SALT AND LIGHT ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 13^th June 2017,

Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua

2 Cor 1: 18-22;

Ps 119: 129-133, 135;

Mt 5: 13-16

SALT AND LIGHT

Jesus tells his disciples: You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. These words are the preamble to what Jesus is going to say in the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples of Jesus are expected to imbibe the teaching of Jesus, assimilate it and live it.

In the Old Testament, Israel were given the Ten Commandments and a covenant was made with them demanding holiness of life, the Pharisees misunderstood the holiness and righteousness demanded by the Covenant. Did they imagine they were the salt of the earth? They insisted so much on the letter of the law, that they killed the spirit.

Jesus points this out to his disciples, telling them that unless their righteousness went deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, they could not really be the salt of the earth. Jesus wants his disciples to be the salt of the earth, not only by having the reputation and appearance of holiness but through a moral integrity that is crowned with love for God and neighbour. Through this very moral integrity that is crowned with, and rendered dynamic through faith, hope and love, Christians are invited to be the light of the world. They need not say that they are Christians. They are to show that they are Christians. “By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13: 35).

If we were to imagine a meal without salt, or being lost in a forest in the night, we would realize what Jesus is telling us. A little bit of salt or some light would change everything. The world we live in is dark in so many ways. God is calling you and me to add that little flavor and produce that little light so that others can find their way. God wants to shine through you and me, and He wants you to reflect His light. Our responsibility is to simply be open.

Prayer: Lord, I do want to be used by You. I want to be salt and light. I want to make a difference in this world. I give myself to You and Your service. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.