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Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, February 6, 2005

First reading, Isaiah 58:7-10

The Historical Situation: Isaiah's audience were recently returned from exile. They had hoped for a quick restoration of their beloved Jerusalem, but that project was frustratingly slow. The people wondered why their suffering was so prolonged. The prophet's response is unsympathetic: it's your own fault; it's because you're not sharing.

This suggests that disappointment is not an acceptable excuse for failing to care for those worse off than ourselves. God's demand that we share with the hungry and homeless is uncompromising.

Proclaiming It: So you should read this with great authority in your voice. And notice this structure:

By alternating your tone of voice, make this alternating structure stand out in your proclamation.

Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The Historical Situation: Paul had come to Corinth from Athens, where his preaching met derision and rejection. Paul is being very frank here about how miserably his human eloquence had failed. See Acts 17:16-33 for Paul's speech there (it's a great speech, really) and the humiliating response of the sophisticated Athenians. (For another Pauline meditation about knowing Christ crucified, see Philippians 3:7-16.

Here Paul says that in Corinth he chose not to rely on human eloquence, "so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God." His concern, then, is that their faith have the soundest foundation.

Proclaiming It: This reading demands a much more personal, humble tone than the imperatives of Isaiah. It should sound almost apologetic. When you set out to read this to the assembly, make your intention like Paul's, that your proclamation will help dispose the people to a stronger faith. And having said that, I should spend no more of my human eloquence talking about your human eloquence.

Several other commentaries on these passages. All are thoughtful, all quite readable, from the scholarly to the popular.
Links may be incomplete more than a few weeks before the "due date."
Father Roger Karban's 2002 reflections on these readings

and his 1999 column on the same readings 		The Text This Week; links to homilies, art works, movies and other resources on the week's scripture themes Saint Louis University's excellent Sunday liturgy-preparation site

Reflexiones En Español

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Last modified: Mon Jan 3 19:48:26 CST 2005