Matthew 5:13-16 Lux Lucis

Sunset over Sea of Galilee 

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Year A

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Mass Introduction.

The Gospel is very brief.

Jesus talks of only two things; SALT and LIGHT. Three out of the four verses are about LIGHT, and LIGHT in seven guise..
… light of the world …  light a lamp …  lampstand (candleambrum-Vulgate) … gives light to all in the house … your light so shine …

LIGHT metaphor of good works and, in a turn, metaphor of virtue – in the Amplified Bible more enlarged; “moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds”.

Preaching tends to moralizing.

I prefer the mysticism of Jesus words as in Saint John Chrysostom, “The word "virtue" had a richer connotation in Greek religious thought than it has for us. It is really a synonym for holiness. Plato defines it as an imitation of the divine nature”.

We begin Mass in the prayer context of Matt. 5:16; “seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven."

Bidding Prayer.

We pray to our Father in acclaiming the holiness of God.

… Heavenly Father whenever we pray, you answer.
In the Holy Spirit, you help us.

In the presence of the Angels we sing your praise,
through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Your light must shine!    

[(Mt 5:16.Vulgate)  sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus ut videant vestra bona opera et glorificent Patrem vestrum qui in caelis est.

Dom Columban, first Abbot of Nunraw, wanted to have the words Lux Lucis as on the AbbeyArms. For some reason he had to accept the words Ut Luceat Omnibus on the Heraldic Shield.]

Saint John Chrysostom - From a baptismal homily.

(Huit Catecheses Baptismales, Cat. 4, 18-21.26.33: SC 50, 192-193.196.199)

This homily, given at Antioch probably on Easter Sunday or Monday of 389 or 390, was addressed to the whole Christian assembly as well as to the newly baptized. All are exhorted to be faithful to their baptism by living virtuous lives, in order that God may be praised. The word "virtue" had a richer connotation in Greek religious thought than it has for us. It is really a synonym for holiness. Plato defines it as an imitation of the divine nature.

• We who have once for all clothed ourselves in Christ, and been made worthy to have him dwelling within us, may show everyone, if we choose, simply by the strict discipline of our life and without saying a word, the power of him who dwells in us. Therefore Christ said:     light so shine before all, that people may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven. This is a light that reaches not only the bodily senses, but illuminates also the beholder's mind and soul. It disperses the darkness of evil, and invites those who encounter it to let their own light shine forth, and to follow the example of virtue.
• Let your light shine before all, Christ said; and he used the words before all advisedly. He meant, "Let your light be so bright that it illuminates not only yourself, but shines also before those needing its help." As the light our senses perceive puts darkness to flight, and enables those travelling along a road perceptible to the senses to follow a straight course, so also the spiritual light which shines from blameless conduct illuminates those who cannot see clearly how to live a virtuous life, because their spiritual eyesight has been blurred by the darkness of error. It purifies their inward vision, leads them to live upright lives, and makes them walk henceforward in the path of virtue.
• That people may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven. Christ  means: Let your virtue, the perfect of your life, and the performance of good works inspire those who see you to praise the common Master of us all And so I beg each of you to strive to live so perfectly that the Lord may be praised by all who see you. By the perfection of your lives attract to yourselves the grace of the Spirit, so that the Church of God may exult and be full of joy at your progress, so that the Lord of all creation may be glorified, and so that we may all be found worthy of the kingdom of heaven by the grace, mercy, and goodness of God's only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, might, and honor now and for ever and for endless ages. Amen.

The Lighthouse