Introductory Prayer:
Lord Jesus, once again I come to you to listen to your words. I come as one who is hungry, in need of nourishment. I need you to nourish me, for no one else can. I hunger not for the food of this world but for the food of your grace. May my prayer this day give you glory and be an instrument of grace for my brothers and sisters. Amen.
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to grow in confidence as your disciple.
In today’s Gospel, the Lord invites us to meditate on the extraordinary grace of being chosen by him. The Lord reminds his apostles time and again it is not they who have chosen him; rather, he has chosen them. At times it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Christ has called us through our baptism to be his disciples. The experience of our own weakness and limitations in doing what is right can cause us to lose heart before our great calling to be salt of the earth and light to the world. Yet, the Lord has chosen us precisely for that mission: we are to be instruments for the conversion of those around us, bringing society itself out of darkness and into Christ’s light. Our mission far transcends the world of today and tomorrow, for we are called to help all people reach eternal life. Who would dare claim this mission for himself?
How are we to go about the task? The answer lies in our baptism. Through this sacrament our whole being is introduced into a new life, the life of an adopted son or daughter of God in Christ Jesus. From now on, in all that we do for God’s glory, we are able to do it through our participation in Christ’s royal priesthood. How then shall we be the light of the world? Not in virtue of our own merits or knowledge, not in virtue of technology, science or any worldly power, but in virtue of the Holy Spirit who works within us, guiding and directing our efforts. So, if we are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, we must seek always to follow the Holy Spirit’s inspirations and trust in him absolutely. By doing so, we will become those disciples whose greatest desire is to glorify the Father, and people will see in us the hand of God.
Lord, you chose me to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It is too much for me! Nevertheless, I believe in you, I trust in you, and I love you. Today, may my every word and deed be courageous expressions of your love for all, leading those whom I meet to give glory to your Heavenly Father.
I will trust in the Lord’s call for me to be his disciple and so make known to those around me, in words and deeds of charity, the greatness of God’s love.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
“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. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14–16
Using that image, consider the first line in Jesus’ metaphor above. “You are the light of the world.” Try to see yourself as that single candle in the darkness. That is your mission. Just as a single candle can give light to an entire room, so you are capable of being a source of light for many others.
One of the primary missions we have all received in life is to allow the light of God’s grace to “shine before others.” The result of fulfilling this mission is that others will see our good deeds that were inspired by God, and they will, in turn, glorify the Father in Heaven. Thus, your mission of radiating the light of Christ for others results in God being praised and glorified.
This full statement of Jesus is especially helpful to consider when we struggle with pride. Pride is a way of pointing to ourselves. It’s an act of selfishness by which we place ourselves in the spotlight as a way of trying to become the object of others’ praise. But what Jesus tells us is that when we properly fulfill our role of being the light of the world, when we radiate the Light of Christ, others will be inspired not to praise us but rather to glorify God as He acts through us. This is quite a difference.
With that being said, the beautiful thing about God being glorified is that God often wants us to share in that glory. That means that if you were to do an act of charity for another, and they were deeply grateful to you and thanked you, their “thank you” is an act of glorifying God when it is understood that you acted out of a love of God. God is praised when we, His children, give and receive love and honor between each other on account of our faith.
Reflect, today, upon two things. First, think about those upon whom God has called you to shine His light. Who is it in your life who needs an act of love, charity, mercy, forgiveness or compassion? Commit yourself to becoming God’s light for them in their darkness. Second, think about those who have shone the Light of Christ upon you. When this has happened, how did you respond? Hopefully your response was one of a gratitude that not only returns love to the other but also glorifies God through your gratitude. Be the light of the world to a world in need and seek out that light as it shines brightly through others. This is the only way to step out of the darkness that constantly tries to pervade us.
Lord, You are the true Light Who dispels every darkness in life. You are the Light of my life and shine brightly for all to see. Help me to see Your light as it shines on others and to glorify You for that gift. And help me to be an instrument of Your light to those who need it the most. Jesus, I trust in You.
Light of the World, Salt of the Earth A while back I saw a bleak play called Avenue Q. I thought it would be good because it had been the number one musical and because it was unique. It used puppets. Well, it turned out to be a play for adults hiding behind children’s games and puppets. It’s main theme was “It is rotten to be me,” only it didn’t use the word rotten. It used a word that has come into modern parlance but which has obscene origins. The play turned out to be one of those ultra-dark comedies where people just laugh at how things keep getting worse. It concludes with a step over pessimism by saying that even the worst things are only for a while.
The play reflected that same pessimism that prevailed in so much of existential philosophy. Sartre, Ionesco, and many others focused in on life, and concluded that there was no hope for the world. For them existence was a black hole. Suicide was the only reasonable escape.
