Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 58:7-10 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

Your light will shine like the dawn.

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and turn not from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you

and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer;

call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,

the clenched fist, the wicked word,

if you give your bread to the hungry,

and relief to the oppressed,

your light will rise in the darkness,

and your shadows become like noon.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 58:7-10 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the Lord:

“Is this not the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of injustice,

to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,

and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

“Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,

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 the yoke from among you,

the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness

and your gloom be like the noonday.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 111:4-9 (JB)

R. A light rises in the darkness for the upright.

or

R. Alleluia!

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:

he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,

he conducts his affairs with honour. R.

The just man will never waver:

he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord. R.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

open-handed, he gives to the poor;

his justice stands firm for ever.

His head will be raised in glory. R.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

I came to you to proclaim Christ crucified.

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,

I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you

in lofty words or wisdom.

For I decided to know nothing among you

except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I came to you in weakness and in fear

and in much trembling.

My speech and my proclamation

were not with plausible words of wisdom,

but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom

but on the power of God.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 8:12 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

the man who follows me

will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

John 8:12 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Matthew 5:13-16 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus went up the mountain and was joined by his disciples.

Then he began to teach them:

“You are the salt of the earth;

but if salt has lost its taste,

how can its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything,

but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket,

but on the lampstand,

and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.