We’re back to Ordinary time this weekend after last Sunday’s Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. We continue reading from Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus is publicly ministering. We hear about the salt of the earth – what good is salt that loses its taste? None. We also hear about being the light of the world, not to be put under a bushel basket (who knows what a ‘bushel basket’ is anymore? Traditionally it’s made of wood; in movies, you may see it in an apple orchard – google it for a picture!). Our lamp must sit on top of a mountain, glorifying God in all we do.
Our opening hymn is “O God, Beyond All Praising” which accentuates the entrance antiphon from Psalm 95: O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.”
Our song during the preparation of the altar is “All That is Hidden” which pulls on the Gospel message: “What you have hear in the dark, proclaim in the light; what you hear in whispers proclaim from the housetops.” The verses of this song speak of the ways, or ‘good deeds’ as the Gospel states, that we can ‘proclaim from the housetops’: by following Him, honoring Him, speaking of Him, living in Him, rising with Him, being reborn with Him.
Our first Communion hymn also speaks of the ways in which we can do ‘good deeds’: “May we who eat be bread for others. May we who drink pour out our love.” (Bread for the World) Our second Communion song does likewise: “in the bread we share with the hungry, in the help we give to the poor, in the kindness we show to the stranger we find Christ the open door.” (As Christ is For Us) Sounds like the same message we heard from the Archbishop in his annual Call to Share appeal. Which, if you haven’t returned your pledge, whether it be monetary or prayer, please do so today!
We conclude our mass with “We are the Light of the World”, a good ‘oldie’ that speaks of the ideas found in the Beatitudes – a wonderful collection of ways to do good deeds, and the refrain is a great summary of today’s Gospel:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed are the meek and humble
Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice
Blessed are the merciful
Blessed are the clean and holy
Blessed are those who bring peace
Blessed are those who suffer persecution
Theirs is the kingdom of God.
We are the light of the world, may our light shine before all,
That they may see the good that we do, and give glory to God.