Readings: Isaiah 58: 7-10; Ps. 112: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a); 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16
We are the salt of the earth, called to preserve one another, as we reflect Christ’s light of knowledge and hope for all the world to see!
I did a little research… I mean, I “googled” for a few minutes, and I found a very telling fact. The human eye is capable of seeing the light from a single flickering candle from up to 30 miles away! So it makes sense when Jesus says that a “city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” It took a little less research to discover that last night’s french fries were well seasoned with salt. All it took was a single bite of the first fry to get my attention. Let’s face it, today’s Gospel is easy to get, and agreeable to all! If you add the unique flavor of your gifts and talents to every moment, you’re going to get someone’s attention. Similarly, if you just shine your light, you can brighten up even the darkest of rooms! Now we all know that Scripture can be a little confusing at times, but this is not one of those times. I can see it in your faces… You’re saying, “Yep, I got this!”
Salt does not necessarily lose its flavor. In the Matthew’s world, sea water brine was evaporated leaving a salt and mud slurry mix that was cleaned with water, washing away the dirt, allowing folks to harness the pure salt. If the salt was impure or unclean, that is, too much dirt or sand mixed in, it was useless. We all know that salt enhances food, and it also is a great preservative, sealing and protecting food from spoiling. So good salt has the purpose of being both a spice and a preservative, which, if you think about it, is kinda like a good teacher! They make learning fun, adding spice, if you will, to the mundane, and more importantly preserve the student with the gift of knowledge. We all must learn from good teachers, if we are to be good teachers ourselves! With respect to light, God created it to always overcome the darkness, so it makes sense to hear in the Gospel that it would be silly if we lit a candle in a dark room, and covered with a basket. No, we light it, and place it high on a stand, so that it “gives light to all in the house.” So light has its purpose, to shine… maybe like a good disciple! They proclaim the Good News for all to see! Remember St. Francis' challenge to preach the Gospel at all times, using words only when necessary! Remember that a good disciple learns from Master, following and doing as He asks.
So the easy, “Hallmark” approach would end here and simply encourage you to be a good teacher and a great disciple, and of course feel good for just trying! But if we were to stop here, we would be ignoring the real challenge of the weekend’s readings, and the real reason we’re called to be the salt of the earth, and a light to the world. Just like salt is essential for our existence, our discipleship is essential for the good of the world! Discipleship, preserves the faith, and through our teaching and our example, we share the light of knowledge and hope, keeping in mind that our vocation is not for ourselves, but for the world, attracting people to what God wants for everyone!
In today’s first reading, the Prophet Isaiah adds a specific nature to our call to be salt and light, when he says, “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” The Book of Isaiah is offered in three parts. The first was written before the Babylonian Exile, in or around 600 BC, when life was supposedly good, but all the signs pointed to a societal uprooting, and the Prophet warned of those dark days to come. The second part was written during the Exile, when life was obviously not so good, and it was meant to offer hope and challenge looking to the day when God’s people would return home. The third part was written after their return home from Exile a generation and a half later. This is where today’s First Reading comes from. The author is trying to tackle the specific challenge of motivating God’s people to stop focusing on their own victory in coming home, as if delivery from exile was all this for me, when actually, the freedom from exile calls us all back to our true nature of working for the good of each other.
We are a people who are free because of God’s love through His Son Jesus Christ! But why do we do what we do? Some have argued that we are trying to become better people, raising better families, and there is nothing wrong with that, right? But when the goal is just to better ourselves, we ultimately reach that goal… imposing a limit on just how much we can do with the time we’ve allotted for Church. The Prophet Isaiah, and our Lord Jesus Christ wants to eliminate those limits! Today we are called to shift the focus of why we do what we do! We must serve the homeless, knowing that there will always be the homeless. The salt of our good character and the light of our efforts are always in demand. Isaiah says, “if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness.” Today, our Church, like Isaiah, is interested in strengthening the Body of Christ. Our main duty is to be a witness of Christ in our life and work at home, in our social activities and even our own professional circles. It’s our Catholic nature to focus on the whole and the greater good, and serve the weakest among us, and we are the Catholic Church!
There are many ministries organized here in the Parish. All of them need participation and support, but we don't need all of you doing everything. We need you to identify that salty gift of yours, and shine your light into the area of meeting the needs of others. I really feel that Isaiah, our Lord, and the Church today is simply asking us to share in the mission, so that our light shall break forth like the dawn…
At the risk of sounding confident, I think we’ve got this!
No comments:
Post a Comment