5 February Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“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 lamp stand, 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” (Mt 5:14-16).
Communion Connection –
Christians must live in the world because of a responsibility, a mission before all people: that of being the light that shines. This light is made visible through “good works.” For Christians, “good works” refer not only to isolated works of charity, but to their complete adherence to the will of God so that his or her entire life becomes a “good work”. In this way, they live their lives with a new spirit, that spirit by which it is no longer they who live, but Christ who lives in them. – adapted from Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life http://www.focolare.org/en/news/1999/02/01/febbraio-1999/
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/salt-light-and-a-city-set-on-a-hill/1025/
12 February Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven’” (Mt 5:17-19).
Communion Connection –
Jesus invites us to proclaim his Gospel. But before we “teach” His words, He asks us to “obey” them. In order to be credible, we should strive to become experts in the Gospel, a living Gospel. In this way we will be able to witness to it with our lives and teach it with our words. What is important is to maintain the presence of Jesus among us through our mutual love, to be docile in listening to His voice—the voice of our conscience that always speaks to us if we know how to practice holy silence. – adapted from Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2008/02/01/febbraio-2008/
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/extreme-demand-extreme-mercy/1026/
19 February Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust’” (Mt 5:43-45).
Communion Connection –
Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it – and He teaches that we are called to do the same. Civil law allows for retribution when a wrong is done, but Jesus tells us that our call as children of God is to imitate God’s by mercy. Only with such a divine response of love, mercy, and kindness will it be possible to transform the world from one of violence into one of the kingdom of heaven.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/be-perfect/919/
- USCCB Reflections Video http://bcove.me/igk55qbj
26 February Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky, they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?’” (Mt 6:25-26).
Communion Connection –
Jesus is fully human. In his life on earth, He experienced human needs for food, shelter, and clothing. However, true to all of His teachings, Jesus shows us how not to be preoccupied about things of this world – even basic needs. He keeps His eyes fixed on the providence and will of God the Father, and that’s where He directs our gaze and dependence, as well. The object of our deep concern needs only to be seeking the kingdom of God, and from there all will fall into its rightful place.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/seek-ye-first/920/
- USCCB Reflections Video http://bcove.me/g81ytw80
