Heads in the sand? - Sunday's reading reflection

What can salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth? Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths about the kingdom of God. Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world.  People traded with it, like we trade with gold and stock.  Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration.  Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling.  Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world.  As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so the disciple must be as salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve, and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of his righteousness and peace.

Jesus also used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling.   The Jews also understood “light” as an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God.  In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9).  His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105). God’s grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace.  Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God’s kingdom.  In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.

Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are.  And how tempting to hide them form others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all.  There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God’s light and who seek this truth.

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

St. Barnabas and Pope Francis - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Tomorrow the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle.  St. Luke writes of him in Acts, "for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith."  In the Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth." From this we get the modern saying, "He/she is the salt of the earth," meaning they're a good person, filled with faith and God's presence."  

When I think of a major public figure that fits this description, who happens to be an Apostle as well, I think of Pope Francis.  Few could argue he is a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Not only that but like the Gospel, Pope Francis, in some very unconventional ways, is letting his light "shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."  

Back to salt.  It's a preservative right?  When meat is not preserved, what happens to it?  It becomes rank, polluted, corrupted.  Pope Francis has spoken frequently since being elected about the corruption of "spiritual worldliness"- about when disciples and apostles alike lose their taste and are "no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."  In other words, when we become less like St. Barnabas and more like Judas (both Apostles mind you) we not only become rank and polluted but we risk corrupting others who may "eat of us" through their interactions with us.  

None of us is Jesus.  Nor do we have to be Judas.  Via media- Let's try to be like Pope Francis and St. Barnabas.

Thank you, Pope Francis, for being like St. Barnabas- "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."