Scripture Reflections for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Paul's missionary activity according to Acts is never just he's a really good preacher, he's really persuasive...but he also performs signs and wonders to back up his preaching. He performs miracles that testify to the truth of his preaching.”

“A number of scholars have suggested this, that when Jesus refers to his disciples as the 'salt of the earth' he's not just talking about common everyday salt...but that he's in a sense using this as a metaphor and likening them to the salt of the Covenant sacrifices that would be offered to God in the temple”

“the goal of performing these good works he makes clear here is not so that each individual person would get glory but so that God the Father might be glorified”

“there's a presence of God, as a matter of fact, in everyone whether they go to church or not. God is present in each and every person in the world and so our work is to draw out the flavors of the divine presence in other people.”

“Jesus challenges his disciples then and challenges us today to be people who affect change in the midst of a twisted world, in the midst of mean, nasty world...we're called to make a difference”

“Christians are the light of the world. Christians do not become light by their own power. Their responsibility is to show who they are as evidence of the grace of God.”

“Whatever humility is, it’s certainly not a denial of God’s gifts. For evil to thrive it is sufficient that good people do nothing. If we don’t shine others are deprived of light.”

“Mercy requires a change in heart and a transformation at our core. Living mercifully means giving from my whole heart so that my hands, my feet, my voice, my actions mimic God's reconciling and restorative work in the world.”

“My deepest prayer is that we remember what it means to be salt and light as we near the Lenten season when we feel hopeless, darkness or that we have lost our taste, we keep our gaze transfixed on God and keep our peripherals open and aware of our faithful youth.”

“Because when you and I are able to let go of things in our life that holds us back, that confuse us, that keep us depressed or angry for years. When we are able to do that, what happens people of God? The grace given to us in our baptism can rise up and we can shine.”

“if you're going to be a disciple of Jesus and follow the Sermon on the Mount you really don't have a choice, so to speak, when it comes to engaging in acts of charity, works of mercy, and evangelization”

“what is God calling us today as we listen to his word to preserve? Is it my Christian faith? Is it the lives of others?”

“Caring effectively for the oppressed in our world requires a radical transformation. It will take more than seasonal or one-time efforts like food drives and service trips. It will take nothing less than the gospel call to conversion to go beyond our small self to a higher mind and consciousness.”