It is to these people who live in darkness that Christ sends us. “You are the Light of the world,” we heard in today’s Gospel. We are the world’s hope. We carry within us the joy of Jesus, the unsurpassable wisdom of the Lord. There is an old song we used to use on Teen retreats: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy of the Lord in my heart.” Well, we do. We have the Joy of Jesus Christ. The joy of his Presence makes our lives worthwhile. We don’t claim, “It’s rotten to be me,” instead we say, “It is wonderful to be me. I am loved and I a capable of loving. It is wonderful being a Christian. I carry Christ within me and I can provide an experience of his presence, his life to those around me. I, we, are the Light of the World. One of the wonderful blessings of the priesthood is the experience that I and other priests have with you when you are in crisis. We are called in during your worst times, but there’s your Mom or Dad, or your husband or wife, or your child or a friend, saying, “I’m going to be OK. I may not live, but I am still going to be OK.” Our faith enlightens each other. Recently I officiated at a funeral for a family who lost their second sibling to cancer within six months. Their brother died first. Six months later their sister died. Both were relatively young. In the middle of their grief and pain, this family proclaimed their faith in Jesus Christ. They were convinced that their sister will join their brother in that place where there is no more pain, suffering or death. At the same time, they did not regret their siblings’ lives. They celebrate them because each brought so much love to the world. Instead of being pessimistic in the middle of this turmoil, this family was full of faith, and life, and love, and light. We are the Light of the World. We are also the Salt of the Earth. In these days of football playoffs, many of us have stocked up on snacks. Now just about everything on the junk food pyramid needs salt. Popcorn without salt, fritos without salt, potato chips without salt, french fries without salt and many other snacks would be rather tasteless. Think of what these foods are–mostly just greased up potatoes or corn. Salt tends to make ordinary things extraordinary. I read a story a while ago about a 13 year who made the ordinary extraordinary and was salt in the earth. The boy was a super bicycle racer. He had been racing bicycles since he was 8. When he was not racing bicycles, he spent his spare time working on his bike, and building new bikes from scraps. By the time he was twelve he had three or four bicycles. His mother told him there were children at a nearby home for needy children who didn't have bikes; so one day he brought two of his bikes over there. He was deeply moved when he saw the expressions on the boys’ faces he gave the bikes to. He decided that he would make 18 more bikes for the rest of the children in the home. He used all his allowance, did side jobs, and combed the city for discarded bicycle parts. For Christmas he delivered eighteen bicycles to the home. Well, the papers got hold of this and interviewed him. The boy responded. “It was no big deal. It was just something I could do to make other kids happy.” His generosity is the salt of faith. He used his skills to demonstrate God's goodness in the world. His generosity, like salt, made ordinary things extraordinary. When we live out faith, the humdrum occurrence of everyday life which so bothered those people fed up with life, now become extraordinary ways of approaching God. St. Theresa of Liseaux would say there is nothing too little that we could do for the Lord. The little things we do for people give meaning and purpose to life. We have the ability to put flavor into existence. We are called to be the salt of the earth. How can we do this? How can we live faith lives wherever we are? Well, we have to keep in contact with God. We have to pray daily as well as join the scriptural and sacramental worship of the community. We have to look for the little ways that we can be kind to others. So many times people will look at the goodness of a neighbor, or a parent or child and say, “He did not do extraordinary things. He did ordinary things in an extraordinary way. His actions were a prayer. He was the salt of the earth. We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. We have been called to make the Lord present. Today we pray for the strength to live our faith.
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord, anyone who follows me will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12; Sunday Missal (SM))
The readings today tell us that we are the light of the world! Thus we read in the gospel today:
“You are the light of the world. …. Your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5: 14. 16; SM)
That is, we are the light of the world by doing good deeds, because seeing our good deeds; others will believe in God our Father and give praise to Him!
2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us to practice justice and charity, that is, to help the poor and the needy, and to free the oppressed and the exploited! By practicing justice and charity our light will shine like the dawn and the noon! Thus we read in the first reading:
“Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and turn not from your own kin. Then will your light shine like the dawn …. If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.” (Is 58:7. 8a. 9b-10; SM)
3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm also tells us to practice justice and charity and our light will shine in the darkness! Thus we responded three times:
“The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.” (Ps 111:4; SM)
Thus we read in the first and third stanzas:
“He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just. The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honor. (First stanza; vv. 4-5; SM) With a steadfast heart he will not fear; open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm for ever. …. (Third stanza; vv. 8-9; SM)”
4. The second reading tells us to preach only Jesus and to preach Jesus only as the crucified Christ, because only in the crucified Christ is there the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the power of God! And it is only in the power of God that we can be the light of the world! It is only in the power of God that we can do good works, and practice justice and charity, that is, help the poor and the needy, and free the oppressed and the exploited!
Thus we read in the second reading:
“During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. …. In my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.” (1 Co 2:2. 4-5; SM)
It is most important that we come to Mass every Sunday, because the Mass makes present, real and effective the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the power of God! And it is only in the power of God that we can be the light of the world! It is only in the power of God that we can do good works, and practice justice and charity, that is, help the poor and needy, and free the oppressed and exploited! God bless you! Amen!
Bài Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta biết về vai trò của chúng ta là những người Kitô hữu, vai trò này được xác định bằng hai chữ: muối và ánh sáng. Những chữ muối và Ánh sáng có những ý nghĩa gì cho chúng ta? Và chúng ta có biết rằng chữ “đường", ngọt như đường không bao giờ được thấy dùng trong Kinh Thánh!
Trong thời cổ đại, muối là một loại gia vị giúp cho thức ăn, và làm cho hương vị thực phẩm được thêm đậm đà. Thức ăn như thịt cá mà không có muối, thì sẽ bị mau hư rữa, và thức ăn mà không có muối thì chắc chắn sẽ trở nên vô vị. Chúa Giêsu nói rằng như muối cần cho thực phẩm, thì chúng ta là những Kitô hữu sống trên thế gian này cũng như vậy. Tất cả chúng ta là những người Kitô hữu, chúng ta phải làm cho thế giới chúng ta đang sống đây được trở nên một nơi ngọt ngào, hữu vị và đậm đà.
Làm thế nào chúng ta có thể làm cho thế gian này được trở nên một nơi ngọt ngào, đáng sống?
Thưa, Chúng ta có thể tìm thấy câu trả lời ngay trong đoạn Tin Mừng của thánh Matthêu chương 5 câu 13: khi Chúa Giêsu đã nhắc nhở các môn đệ của Ngài: “Nếu muối đã nhạt đi, thì lấy gì làm cho nó mặn lại được? Nó trở thành vô dụng, không còn dùng được, chỉ còn việc quăng nó ra ngoài đường cho người ta chà đạp mà thôi.” (Mt. 5:13) Như là muối đất chúng ta được gọi là những người môn đệ ngọt ngào, thân thiện và tốt lành, biết sống hòa thuận với mọi người. Cũng như ánh sáng của bóng đèn toả sáng lên trong bóng tối, chúng ta cũng được gọi để chiếu rọi ánh sáng cho đường đi cho mọi người. Không có ánh sáng, chúng ta có thể va chạm vào nhau và có thể sẽ rơi xuống mương rãnh.
Nếu thế giới này không có ánh sáng và muối, thì thế giới này sẽ ở trong một tình trạng tối tăm, và hôi hám, không thích hợp cho con người và không có sinh vật nào có thể sinh sống được. Với ánh sáng và muối đất mà thế giới của chúng ta đã trở thành một môi trường an toàn và thích hợp cho mọi tạo vật. Đấy là nhiệm vụ của chúng ta, là những Kitô hữu, chúng ta phải có bổn phận làm cho cho thế giới của chúng ta đang sống được trở nên tốt đẹp hơn. Nhưng để chu toàn cái bổn phận ấy, chúng ta phải làm thế nào đây?
Như Chúa Giêsu đã nói trongTin Mừng thánh Gioan ở chương 13 câu 35, "Ở điểm này, mọi người sẽ nhận biết anh em là môn đệ của Thầy: là anh em có lòng yêu thương nhau". Tình yêu là dấu chỉ đặc biệt mà chúng ta có thể phân biệt người Kitô hữu đích thực với những người khác.
Muối và ánh sáng hoạt động bằng cách kết hợp với những điều chúng muốn thay đổi. Muối không thể cải thiện được thức ăn, trừ khi nó được trộn lẫn vào trong thức ăn và được thay đổi từ ngay trong thức ăn. Ánh sáng không thể soi đường, trừ khi nó được soi trong bóng tối.
Đôi khi những Kitô hữu chúng ta tìm cách để tiến tới trên con đường thánh thiện là tránh xa những việc liên quan đến xã hội và văn hóa phổ biến. Nhưng do sự ngần ngại từ những thực tế của xã hội và thế giới của chúng ta đang sống, chúng ta có thể thực sự đã che giấu ngọn đèn sáng của chúng ta trong cái cái thúng hay để dưới gầm gường. Để tạo được sự khác biệt, chúng ta phải đứng lên và tham gia vào các công tác xã hội trong các việc từ thiện.. Vì nếu như thế giới ngày nay của chúng ta đang có quá nhiều bóng tối và sự cay đắng, thì đó là những kết quả mà người Kitô hữu chúng ta đã thất bại trong cái bổn phận làm muối đất và ánh sáng cho thế giới của chúng ta. Nhưng nếu chúng ta có thể quyết định thực hiện một sự khác biệt và bắt đầu ngay từ ngày hôm nay, là chúng ta nhất quyết thắp lên một ngọn nến sáng vẫn tốt hơn là ngồi để nguyền rủa bóng tối. Ngay cả một cây nến nhỏ cũng có thể giúp được một thế giới đang chìm trong bóng tối.
