Friends,
in today’s Gospel Jesus uses the images of salt and light to show how
we are to bring salvation to the world. In our rather privatized and
individualistic culture, we tend naturally to think of religion as
something for ourselves designed to make our lives richer or better. Now
there is a sense in which that is true, but on the biblical
reading, religiosity is like salt, light, and an elevated city: it is
meant not for oneself, but for others.
Perhaps
we can bring these two together by saying that we find salvation for
ourselves precisely in the measure that we bring God’s life to others.
The point is that we followers of Jesus are meant to be salt, which
effectively preserves and enhances what is best in the society around
us. We effectively undermine what is dysfunctional in the surrounding
culture.
We
are also light by which people around us come to see what is worth
seeing. By the very quality and integrity of our lives, we
shed light, illuminating what is beautiful and revealing what is ugly.
The clear implication is that, without vibrant Christians, the world is a
much worse place.
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 360
The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry,
because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to Elijah:
"Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you."
He left and went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked;
there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
'The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"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.
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."
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