Remember
where your Light
came from,
and shine
ever more brightly
into the deep
dark starvation
of this world.
This poem was inspired by the following scripture:
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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.
Reading 2 1 COR 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
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.”
Lord in this world of illusion where it can be so tempting to glorify ourselves, give us the grace to live for the glory of Your heavenly father. Give us Your heart for the poor, and guide us to the way we can live our lives in service of those, who are most in need of our help. Give us the courage to shine Your Light into the darkest corners of poverty, oppression and self absorption, which cause so much suffering in the world today. Bless our work by the power of Your spirit, in spite of our human weaknesses. In Jesus name, we pray.
What prayer does this week’s gospel message inspire in your heart? What action is Christ calling you to through these words? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 2/8/2020