Dear sisters and brothers, True religion demands giving justice to the poor. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
Sunday in Ordinary Time A
9 February 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
5th
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st Reading: Is 58:7-10
 7 Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed
and the homeless, cloth the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own. 8 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. 9
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; 10 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.

3. 1st Reading: Is 58:7-10
 7 Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed
and the homeless, cloth the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own. 8 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. 9
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; 10 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.
The focus is on giving justice.

4. 1st Reading: Is 58:7-10

7 Share your bread with the
hungry, shelter the oppressed
and the homeless, cloth the
naked when you see them, and
do not turn your back on your
own. 8 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. 9 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; 10 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.
Commentary
 In v.7, God commands us to do the
following:
– Feed the hungry
– Give sanctuary to the oppressed and
homeless
– Cloth the naked
– Pay attention to your own needy loved
ones

V.8 gives the reasons why we should be
just, charitable and kind:
– To shine, to bloom
– To quickly heal our own woundedness
– If we have been treated unjustly and
shabbily, we will be vindicated.
– God will be our rear guard so that no one
will stab us at the back.

V.9 further states the reasons why we
should love the poor and affected:
– When we pray, God will listen to us.
– Help will be forthcoming.

5. 1 Reading: Is 58:7-10
st

7 Share your bread with the
hungry, shelter the oppressed
and the homeless, cloth the
naked when you see them, and
do not turn your back on your
own. 8 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. 9 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; 10 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.
 In vv.9b-10a, God makes more
demands:
– To remove (fight against)
oppression
– To remove false accusations
(blaming, making others
scapegoats); to stop violating the
8th commandment, not to bear
false witness.
– To feed the hungry, as in v.7.
– To make the afflicted happy
 V.10b gives the reasons why
we should be just:
– To live in light, not in darkness
(confusion, crisis)
– To replace gloom (sadness) with
feelings of happiness.

6. Reflections on the 1st Reading
 God is not a wishy-washy and phoney God.
 God demands that we exercise justice and we
take care of the poor.
 It is for our own good.
 Don’t expect God to take care of you, if you don’t
take care of the poor.
 If you feel you are not happy and still in the dark,
maybe you are still living a selfish life, thinking
only of yourself and your personal interests, or,
you are not doing enough for the poor.

7. Resp. Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
 R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
 6 He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
 8 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
9 His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.

8. Resp. Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the
upright.

4 Light shines through the darkness for the
upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

8 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
9 His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
– The one who is gracious, and lends,
and justly deals with other people

6 He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting
remembrance.
7 An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

Commentary
 V.4 states that God loves the upright,
gracious, merciful and just.
 V.5 identifies who is just:
V.6 states the reward of living a just
life:
– He will not be thrown out of balance
– He will be fondly remembered
– He will not be carried away or
overwhelmed by bad news.

V.8 describes what a just man does:
– Lavishes the poor, gives not in small
quantity

In v.9, the just man will be
acknowledged by God. God will
always remember him.

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 God loves the righteous and just people, not only
the poor.
 Just people operate by God’s principles.
 They earn their living (merits) without cheating and
deceiving their clients and authorities.
 They are guided by moral and ethical principles.
 They are not afraid of being harassed.

10. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
 1 When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the
mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of
words or of wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know
nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ,
and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness
and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message
and my proclamation were not with persuasive
(words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of
spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not
on human wisdom but on the power of God.

11. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
 1 When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the
mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of
words or of wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know
nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ,
and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness
and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message
and my proclamation were not with persuasive
(words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of
spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not
on human wisdom but on the power of God.
The focus is on the power of God.

12. 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
 1 When I came to you,
brothers, proclaiming the
mystery of God, I did not come
with sublimity of words or of
wisdom. 2 For I resolved to
know nothing while I was with
you except Jesus Christ, and
him crucified. 3 I came to you
in weakness and fear and
much trembling, 4 and my
message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive
(words of) wisdom, but with a
demonstration of spirit and
power, 5 so that your faith
might rest not on human
wisdom but on the power of
God.
Commentary
 In v.1, Paul reminds the people how
he preached. He did not preach
with lofty words or the eloquence of
philosophers.
 In v.2, Paul is focused on Jesus
Christ crucified, not on anything
else.
 In v.3, Paul reiterates his approach
to them:
– in weakness and fear, not in human
persuasiveness
– But with the spirit and power (of
God). V.4
 V.5 states his reason:
– Your faith will be based on God’s
power not on human (his) wisdom,
or, on his power to persuade.

13. Reflections on the 2nd Reading
 We owe our faith from the power of God, not from
the wisdom of any human being.
 Our faith is a gift from God.
 We got it through self-effacing instruments of God,
like St. Paul.
 We did not become Christians because someone
deceived or sweet-talked us.
 It is a big privilege to have faith in Christ.

14. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,13-16
 13 "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. 14 You are the light of the
world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 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. 16 Just so, your light
must shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

15. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,13-16
 13 "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. 14 You are the light of the
world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 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. 16 Just so, your light
must shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
The focus is on being salt and light of the world.

16. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,13-16
A simple outline!
 Salt
 13 "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.
 Light
 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain
cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Just so, your light
must shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

17. Gospel Reading: Matthew 5,13-16
Salt
 13 "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.
Light
 14 You are the light of the
world. A city set on a
mountain cannot be
hidden. 15 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. 16 Just so,
your light must shine
before others, that they
may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly
Father.”
Commentary
 The passage is a continuation of the
sermon on the Mount.
 In v.13, Jesus uses a metaphor (salt)
to describe the Christians.
– Christians should be useful (give
taste, joy) to the world.
 In v.14, Jesus uses another
metaphor (light) to describe the
Christians.
– Christians should give light (radiate,
shine).
 Vv.14a-16 talk about the need to be
exposed to the world as Christians.
We do not hide our identity and our
works.
 V.16b states the reason why:
– People will see how good you are.
– They will glorify God because of you.

18. Reflections on the Gospel
 We, Christians, should come forward to be
recognized.
 We should not hide ourselves (our identity) under
the cloak of anonymity.
 We should learn that being salt and light to the
world is our mission.
 Christians must make a good impression to the
world and that we are useful to our fellow human
beings, and that our faith is relevant to them.

19. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading asks us to love the poor.
 The psalm tells us that God loves those who are
just and who love the poor.
 The second reading tells us that our faith comes
from the power of God, not from humans.
 The gospel reading asks us to be relevant to the
world.

20. How to develop your homily / sharing
 We, Christians, must have social orientation.
Meaning, we must live our faith in the social
milieu, not just in the comfort of our churches and
homes.
 We must develop a sense of radicalism (radix,
root).
 We must re-root our faith to its origins (biblical and
church traditions), and ground it in the society where
we find ourselves.
 Without radicalism, we live our faith in a vacuum
and that is not true faith.

21.  Radicalism should not be equated with Godless
ideologies.
 Christian radicalism is best practiced when we address the
“signs of the times” in the light of our faith.
 The “signs of the times” are numerous: widespread
poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, global warming,
environmental degradation, extreme weather conditions,
migration, religious intolerance, fundamentalism, violation
of human rights, animal rights, children’s rights, rights of
the unborn, militant extremism, racism, sexism, militarism,
terrorism, hegemonism, hedonism, Generation X, Lost
Generation, pre-marital sex, consumerism, pornography,
etc.
 The readings for this Sunday guide us how to be radical.

22.  The first reading commands us to go back to the
basics: to give food to the hungry, shelter to the
homeless, justice to the afflicted, etc.
 We cannot run away from these social
responsibilities, if we want to keep our relationship
with God intact.
 Radicalism is the passion to alleviate the situation
of the poor, to remove what makes them poor.
 If we help the poor, we will shine, we will be
happy. There will be peace and security.

23.  The psalm encourages us to be just.
 God loves the just, not the oppressive.
 The just do not cheat, deceive, manipulate and do
violence to the poor.
 They build a just society.
 They are not bystanders. They have initiatives.
They are well-motivated.
 They are technocrats with a social conscience.
 They study the social teachings of the Catholic
Church.

24.  The second reading tells us that our faith is rooted
in God.
 We become Christians by the power of God’s
grace, not by human eloquence.
 We trace the gift of our faith from the source of our
being, God.
 Our vocation is sacred.
 Our faith comes to naught when we disconnect
ourselves from Christ.
 Our preaching must be simple, not garbled with
gimmickry, tendencies to entertain, demagoguery,
highfalutin words and theological gobbledygook.
 Our mission must be rooted in our deep love of the
Christ Crucified.

25.  The gospel reading challenges us, Christians, to
exercise radicalism in the open.
 We should overcome our cowardice and timidity.
 We cannot be Christian radicals if we work in the
dark.
 We should stand proud of our faith and act
accordingly in front of the world, against all odds.
 Through our creativity, we make the message of
our faith palatable and credible to incredulous
people.

26.  The eucharist is the food of the just.
 When we worthily receive the Holy Eucharist, we
are re-rooting ourselves to Christ.
 In the eucharist, we, as salt and light of the world,
bear witness to Christ.

27. Our Context of Sin and Grace

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Unjust policies
No accountability
Withholds necessary
information
Social injustices
Without roots, rootless
Uprooted
Uncultured
Coward Christians
Religious services
becoming rock and roll
Liturgy served by people
without any sense of the
sacred.

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Honest
Just
Transparent
Accountable
Charitable institutions
Pondo ng Pinoy
Segunda Mana
God-fearing social and
economic engineers and
businessmen

28. Suggested Songs
 Come Build My Church
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZugkzkgjDk
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Cry of the Poor
Go Tell Everyone
Hesus na Aking Kapatid
 For back issues of the Bible Study
– https://sites.google.com/site/olasianofm/