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True Leadership |
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Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence within me.
Petition: Lord, show me where I can make a difference.
1. The New Flavor of the Gospel: By calling us “the salt of the earth” Jesus meant that all his disciples, all those who would be called ‘Christians’ down through the centuries, would have the responsibility to work to give the new ‘taste’ of the Gospel to the earth and enlighten the whole world with Jesus’ teaching. Salt enhances the food we eat by accenting the natural flavor already present in the food. In like manner, we are called by God to enhance the world around us with the “saltiness” of our Christian lives. God created the world good, but sin has marred it. Through baptism God gives us the “salt” of his divine life – grace – so that, in turn, this grace of baptism will develop into a life of virtue and Christian charity by which we are called to “season” our environment. Do I have this awareness and desire which springs from my baptism?
2. Enlightening Minds and Hearts: Without light we are blind. The human eye is rendered useless where light is unable to penetrate. Analogously, all people have the power to know God who is truth, goodness and love. But without the particular light that is Jesus Christ, those faculties are clouded at best. Jesus wants you and me to be his light in contemporary society. By the way we live our life other people must see: They must see Christ. They must see the dignity of the human person and the noble calling each one of us has to live forever with God. They must see that love and mercy triumph over evil, suffering and death. The world needs our light because the world needs Christ.
3. The Shining Example of the Saints: What about humility? What about not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing? Jesus reminds us that our lives and actions are meant to direct people’s gaze to God and not towards ourselves: “So that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” The world has needed to see Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in action. It has needed to see the youthful vigor and the aged frailty of the late Pope John Paul II. Their light has illumined our path towards God. This side of heaven, we will always need the example of the saints, and that is precisely what you and I are called to be.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you have given me everything I need to be faithful. Grant me also the courage and the zeal to live what I believe and to testify to your faithful love in my thoughts, words and actions. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus.
Resolution: Today I will speak to someone about Jesus, backing up my words with the sincerity with which I live my Christian commitments. |
June 10, 2014
In the gospel, Jesus speaks about salt and light. How does this Word apply to us? First we must remember one thing – no one exists for himself alone and so everything here on earth exists for a purpose. We Christians exist for a purpose, which is to be salt and light.
Salt does not exist for itself but to give flavor to food. Without salt, we don’t enjoy the taste of our food. It dissolves in the food or soup it is mixed with, and walla! the food tastes great! Therefore salt is very important. Same as light. Without light, we cannot move around because we cannot see anything. So light has a very important mission – to illuminate the world. And why are these elements so important in our world today? Because many people live in darkness, they do not know what they are living for. When something goes wrong in their lives, they don’t understand what is happening. Someone must enlighten them. Others’ lives are tasteless, meaning they are so bored with the same daily routine, to see the same wife and children every day and so they go about their daily lives like zombies. They need spice in their lives and this is where salt comes in.
Jesus did not come for himself but in order to save man from his sins, his darkness, his boredom, etc. So he offered his life for our salvation and now we live in a world redeemed by his blood. With Jesus guiding us, we can be salt and light to others. In front of trials and sufferings, we do not despair but continue to trust in God. In fact we become stronger in our faith. We are also called to be holy in a world where the mere mention of being pure, chaste, kind, generous, self-giving and austere is often ridiculed. We need to be lights shining brightly for all men to see our good works.