Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it. You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead, it is put on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do, and praise your Father in heaven.
Reflection:
"We should “radiate” Christ to others."
How can salt lose its saltiness? On its own salt will always keep it salty properties, but if you dilute it in a sufficient quantity of water, the saltiness will decrease to a point that it will become imperceptible to the taste. Then if you are trying to flavour or preserve your food, the salted water will be “useless” for the task, and not worth keeping. What is Christ saying with this image? Don’t dilute your life in Christ. Let the flavour of Christ be strong and effective in your life and in the lives of others. Likewise, let the light of Christ shine brightly through you. This was the message of Saint Titus Brandsma, the Carmelite martyr of Dachau, who said that we should “radiate” Christ to others. If we water down our relationship with him or if we turn the dimmer down, the impact of Christ on us and on others will be weak. Watering down is a bit like wavering in our faith, saying yes and no to our life in Christ. Just as Christ is all “yes” in his relationship with us, so may our response be wholehearted and not mediocre or fainthearted.
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