FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - A
INSTRUMENTS OF RENEWAL
why
did the Lord Jesus choose the images of salt and light to describe his
followers?
It must have something to do with
the use people had of these things from the earliest times. Salt and light have
the capacity to change the things around them. They have power to transform. Salt transforms blandness into deliciousness! Light transforms darkness into
brightness!
Remember hospital food? It has
become emblematic of unsavory and tasteless diet because there is very little
or no salt at all. But with the
right amount of salt, food becomes a delight!
A place without light is
enveloped in darkness and people go about their activities cautiously for fear
of stumbling, falling and tripping over unseen items in the room. But proper
lighting is a great service to all.
That is how the Lord Jesus
envisions his followers to become. We are called to be salt and light so that
our surroundings may become inviting, pleasant and fresh. Equipped with the
Word of God, strong in the faith, Jesus’ followers become agents of
transformation and renewal wherever they are.
At times we wonder why we find
ourselves in very challenging situations. Don’t we hear ourselves complaining:
Why did I get to marry this person? What has happened to my children? Why do I find myself in the middle of
trouble? Why is my life a magnet
for sad and unfortunate events?
It might be consoling to realize
that the Lord allows us to go through these trying moments and occasions
precisely so that we can exercise our divinely-given capacity to become salt
and light in the world. The salt of your faith will inspire your spouse. The
light of your love will guide your children. The salt of your faith will bring
peace to conflict. The light of
your love will bring a smile on the face of those who need it most. Salt and
light – God truly trusts us so much!
Each time we are thrust into
difficult situations, instead of becoming defeated, let us take up the
challenge to live as the Lord envisioned us to. Let us believe that as his followers, we have the power to
transform the world, the people, and the situations around us. And this we can
only do when we remain connected to the Lord. It is from Jesus that we derive the rich flavor to
appreciate life. It is from Jesus that we derive the kindling fire that
illumines our path.
In this Year of the Laity, it is
so great to re-discover this mission from the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In his love he has chosen us and empowered us to transform our world – at home,
in school, at the workplace, in the community – as salt and light. May the Lord give us success in
fulfilling our mission.
IN MEMORIAM: BRO. CONRADO “RADING” DUMLAO,
TRULY SALT OF THE EARTH, AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD
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