Salt and Light

Last week Jesus began his ministry by offering us a Mission Statement. Blessed are the poor, peacemakers, and the righteous; theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Of course Jesus is referring to that place of light, happiness, and peace, which is culminated in the final coming. But Jesus will also remind us that the Kingdom of God is in our midst. So like the wise virgins we out to be prepared for it.

Today he reminds us that we are salt and light. These images can help us answer the mystical question, "What do I do after I have said Amen." At Baptism we are given a garment, a candle, and a piece of paper. Are these placed in a closet somewhere or are they used in our daily lives so as to affect the Kingdom. Receiving Baptism and Confirmation makes us salt and light. The wonderful reading from Isaiah in Today's liturgy indicates what this means for us. Giving bread to the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the poor and homeless are natural expressions of what we have received.

Every year in Seminary we were given the 'non-negotiable' talk. As seminarians, since we were men studying for the Roman Catholic Priesthood, there were certain activities we could not engage in, and places we should never go to. This talk said as much about what we could not do, as it did what we should do. Gospel living and the teachings of the Church are sort of like those non-negotiable. Our words and behaviours more than anything indicate how our lives are committed.

For we who would like to do faith in our own way, Jesus invites us to center on the Paschal Mystery. The Church is founded upon the Christ event. We want to be able to recognize our story, and know our place in the journey of faith as we mull over the teachings of the Church. Prayer. reflection, reading of the scripture, the sacraments, and Stewardship.

Jesus is our good shepherd and we are light and salt.