5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” These are words written by Marianne Williamson. They are wonderful. They are inspiring. The readings at Mass today challenge us to rise up from our stupor and put some energy into our task. Our task is to recreate the world into a Kingdom of God. We are called to make a difference. Nobody is impressed with our lethargy. Let us be Salt to the world. Let us be a city built on a hilltop. Let us be a lamp to light up the room. There is work to be done. We yearn to live better lives but that is not something we can do alone. We can make a beginning but we need everyone to rise up in community and come on board. How often we stand before our dirty house and we can’t find the energy to begin to clean it. The trick is to start somewhere. I will take that piece of waste and put it in the garbage. Now let me tackle the next thing. Then I keep going until the task is done. It is the same with changing the world. Let me begin by sharing from my bounty with those who have little. Step by step we can build the Kingdom of God. All it takes is a beginning.
“Well, I started out travelin' for the Lord many years ago, I've had a lot of heartache, I've met a lot of grief and woe. But when I would stumble, then I would humble down, and there I would say I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.” (From a Gospel song by the Goodman family.)