Ayo Michael

HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10. Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 111(112):4-9. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16
Imagine visiting your brother or sister for a few days. On the first evening, after long conversations outside, you both come inside and there is power failure. He or she lights a lamp but places it under the table. Naturally, you would ask: Why hide the lamp? Put it on the table so it gives light all around. Just as it is surprising to see someone puts a light in a hidden place, so also it is surprising to see a Christian not perform good deeds.
The readings today form a beautiful harmony. Isaiah reminds us that true worship is not ritual alone but justice, mercy, and compassion. Paul shows us that the gospel is not about lofty words or human wisdom but about the power of God revealed in Christ crucified. And Jesus calls his disciples the salt of the earth, the light of the world, inviting them to live in such a way that others are drawn to God.
In our first reading, Isaiah speaks of fasting that pleases God: loosening the bonds of injustice, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked. This is worship lived out in love. When we live like this, Isaiah says, “Your light will break forth like the dawn.” Our care for one another becomes the very place where God’s presence shines.
The psalmist echoes this in Psalm 111: “The good man is a light in the darkness.” How? By being generous, merciful, and just. As a people called to be salt and light, we must reflect on the following questions: Do I welcome the poor at my door? Do I share food with the hungry? Do I defend the unjustly treated? Do I stand for the truth? Whenever we do, we bring light. Whenever we don’t, we leave others in darkness. We all remember people who have been a light in our lives, through generosity, honesty, or faithfulness. They showed us something of Christ. That is what we are called to be; living witnesses whose actions shine before others. Jesus says: “Your light must shine in the sight of men, so that seeing your good works; they may give praise to your Father.” (Matt. 5:16)
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that the gospel is not about clever rhetoric or polished performance. He came in weakness, fear, and trembling, relying only on the Spirit and power of God. His humility teaches us that our witness does not depend on our eloquence but on the authenticity of our lives. When we live simply and faithfully, Christ himself is revealed.
Finally, Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” Salt preserves and seasons; light dispels darkness. We are called to live visibly, like a city on a hill, so that others may see our good works and give glory to God. Our lives must not be hidden lamps but shining lamps pointing to Christ.
Isaiah calls us to justice and compassion, Paul calls us to humility and reliance on God’s power, Jesus calls us to be visible witnesses, shining light in a dark world. The message is clear: our worship, our preaching, our Christianity and discipleship must all converge in one reality, i.e, living love. When we feed the hungry, defend the oppressed, live humbly, and act with integrity, we become salt and light. We become the living gospel that others can see and touch.
You are the light of the world, let your light shine before others in Justice and Compassion; ask yourself each day: Did I loosen someone’s burden today? Share something tangible this week; it could be food, clothing, or time with someone in need. Let your light shine before others in Humility and Simplicity; Speak or act with sincerity rather than trying to impress. Rely on God’s strength instead of your own pride. Let your light shine before others in Visibility and Witness; ask yourself whether your actions point others towards God. Do one good deed openly, not for praise, but for others to see God’s love through you.
So as we go forth this week, let us ask: Where can I be salt? Where can I be light? In my family, among my friends, in my workplace, in the church community, with strangers I meet; let my life shine so that others may see Christ through me. If the light of one small candle can pierce the deepest night, then, together, our lights can illuminate the world.
…REV. MICHAEL ESHIOKE AYO.

THE TRUTH OF THE LORD ENDURES FOR EVER

You thunder your judgements upon me, O Lord; you shake all my bones with fear and dread, and my soul becomes severely frightened. I am bewildered when I realise that even the heavens are not pure in your sight.
If you discovered iniquity in the angels and did not spare them, what will become of me? The stars fell from heaven, and I, mere dust, what should I expect? Those whose works seemed praiseworthy fell to the depths, and I have seen those who once were fed with the bread of angels take comfort in the husks of swine.
There is no holiness where you have withdrawn your hand, O Lord; no profitable wisdom if you cease to rule over it; no helpful strength if you cease to preserve it. If you forsake us, we sink and perish; but if you visit us, we rise up and live again. We are unstable, but you make us firm; we grow cool, but you inflame us.
All superficial glory has been swallowed up in the depths of your judgement upon me.
What is all flesh in your sight? Can the clay be glorified in opposition to its Maker?
How can anyone be stirred by empty talk if his heart is subject in the truth to God?
If a man is subject to truth, possession of the whole world cannot swell him with pride; nor will he be swayed by the flattery of his admirers, if he has established all his trust in God.
For those who do nothing but talk amount to nothing; they fail with their din of words, but ‘the truth of the Lord endures for ever’.

From "The Imitation of Christ"

THE LORD HAS HAD PITY ON US.

