Gospel Reading: Mt 5:13-16
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.”
REFLECTION
Your light must shine
The passage is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. After proclaiming the Beatitudes, Jesus tells the disciples, “You are the light of the world.” They are to be Jesus’ instruments in giving light to the world. They must not be ashamed to shine. They must speak out and make Jesus part of their conversation with the people whom they encounter on the way. Even the Gentiles must see the light.
The disciples do not work underground, keeping secret their activities that court suspicion. Jesus reminds them, “Your light must shine before others.” They must work in the open. The purpose is that others may see their good deeds, leading them to glorify God.
We Christians must monitor how we live our faith. Do we shine in the midst of other people? Do people detect something good and deep in us? Do they listen to our words?
If people appreciate what we are saying and doing and they want more from us, our light must be shining brilliantly before them. If they are now praising God because of our good deeds, we must be living our call to be the light of the world.
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Blessed are we if our lights shine before others.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.