Gospel Lectio Divina for The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 5, 2023
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
READ
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."
You are the salt of the earth.
We put salt on our food to give it flavor and to help it last longer. The call of Christians to be "the salt of the earth" is a call to bring goodness and righteousness to the world, because goodness and righteousness last for generations and are full of life, while evil is bland and fades. That may sound contrary to common beliefs. In our culture, it’s the righteous who are often called boring and bland. This unfortunately has led many young people away from the faith. They think the ones who do evil are the fun ones. But that is not the case. Evil deeds that seem like fun last for only a moment, while the one who does good has an enduring joy even in the midst of danger and adversity–which come quite often for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. As G.K. Chesterton wrote, "The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice.”
There may have been a time and place when and where doing the right thing kept one safe, since for some time and in some places at least, people lived in a society where virtues were normally practiced. But in our society today, that is not always the case. A person is often punished for standing up for what’s right. A person can take a middle road that avoids both vice and conflict. But if we are going to truly practice virtue and the Christian life, we are going to be in for quite the roller coaster ride. It certainly won’t be boring. There is no better way to spice up one’s life than by living for faith, hope, love, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. In fact, I would say it is the lack of these virtues that makes a life of evil so bland. But, like a good chef knows, it is the perfect balance of just the right ingredients that makes the dish.
Too much salt will certainly overwhelm a dish. This quality reflects the need for a Christian to remain humble in all situations, and to complement the flavors of those he accompanies. Salt brings out the flavor of a dish. In the same way, Christians ought to excel in bringing out the good qualities in others. This takes great practice, and may even lead the faint-hearted to give up the attempt, but with the right dose of fortitude the Christian pushes on for the sake of righteousness.
You are the light of the world.
So much symbolism is in this line. One could say being the light of the world means living a life of poverty and simplicity, shunning the dark influences of the world, so as to serve as a shining example to others, showing them the love and compassion of God. It could also more generally mean we are called to live a life of holiness, promoting the good through our love of God. The holy saints of centuries past are often depicted in art with a halo because there was a certain kind of light in their very presence. Holiness brings a light with it, and people notice that light when it enters a room.
“You are the light of the world” could also mean the Christian is called to bring truth and wisdom to the world. We associate a light bulb over the head with having a great idea, because there is an ethereal connection between seeing light and seeing the truth. When we have a good idea, it’s like we are seeing the truth more clearly–as if someone shined a light on it for us. As Christians, we are called to be that kind of light to others, to reveal to them the truth. In this sense, Christians are called to be leaders, promoting the knowledge of God, and serving as a source of guidance for others.
Jesus's call to his disciples to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" is a call to live a life of service, humility, morality, truth, and wisdom. By living a life of poverty and simplicity, promoting the common good, and serving as leaders and sources of guidance, Christians can bring the love and compassion of God to 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.”
Yet, how often do we do just that? We say we don’t want to impose our faith on others. Or, faith is a personal matter so I shouldn’t force anyone to believe. But we are not forcing anyone to believe when we just shine the light of Christ. We do have to express our faith in some way in order for it to shine, though. We can’t just assume that people know we are Christian, and then claim that we’re just being modest by not telling anyone. If the good news of Jesus Christ really is living in us, it should be evident in everything we do and say. People should notice God living in us just like they notice a light in the darkness.
PRAY
Dear Lord,
If we are the light of the world, it is because you live within us. Come and open the hearts of all the members of the Church so she can shine with your light. If we are the salt of the earth, you are the flavor in that salt. If we lose you, we are nothing. Have faith in us as you always have, and forgive us for the times when we have failed to shine and share your truth, good, and beauty with the world. Fill our hearts with your light. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
LISTEN
Light reveals what was in darkness. There is a great darkness all around us in our culture and society today. I believe the Kingdom of God is all around us, and it is our job as Christians to turn on the light to reveal it to others. Sometimes that requires silencing all the other voices around us to hear God’s. First, in order to do that, we Christians must quiet our own hearts though, so we can hear what God is saying to us and what he wants us to say to others.
Kilby is a freelance writer from New Jersey and managing editor of Catholic World Report. He received his undergrad degree in humanities and Catholic culture from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. In addition to working with the Knights of the Holy Eucharist (knights.org), he has served as a journalist for Princeton Packet Publications, and the Trenton Monitor, the magazine for the Diocese of Trenton. Some of his published work can also be found in St. Anthony Messenger, Catholic Herald (UK), and Catholic World Report. For the latter he is managing editor. Find more of his writing at ramblingspirit.com.