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.
Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Lectionary: 580/360
In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
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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