Reflection for Tuesday June 11 Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 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.”

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Reflection:

In a far-flung place stood a school building that was not being utilized for so many years. The community within the school was hoping that one day a teacher would come and educate them. 

One morning the whole community was surprised because for the first time in so many years they heard the school bell rung loudly. So they excitedly went to their school building. There, they saw a nun who introduced herself to the community as their volunteer teacher. 

Every day the nun would patiently teach them and after a few months had passed many positive transformations occurred. They already know how to read and write, they learned how to be more respectful and helpful. And more importantly the community was taught about the existence and importance of God in their lives.    

After five years of teaching and seeing to it that the noble educational program will continue even without her  the nun was now set to leave them. And naturally everybody from that community was sad and many were crying. To assuage their feelings the nun promised to visit them once in a while. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we are the salt and light of the world. What does salt bring to our food? It defines and gives taste to our food. Light gives us hope; it eliminates darkness and hopelessness. 

 This we also have to do, we have to become salt and light to others. As salt gives taste we also have to give meaning to the lives of our fellowmen. As light eliminates hopelessness and darkness we also have to become the light in the lives of our fellowmen.  

Being salt and light in the lives of our others is not easy to do! Why? Because we would be disturb from our own comfort zones and we would be investing something from ourselves for us to make a positive difference in their lives. 

Nevertheless, everything will be worth it because our effort will bear fruit in the end, we may not see it in our own lifetime. But it will certainly bear much fruit. Why? Because we dared to obey Jesus voice in the gospel which tells us to become salt and light in the lives of our fellowmen.  

Have you already become salt and light to your fellowmen, to your family and to your church community? – Marino J. Dasmarinas