Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 09 February 2025
Purification in order to Prophecy
This features another theme related to purification, but it is more specific to the purification that is done in one’s life in order to fulfil God’s prophetic call. In the first reading, this purification takes place on the lips of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8. This is the beginning of his ministry as he must be purified in order to be God’s spokesperson.
This should remind us of the blessing of our lips at our baptism when the priest makes the Sign of the Cross over our lips so that we may speak the truth boldly in the Christian life.
Purification in order to Worship
It fits that Psalm 138:1-8 follows as we use these lips to “sing your praises, Lord.” Even though many of us think of the prophet as the one who proclaims the hard truths, and this is often necessary, most of us are not called to this action. We act as prophets when we sing joyfully our love for God. This goes much further as a prophetic witness.
St. Paul, in Corinthians 15:1-11, must also have purified lips as he passes down the Sacred Tradition that had been handed to him. This is how we can have confidence that the Church is safeguarding the Gospel. Our bishops and priests must speak from pure hearts in order to do so.
Purification for Greater Faith
Finally, this collection of readings comes all together with the first of many prophetic proclamations of St. Peter. He more than anyone must maintain a pure heart to act as the sign of unity in the Church and continue to point us to Jesus. Let us pray for our successor of Peter, Pope Francis, so that he can continue to maintain a pure heart, and pure lips and point us all to Christ!