7,8-9; 1 Cor 2:1 - 5; Mt 5:13 - 16

Commentaries / Gospel Reflections from:
Daily Gospel • Preaching the Word • Sundays Into Silence

Greeting

The Lord Jesus, the light of the world,
gathers us together.
May our faces reflect his light
and may he always be with you.
R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

What is striking in today's message is how much trust Christ puts in us, perhaps more than we do in him. He entrusts to us the mission of being his light shining in the world, the salt that preserves and spices the world with the aroma of the gospel, the mission of being a city of light that attracts people to the Lord. What a responsibility! Today, let us ask Jesus to kindle his light in us.

Penitential Act

How little the light of Christ has shone in us!
Let us seek the Lord's pardon.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you are the true light
that enlightens all people:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you said of yourself:
I am the light of the world;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you tell us:
You are the light of the world.
Your light must shine in people's sight:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Lord, let the light of your mercy
take away from us the darkness of sin.
Give us the light of life
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that we may do the good works
that lead people to God
(PAUSE)
Loving Father,
we are important to you,
for you keep entrusting to us the mission
of making your name and your love known.
Strengthen us in our weakness,
make us savor the message of the gospel,
that in the footsteps of your Son Jesus
we may bring your light and taste to the world
and carry out this task with great joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: Let Your Light Shine On All People
      The prophet tells us today: God will be near to you and you will shine with his light if you are near to the needy around you.

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10

Thus says the Lord:

Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house the homeless, clothe the one you see naked and do not turn away from your own kin.
Then will your light will break forth as the dawn and your healing come in a flash.
Your righteousness will be your vanguard, the Glory of Yahweh your rearguard.
Then you will call and Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.

If you remove from your midst the yoke, the clenched fist and the wicked word, if you share your food with the hungry and give relief to the oppressed, then your light will rise in the dark, your night will be like noon.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. The just man is right in darkness to the upright.

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 right in darkness to the upright.

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 right in darkness to the upright.

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 right in darkness to the upright.

Second Reading Introduction: I Bear Witness to the Crucified Christ
       St Paul reflects on his mission: it is not by philosophizing and making speeches that I preach Christ but by bearing witness to the crucified Lord.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came, my brothers and sisters, to reveal to you the mystery of God's plan I did not count on eloquence or on a show of learning. I was determined not to know anything among you but Jesus, the Messiah, and a crucified Messiah. I myself came weak, fearful and trembling; my words and preaching were not brilliant or clever to win listeners. It was, rather, a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might be a matter, not of human wisdom, but of God's power.

Gospel Introduction: Salt and Light of the World
       According to Jesus, our task in the world is to live according to the Gospel, so that God's light can shine in the world.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its strength, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead it is put on a lampstand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your Father in heaven."

Commentary

WE are told what we are-salt of the earth, light for the world, those who show forth the Father's goodness to others so that they come to praise our Father. How? Isaiah reminds us: Share our bread with the hungry, provide shelter and dignity, care for our own-be compassionate, enlarge the boundaries of our justice and care for others and our light will break forth like the dawn! And in so doing we will be healed, our prayers heard and God will be near us. But we must be on guard not to lose our saltiness-not to resist or take the Word of God for granted or to let our light go out-or lost in the world's false brightness, as the stars cannot be seen because of the lights of a city dimming their sight. We, together, and separately must practice justice and be holy if we are the beloved children of our Father.

Read also Sundays Into Silence:
Is Meditation Dangerous?

General Intercessions

Let us now pray to the Father of light that we may truly become the salt and the light of the world. Let us say:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

- That there may be more love on earth, Lord, we ask you to dispose people to be more understanding and friendlier to one another and to share more readily with those in need, so we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

- That there may be greater justice on earth, dispose governments and public officials to make room in their priorities and budgets for the socially deprived and those out of jobs, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

- That there may be more peace on earth, dispose all nations to put an end
to words of hatred and threats of revenge, we pray:
R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

- That there may be more joy on earth, dispose all those who follow your Son to show sympathy and affection to one another, to be faithful in our friendships and concerned about our communities, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

- That there may be more faith on earth, dispose all your sons and daughters to live as children of light before you and in the sight of people, we pray: R/ Lord, let your light shine in us.

Lord God, we pray that your light may shine on all the earth. However limited we are, let our words and actions reflect the light of your love, in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Our God and Father,
your Son Jesus gives himself to us
in these signs of bread and wine
as our tasty food and our drink of joy.
By the power that is in him,
help us to bear witness
that life is meaningful and worth living.
Make us people-for-others with Jesus,
that our sense of justice and sharing
may give a taste for life and love
to those around us,
that they may see that your Son
is here with us, now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let us give thanks to the Father in heaven that he has let the light of Jesus shine in us so that we too can become lights to the people around us.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

Through the Spirit of Jesus
alive in our hearts,
we pray to our Father in heaven
in the words of Jesus himself: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and set us free from the fear
of letting the light of your Son shine
in the darkness of the world.
However dim and wavering,
may our timid lights shine,
until you let us encounter for ever
the true light of earth and heaven,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus the Lord.
He said of himself:
I am the light of the world.
He says to us:
You are the salt that should give taste
to the life of the people around you.
You are the light of the world
that should not remain hidden.
Happy are we, for the Lord trusts us
and invites us to receive him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
you have given us the salt and light
of your Word and the Bread of life.
May they make your Christian community
a city of light on a hill-top
to bear witness to your integrity,
love and justice in this world.
Accept our humble thanks
for calling us to praise your name
and sustain us by the power of him
who is the light of the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

May our love be like salt
that makes life tasty and worthwhile.
May our Christian living be a light
to those who live in darkness.
May our Christian communities
be cities of light to be seen from afar
as signs that God lives and works in his people.
And may God bless you all for this mission:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go now, and let the light of Christ shine
on all those who live around you. R/ Thanks be to God.

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