Happy are we if we do the deeds of which we have heard and sung. Our hearing of them means having them planted in us, while our doing them shows that the seed has borne fruit. By saying this, I wish to caution you, dearly beloved, not to enter the Church fruitlessly, satisfied with mere hearing of such mighty blessings and failing to do good works. For we have been saved by his grace, says the Apostle, and not by our works, lest anyone may boast; for it is by his grace that we have been saved. It is not as if a good life of some sort came first, and that thereupon God showed his love and esteem for it from on high, saying: “Let us come to the aid of these men and assist them quickly because they are living a good life.” No, our life was displeasing to him. He will, therefore, condemn what we have done but he will save what he himself has done in us.

We were not good, but God had pity on us and sent his Son to die, not for good men but for bad ones, not for the just but for the wicked. Yes, Christ died for the ungodly. Notice what is written next: One will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. Perhaps someone can be found who will dare to die for a good man; but for the unjust man, for the wicked one, the sinner, who would be willing to die except Christ alone who is so just that he justifies even the unjust?

And so, my brothers, we had no good works, for all our works were evil. Yet although men’s actions were such, God in his mercy did not abandon men. He sent his Son to redeem us, not with gold or silver but at the price of his blood poured out for us. Christ, the spotless lamb, became the sacrificial victim, led to the slaughter for the sheep that were blemished – if indeed one can say that they were blemished and not entirely corrupt. Such is the grace we have received! Let us live so as to be worthy of that great grace, and not do injury to it. So mighty is the physician who has come to us that he has healed all our sins! If we choose to be sick once again, we will not only harm ourselves, but show ingratitude to the physician as well.

Let us then follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us. He showed us that path by his precepts, and he himself followed it by his suffering on our behalf. In order to die for us – because as God he could not die – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The immortal One took on mortality that he might die for us, and by dying put to death our death. This is what the Lord did, this the gift he granted to us. The mighty one was brought low, the lowly one was slain, and after he was slain, he rose again and was exalted. For he did not intend to leave us dead in hell, but to exalt in himself at the resurrection of the dead those whom he had already exalted and made just by the faith and praise they gave him. Yes, he gave us the path of humility. If we keep to it we shall confess our belief in the Lord and have good reason to sing: We shall praise you, God, we shall praise you and call upon your name.
~From a sermon by Saint Augustine.

DO NOT ADORN THE CHURCH AND IGNORE YOUR AFFLICTED BROTHER.
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‎Do you want to honour Christ’s body? Then do not scorn him in his nakedness, nor honour him here in the church with silken garments while neglecting him outside where he is cold and naked. For he who said: This is my body, and made it so by his words, also said: You saw me hungry and did not feed me, and inasmuch as you did not do it for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did not do it for me. What we do here in the church requires a pure heart, not special garments; what we do outside requires great dedication.
‎ Let us learn, therefore, to be men of wisdom and to honour Christ as he desires. For a person being honoured finds greatest pleasure in the honour he desires, not in the honour we think best. Peter thought he was honouring Christ when he refused to let him wash his feet; but what Peter wanted was not truly an honour, quite the opposite! Give him the honour prescribed in his law by giving your riches to the poor. For God does not want golden vessels but golden hearts.
‎ Now, in saying this I am not forbidding you to make such gifts; I am only demanding that along with such gifts and before them you give alms. He accepts the former, but he is much more pleased with the latter. In the former, only the giver profits; in the latter, the recipient does too. A gift to the church may be taken as a form of ostentation, but an alms is pure kindness. Of what use is it to weigh down Christ’s table with golden cups, when he himself is dying of hunger? First, fill him when he is hungry; then use the means you have left to adorn his table. Will you have a golden cup made but not give a cup of water? What is the use of providing the table with cloths woven of gold thread, and not providing Christ himself with the clothes he needs? What profit is there in that? Tell me: If you were to see him lacking the necessary food but were to leave him in that state and merely surround his table with gold would he be grateful to you or rather would he not be angry? What if you were to see him clad in worn-out rags and stiff from the cold, and were to forget about clothing him and instead were to set up golden columns for him, saying that you were doing it in his honour? Would he not think he was being mocked and greatly insulted?
‎ Apply this also to Christ when he comes along the roads as a pilgrim, looking for shelter. You do not take him in as your guest, but you decorate floor and walls and the capitals of the pillars. You provide silver chains for the lamps, but you cannot bear even to look at him as he lies chained in prison. Once again, I am not forbidding you to supply these adornments; I am urging you to provide these other things as well, and indeed to provide them first. No one has ever been accused for not providing ornaments, but for those who neglect their neighbour a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire and torment in the company of the demons. Do not, therefore, adorn the church and ignore your afflicted brother, for he is the most precious temple of all.
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‎~From a homily on Matthew by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop
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