Gospel: Mt 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt is spoiled, wherewith shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city on the top of a mountain cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, that it may give light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Fruit: To be the salt that gives flavor and light that illuminates my family life.
Guidelines for reflection:
Jesus Christ invites us to weigh in the scales of our life our belonging to his Kingdom. We are salt of the earth, light that illuminates. And he invites us to give flavor and shine, yes, to be that leaven in society that makes a positive difference, that leaves a good taste of Christ wherever we are.
1. You are
Who are you? Reading the passage in this way, out of its context, anyone, myself included, would say that the Lord is addressing his disciples, his apostles, his favorites, or simply his own. Of course, since it is a special mission to give light, to give meaning to the world, to history, to life itself, it is all the more reason to turn to those whom he called. But, let's go back a few pages in the sacred book. Who are they? you? We find Christ speaking to an immense crowd. That you are all those who listened to Jesus on what today we call the mount of the beatitudes. He spoke to everyone, to everyone without exception. You are: this is how Jesus continued his Gospel discourse after the beatitudes. And in that you, Among children, among rude men, among pious women, between a Peter and a Judas, between the sick man and the fisherman; there, there you were. There we were all represented, because all of us who have heard and believed in Christ through baptism have been constituted his apostles, messengers of the gospel. We look for others you, But in reality it is we who are called by Christ to be salt of the earth and light of the world.
Salt of the earth
What a simple way to explain such a profound mission! Who has not tasted a dish in which everything seems exquisite, but... salt is missing? Christ was speaking to simple people, people immersed in everyday life. What's more, you don't need to imagine it, just think of yourself, it's as simple as that. A person like you. The message is for someone like you, for anyone who wants to listen to it. It is the invitation to give true meaning to life, to what we do every day; even more, to give it the good taste of existence, the great gift that God has given us. It is the invitation to be torches. In Him we will find the light to light them, to illuminate and give meaning to our world with His grace. Now let us leave the mountain, where Jesus was, and come here, to the street that you always cross or, if you prefer, the shopping mall or... I don't know. Do you feel the difference? Do you manage to understand that profound mission that I only mentioned before? In the midst of this world of technology and preoccupation with possessing, the meaning that God wanted to give to things, to life, is lost. Soup will never taste good without a touch of salt. We need salt! So let's not lose flavor, let's not lose our sense of taste, let's not lose our sense of taste. Each person continues to have a soul that only finds the flavor of life in the message of Christ, in his word. You are salt. You and I are salt for this earth that has become insipid.
3. Light of the world
And if salt is not enough, a little light to illuminate. Yes, a little light is enough. Light for souls, light for hearts, light for every person who knows you, who you know, light to spread the joy that only God gives. I was very struck by an article that a good Spanish writer dedicated to sadness. In short, he said that there are people who insist on being eternally sad, as if life were not smiling at them. They are the ones with the candlestick under the table... And to think that only the gift of life is enough to die of joy. How much more for you, apostle, torch of humanity. The more one possesses Christ, the more he radiates, the more he communicates, indeed, the more he comes forth from within. The Gospel says it in other words: enlighten all those who are at home. What better fruit of our little moments of prayer than to learn to spread the joy of the soul that is fully illuminated by his grace.
4. Let your light so shine
Let your light so shine, let it so shine. What a beautiful wish with which Christ closes this passage. At the end of this reflection that whisper remains in our heart. It will become a reality if today you begin to illuminate your surroundings with the witness of your life, of your prayer, of your effort; with your face filled with the joy, peace and happiness that only God can give. May our souls shine in this way, may our hearts shine in this way, may our grains of salt that are to give flavor to our world be seasoned in this way. A prayer, a smile, a sacrifice, a word to illuminate... Let it shine like this, let it shine like this...
Purpose: Today I will strive to be a witness of Christian joy at home, work/school.
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