Để đem ánh sáng của chúng ta vào thế giới, việc đầu tiên là chúng ta phải sống một đời sống đạo đức và phải biết kết hợp với Chúa Kitô trong các phép Bí Tích. Tham dự thánh lễ hằng ngày là chúng ta đã và đang kết hợp với Chúa Kitô trong Bí Tích Thánh Thể. Thường xuyên đến với lòng thương xót của Chúa Kitô qua bí tích Hoà giải, nhờ đấy mà chúng ta có thể sống một cuộc sống Thánh thiện hơn, hãy luôn luôn kết hợp với Chúa trong tình bác ái, và đặc biệt là chúng ta phải hiệp nhất với Ngài trong lời cầu nguyện hằng ngày. Chúng ta có thể chắc chắn là Chúa Giêsu rất sung sướng và hạnh phúc, khi chúng ta đến với Ngài trong những giờ chầu Thánh Thể mỗi tuần. Chính việc Chầu Thánh Thể là một phương tiện tuyệt vời không phải chỉ để duy trì sự gắn bó, gần gủi giữa chúng ta với Thiên Chúa, mà còn làm cho sự gắn bó đó được vững mạnh hơn.
Nếu chúng ta muốn sống theo ơn gọi của mình là muối đất, và là ánh sáng của thế gian, chúng ta cần phải biết dành thời giờ để cầu nguyện với Chúa Giêsu cũng như nhiều kitô hữu đang làm, Đây không những là chỉ một điều gợi ý tốt nhưng là một việc làm rất là cần thiết.
Xin Chúa giúp chúng ta biết siêng năng sốt sắng cầu nguyện và luôn biết can đảm đem ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô đến với mọi người và mọi nơi qua những lời nói, và việc làm hang ngày của chúng ta.
“Jesus said, «You are the salt of the earth. » "
Jesus speaks to his listeners, saying: "You are the salt of the earth." Whoever listens to the word of Jesus is "salt", the "salt of the earth". There is no exception. This is true of everyone, of everyone who listens to the Word of God. It is true of me, as it is of you. It is true of the man or woman who has already given his or her faith to Christ; it is also true of he or she who listens to him today for the first time...
You who read these words, you who hear these words, this is for you: "You are the salt of the earth." Now, this very day, God has chosen you to be the salt of the earth! You must be the salt of the earth! You must give your body and your spirit to the Lord in order to do good and to avoid evil, to live as a true son or daughter of the Father, who is in Heaven! You are called to give the earth its spice: hope in eternal Life!
“«If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.» "
If you have heard, if you have listened to the Word of God, and if you then reject it, woe to you! For you have lost your taste... You have become like those who are called "lukewarm" in the Book of the Apocalypse. Now, the lukewarm are vomited out by God: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15-16) Certain Catholics no longer go to Mass, but they still pray, they say, at home rather than at church... How terrible! Are they still "salt of the earth"? I fear they are not... Where are today's martyrs of the faith? For is it not a martyrdom to publicly go to Mass in a world that is semi-pagan, mercenary, debauched by every kind of pornography? I ask myself what would have become of the Church of Christ if all the martyrs of the first three centuries had stayed home on Sunday, rather than get massacred in the circuses and the arenas...
" «You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.» "
Enough talk about those who sleep, about those who do not want to demonstrate their faith. May those who still want to bear witness to their hope in eternal Life do so loud and strong! Even if they are but two or three, God sees them! If I were to light a candle at the top of the Eiffel Tower, for example, no one would see its light, since the many lights that decorate the monument will overwhelm it. But there is nonetheless someone who would see the light of my candle: that someone is God!
Let us always do a little, let us always do something, no matter what happens. But above all, let us never do nothing at all! If a little is done with faith and with love, then that little will be something great in the eyes of God! Besides, it is what the Most Blessed Virgin Mary had always done on earth: one day, she said "yes" to God, a "yes" that gave Christ to the world!
Reflection:
The Gospel reminds us that we can find healing in Christ and assures us that "All who touched him were cured." But healing will not happen without faith. And faith is not just about believing, but also about following Christ. If we wish to rid this world of emotional pains, then we should be more loving and more forgiving. If we wish to rid this world of cancer and other diseases, businesses should never use toxic materials, and instead find ways to create products without harming the world. If we wish never to suffer from another devastating flood like "Ondoy" then we should all work towards preserving the environment. Let us bring our sickness to Christ and allow him to lead us to conversion.
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