Sunday Gospel Reflection
You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world
Introduction:
"A man once stood before God, his heart breaking from the pain and injustice in the world. 'Dear God,' he cried out, 'look at all the suffering, the anguish and distress in your world. Why don't you send help?' God responded, 'I did send help. I sent you.' When we tell our children that story, we must tell them that each one of them was sent to help repair the broken world-and that it is not the task of an instant or of a year, but of a lifetime." (From Teaching Your Children About God.)
God is still repairing broken lives in this broken world. All that is necessary is in place for repairs to proceed, put in place by a reconciling Savior. Jesus knows the darkness of our world because He lived in it, suffered from it, and then took that darkness on Himself to redeem us from it. Later in the year we will celebrate at dawn His resurrection. The light of dawn represents the hope that Jesus, the Light of the world, brings to our darkened world.
Today, many people live in places of such dark desolation and despair, that their spiritual condition receives little or no attention, for everything is simply focused on their physical survival. As light bearers, we have been placed in our broken world to expedite the repair of broken lives. Two verses from the poem, He Dawns Through the Darkness capture both the empty isolation of man's plight and the light-bearing hope that only you can bring to someone's darkness.
"Within our darkness, fear and fright when light is gone, quenched from sight. Then through His Word, some act, a deed, He brings the Dawn, dark night recedes."
God often brings the dawn to people sitting in darkness through you and me, as we lovingly share His words of help and encouragement and as we do those things that ease the weight of darkness. Christ came sharing the truth, but He also came meeting the real needs of people.
The promise in this week's first reading is that as we share our abundance with those less fortunate our light will "break forth like the dawn" also. Many times we refrain from sharing with others because we don't think we have an abundance, and because we often see our own situation as rather bleak. However as we take our eyes off of our need and focus on meeting the needs of others, we will discover that the darkness and gloom of our situation will dissipate and God's light will also break through for us.
This Sunday's readings help us understand how to be light bearers for others and promise that as we do we will experience the light of the Lord as well. Let's determine to be light bearers.
First Reading
Isaiah 58:7-10
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless
poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from
your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up
speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear
guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say,
"Here I am." If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing
of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then
shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonda
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the
testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling;
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God
Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be
seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a
lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your heavenly Father.
Bible Study
Jesus said to his disciples:
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be
seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
-----Strictly speaking, salt cannot go flat, lose its flavor, and still be
salt. In Judaism, salt can become unclean and thus need to be thrown out. Salt is both a
spice and a preservative and so is a good teacher. The description of the fate of the salt
uses imagery for the Divine judgement.
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be
hidden.
-----Light imagery is usually applied to God. Here it is
applied to the disciple who is to let God's light shine through him. The mountain may be a
reference to Jerusalem.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is
set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
-----The imagery presupposes a one-room Palestinian house and a
common clay oil lamp. The disciple lives not only for self but for others.
16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
------This verse contains a delicate balance between doing good
works and not being proud or taking credit. The life of discipleship should not lead to
arrogance but to the conversion of many to "your heavenly Father."
Meditation
Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths. What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded with it, like we trade with gold and stock. Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling. Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so the disciple must be as salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve, and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of his righteousness and peace.
Jesus also used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood "light" as an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105). God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them form others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all. There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God's light and who seek this truth. Those who listen to God and heed his voice will receive more from him. Do you know the joy and freedom of living in God's light?
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you.
· "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its
taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown
out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)
----Salt and fire are not good by itself, but bring out the good in
others. Do you?
· You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a
lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. (Matthew 5:14-16)
----What are some of the "bushels" under which you obscure Christ's
light in you?
----Practically how can you put our light on a stand so that everyone can see
it?
· Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.(Matthew 5:16)
----When you do good work, do you "glorify Father in heaven" or
yourself?
----How can you do it without seeming prideful?
· Why do you think Jesus used salt and light to illustrate the characteristics of a fruitful Christian life? Do you salt and light up the world? What good work do you do?
To Live His Word This Week
· Before engaging in an important task or any task for that matter, pray wholeheartedly and sincerely seek God's guidance. It will bring you peace and wisdom as you do your work.
· Visit someone who's sick or lonely after mass or sometimes this week and pray for God's healing upon this person.
For Youngters
· Be nicer to your classmates, friends, brothers and sister. Help them out whenever they need help.
Prayer
Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed.