Sunday Readings for February 7-8, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For On Mission
The first reading this week begins with a short but powerful exhortation from the prophet Isaiah. “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own” (Is 58:7). In our self-centered and materialistic culture, we must pay attention to these words of wisdom from an ancient prophet.
We live in a world of both physical and spiritual hunger. We live in a world of political oppression. We meet the homeless on our streets. We see people suffering in the cold because of insufficient clothing. Do we turn our back on all of this, or do we do as Isaiah exhorts us and care for those in need to the best of our ability?
Following the quoted passage, Isaiah proclaims the results of caring for others. He tells us that our light will break forth like the dawn. He continues, “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” (Is 58:9-10). In other words, when we take care of those in need, God will inevitably take care of us because of our generosity and care for others.
Jesus, in the Gospel reading, echoes Isaiah’s counsels in the Sermon on the Mount. When he tells us, his disciples, that they are the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world,” he indicates that they are to be the source of goodness in the world just as salt, unseen and often unacknowledged, flavors a whole dish of food. So too the disciples bring a new delight to the world by their care for others. And, when he tells them to be the light of the world, he indicates their actions and words teach about the God who loves and nourishes all of his children.
These are important words as we try to navigate our lives in a world of dissension, division, and jealousy. The news media inform us day by day of the many ways that we do not care for those in need. We see pictures and hear stories of children who struggle to stay alive, much less pursue an education and develop into upright adults. We have the homeless who live under bridges during cold weather. Yes, Isaiah and Jesus speak to us about care for these people. If we truly want to be salt of the earth and light of the world, then Jesus and Isaiah give us a map for achieving our goal.
Martin Luther King, Jr., in one of his sermons, makes this comment, which can serve as a summary for our readings this week: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”
The readings for Sunday, February 8, can be found at Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.