A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 9, n. 11)
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – February 5, 2011 *
“Radiate the Light of Christ Crucified”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 58:7-10 // I Cor 2:1-5 // Mt 5:13-16
(N.B. Series 9 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year A from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 3. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 6.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
Last Sunday’s liturgy proclaimed the Beatitudes, a program of discipleship. The Beatitudes delineate the inner disposition of a disciple. As God’s “blessed”, we are invited by this Sunday’s liturgy to be deeply aware of our Christian dignity and responsibility as “salt of the earth” and “light of the world”.
The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 4, remark: “Those whom Jesus declares blessed already possess the kingdom, although in a hidden manner. However, they must make it shine upon the world according to what they are and what they do. Therefore, with the Beatitudes, this text acts as an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount and the demands of the conformity to the Gospel.”
With powerful images, today’s Gospel reading (Mt 5:13-16) depicts the intense demands of Christian discipleship. Just as insipid salt is of no use in flavoring or preserving food, so too the so-called “disciples” are of no use if they fail to live as Christ teaches. The corruption of the best is the worst. Those called to be the greatest constitute the worst tragedy if they fail. The liturgical scholar Adrian Nocent asserts: “We have become the salt of the earth by reason of our baptism; we must continue to be the salt for the world and develop the power given us and the dynamic, outgoing energy that in principle is at our disposal. Christ still stands before us with the example of his life, and we are forced to ask ourselves to what extent each Christian in the Church is truly salt for the world.”
Moreover, the Christian disciples – as light of the world - are personally called to bring the light of salvation to others. In order to be a light in the darkness, we must proclaim the Messiah who has come and saved the world. Adrian Nocent explains: “Christians must remember that while they may be legitimately proud of sharing in Christ’s work and his Spirit-inspired activity in the world, they must not communicate their own light but that of Christ, who has come to enlighten every man. The Christian’s activity should lead all men to praise the Father for what he has done. The basis for praising God is the marvelous deeds he has done, and the Christian should be one of these deeds that leads men to the wonder and praise of the Lord. When men thus glorify God, it is a sign of their conversion. Thus the Christian is really called to shed a light that will lead to the salvation of his fellowmen.”
The image of the city set on a mountain reinforces the ecclesial nature of our Christian vocation. We must fulfill our mission of salvation together as Church. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 4, elucidate: “A town built on a hill appears from afar at night only because of all the lamps burning in the houses. One isolated candle does not produce much light, but many little lamps together show the way. One Christian holding high his or her lamp can encourage the others, perhaps more timid, to also place their lamps on stands. Thus preached by a handful of people wholeheartedly given to Christ, the gospel sets the world ablaze.”
Against the backdrop of the Old Testament reading (Is 58:7-10), our Christian vocation to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” impels us to social responsibility. We need to care for the physical needs of the hungry, the oppressed, the homeless and the vulnerable. We would make a difference to the world only if we become a community of justice. In our ministry to the poor and the lowly, our light shall break forth like the dawn. Through us, God’s covenant people, the glory of the Lord will shine to all nations.
This Sunday’s Second Reading (I Cor 2:1-5) intensifies the Christian character of our vocation as “light of the world”. Adrian Nocent explicates: “The light we are to bring is light concerning the central object of our faith, namely, Christ crucified. It is for this that the Spirit fills us with his power. To bring light to others, then, means to enable them to meet Christ, the crucified Messiah who is now the risen Lord of glory. True faith is not grounded in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. For a man to receive the gift of faith, the light, is for him to encounter the mystery of Christ or Christ himself in his paschal mystery.”
The following story, circulated through the Internet, is dreamlike and fanciful. But it gives us an insight into how we can radiate the saving light of Christ Crucified and how in our suffering, helplessness and loving we can be light for others, especially the despondent and grieving.
She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: “How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?” The surgeon said, “I’m sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn’t make it.”
Sally said, “Why do little children get cancer? Doesn’t God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?”
The surgeon asked, “Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he’s transported to the university.”
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said goodbye to her son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. “Would you like a lock of his hair?” the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy’s hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.
The mother said, “It was Jimmy’s idea to donate his body to the University for study. He said it might help somebody else. “I said no at first, but Jimmy said, ‘Mom, I won’t be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.” She went on, “My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always waiting to help others if he could.”
Sally walked out of Children’s Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy’s belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy’s belongings and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son’s room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep. It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on bed was a folded letter. The letter said:
Dear Mom, I know you’re going to miss me; but don’t think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just ‘cause I’m not around to say ‘I love you’. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won’t be so lonely, that’s okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn’t like the same things us boys do. You’ll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don’t be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got there and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn’t look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God’s knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important.
That’s when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you goodbye and everything. But I already knew that wasn’t allowed. Well, you know what, Mom? God handed me some paper and His personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God wants me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him ‘Where was He when I needed him?’
God said He was in the same place with me, as when His Son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I’ve written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn’t that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Books of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I’m sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don’t hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I’m glad because I couldn’t stand that pain anymore and God couldn’t stand to see me hurt so much, either. That’s when He sent the Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery. How about that?
Signed with love from God, Jesus and me
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Do we endeavor to care for the poor and the lowly and enable the light of God’s love to break forth like the dawn?
How do we concretize our Christian vocation to be light of the world and salt of the earth?
How do we radiate the light of Christ Crucified?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving God,
you gave us the beatitudes of your kingdom.
We thank you for making us blessed
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He calls us to be light of the world and salt of the earth.
By our caring love and grace-filled compassion,
enable us to radiate the light of salvation
to the poor and lowly,
to the weak and suffering,
to the lonely and oppressed.
Above all, teach us to radiate the light of the Crucified Christ
who is now the risen Lord in glory.
Help us to light one faith-candle each day
and be filled with the strength of your Holy Spirit.
We put our tiny lights together
and as a community of faith,
we shine forth as a radiant city on mountaintop.
By the saving light of Christ,
assist us to dispel the gloom
of today’s confused world that negates your love.
As salt of the earth,
give us the energy to serve you mightily
and work zestfully for your eternal kingdom.
You are font of radiant light and wellspring of eternal life.
Grant that we may bask in your marvelous love,
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (cf. I Cor 2:2)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray that we may have deeper strength and inspiration to be faithful to our vocation to be light of the world and salt of the earth. By your kind deeds to the poor and lowly, the weak and defenseless, the suffering and vulnerable, enable the light of Christ to shine mightily in today’s world.
ACTION PLAN: That we may experience deeply and witness more powerfully our vocation to be light of the world and salt of the earth, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year A, vol. 7, # 11).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US