The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live the full life we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit.
Salt and Light
In the reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul declares that every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’
* [1:21–22] The commercial terms gives us security, seal, first installment are here used analogously to refer to the process of initiation into the Christian life, perhaps specifically to baptism. The passage is clearly trinitarian. The Spirit is the first installment or “down payment” of the full messianic benefits that God guarantees to Christians. Cf. Eph 1:13–14.1
Psalm 119 praises the glories of God’s Law.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them.2
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls us to be Salt and Light in the world.
* [5:13–16] By their deeds the disciples are to influence the world for good. They can no more escape notice than a city set on a mountain. If they fail in good works, they are as useless as flavorless salt or as a lamp whose light is concealed.3
Vivian Amu wonders if the pains, burdens, and heartbreaks of life have dimmed her ability to be light for others. So much so that even when God wakes her up in the morning with the task of being salt and light, she closes her eyes and hides in the darkness of her eyelids.
As I long to be salt and light for those around me, I simply ask for God’s mercy and the grace to always start my day with a kiss from God. My friends, we have been called to be a positive influence on those around us. We have been called to be enhancing agents of the goodness in the world, which seems hidden sometimes. We have been called to be a force for positive change, witness, and light which illuminates the word of God. So, let us set ourselves on spiritual lampstands and shine brightly for the glory of God. It is our role as Church.4
Don Schwager quotes “The Light of Truth,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
The Lord has already called his disciples the "salt of the earth" because they seasoned with divine wisdom the hearts of the human race which had been made tasteless by the devil. Now he also calls them the "light of the world." For, illumined by his very own self who is the true and eternal light, they too become light within the darkness. For since he himself is the sun of righteousness, he rightly also calls his disciples "light of the world." Through them, as if through shining rays, he poured the light of his knowledge on the entire world. For by showing the light of truth, the Lord's disciples made the darkness of error flee from people's hearts. (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 19.1.1-2)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 5:13-16 comments that Jesus reminds us, we need to do more than just love those who love us back. We need to love our “enemies” and forgive those who have wronged us (Matthew 5:44). It could require making peace with a family member with different political views or forgiving someone who has cheated us out of money. This is the most challenging kind of love, but it’s the kind that sets us apart as disciples of Christ—a love so generous that it makes everyone take notice, and we become like a “city on a mountain that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
You are part of the Church’s mission to bring Jesus’ love into the world, and you can do it in both everyday and extraordinary ways. It’s not always easy, and there’s no guarantee it will be appreciated. But that doesn’t matter. The love you have to offer is as essential to living as salt and light! “Jesus, help me to put your love into action today.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on Paul’s argument that he is doing the Will of God and is not weak in his commitment. The Breath of the Holy Spirit calls us to joy and enthusiasm and living beyond just following rules. Friar Jude reminds us that our motivation is important in our being the light in the room.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that Early Jewish scholars and Christian church fathers each debated whether the Song of Songs should be included in the Scriptures. We can understand why, because by any definition, it’s erotic poetry from beginning to end, while also surely a metaphor for God’s passionate delight in us and pursuit of us. Scholar and author Stephanie Paulsell speaks of the boldly and bodily affirming message (good news!) this biblical book offers us.
From the pages of scripture sacred to Jews and Christians alike, the Song of Songs remains a testimony to mutuality in love, to the beauty of the human body, to the goodness of sexual desire, and the power of love: “Love is as strong as death,” the Song proclaims, “passion fierce as the grave.”
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love all the wealth of his house,
it would be utterly scorned (8:6–7).7In our love, we demonstrate the deepest flavour of life and illuminate the darkness of separation from others.
References
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