2007년 6월 12일 연중 제10주간 화요일
제1독서 코린토 2서 1,18-22
형제 여러분, 18 하느님의 성실하심을 걸고 말하는데, 우리가 여러분에게 하는 말은 “예!” 하면서 “아니요!” 하는 것이 아닙니다. 19 우리 곧 나와 실바누스와 티모테오가 여러분에게 선포한 하느님의 아드님 예수 그리스도께서는 “예!”도 되시면서 “아니요!”도 되시는 분이 아니셨기 때문입니다. 그분께는 늘 “예!”만 있을 따름입니다. 20 하느님의 그 많은 약속이 그분에게서 “예!”가 됩니다. 그러므로 하느님의 영광을 위하여 우리도 그분을 통해서 “아멘!” 합니다.
21 우리를 여러분과 함께 그리스도 안에서 굳세게 하시고 우리에게 기름을 부어 주신 분은 하느님이십니다.
22 하느님께서는 또한 우리에게 인장을 찍으시고 우리 마음 안에 성령을 보증으로 주셨습니다
복음 마태오 5,13-16
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
13 “너희는 세상의 소금이다. 그러나 소금이 제 맛을 잃으면 무엇으로 다시 짜게 할 수 있겠느냐? 아무 쓸모가 없으니 밖에 버려져 사람들에게 짓밟힐 따름이다.
14 너희는 세상의 빛이다. 산 위에 자리 잡은 고을은 감추어질 수 없다. 15 등불은 켜서 함지 속이 아니라 등경 위에 놓는다. 그렇게 하여 집 안에 있는 모든 사람을 비춘다.
16 이와 같이 너희의 빛이 사람들 앞을 비추어, 그들이 너희의 착한 행실을 보고 하늘에 계신 너희 아버지를 찬양하게 하여라.”
June 12, 2007
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
2 Cor 1:18-22
Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us,
Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135
R. (135a) Lord, let your face shine on me.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
gives understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
Turn to me in pity
as you turn to those who love your name.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity rule over me.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
Gospel
Mt 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.”
Commentary
Now we read the letter to the Corinthians, probably the largest of the early churches, about 3 groups of 50 people each, founded by Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus. They preached Jesus as the Son of God-always Yes to God. And so we pray to the Father in the power of the Spirit, with Jesus, saying Amen. We are established with Christ in God. Do we live Yes always, or do we waffle a lot?
We are the salt of the earth, humble, close to the ground. Salt is used to add flavor, to cure and preserve, to add to dung to make fire burn longer and hotter. Are we flat? We are the light of the world, a city whose inhabitants reveal the light and the truth of God in Jesus. Do our lives together as Church in our country reveal God and draw others to praise God as Father of us all?
Today’s scripture readings seemed pretty unrelated on first read. However, as is often the case, when I read through a second time, a theme of light and relationships jumped out at me. In speaking to his brothers and sisters in Corinth, Paul says that God is not yes and no, but always yes. God is faithful to His promises. The psalmist asks the Lord, let your face shine on me, teach me your statutes. The psalmist proclaims that the revelation of God’s word sheds light, and gives understanding. In the Book of Matthew, Christ says to the disciples, “You are the light of the world. Your light must shine before others.” An interesting mix of scripture.
I met my wife 30 years ago. We will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary this year. I love my wife. I mean, I really love my wife. She is a gift from God. She was made for me. She is loving, kind, compassionate, passionate, beautiful, joyful, full of life, you name it. I like to talk to her, I like to touch her, I like to hear her voice, I enjoy being around her. I love to just look at her. When I am down or depressed, I think of my wife’s eyes. They are incredibly beautiful. Sounds pretty idyllic, doesn’t it?
I met my wife 30 years ago. We will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary this year. I love my wife. We’ve had our share of financial struggles, arguments over child-raising and some pretty intense disagreements over life in general. There have been times where I have said cruel and mean things to my wife. Times I have ignored and did not talk to my wife. Times where I did not want to see her. Times where I did not even want to be in the same room with her.
How can this be? Why would I treat someone I love so poorly? Is there something wrong with me? Am I some kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde husband? Is this how I treat God? Paul points out that we can be yes and no in our relationship with God, but God is always yes. When God’s love is always available to us, why would we ever say no? When a close and loving walk with God is so rewarding, why would I ever say no to the opportunity? It seems ridiculous to say no to God’s love and yet I do it. Why? I’m too busy, I don’t feel close right now, relationships require an effort, faith is a challenge. All those excuses seem so hollow and lame and yet I know I use them. It’s like being offered a wonderful gift and then turning it down. Why would I do that? For what possible reason? I wish I had the answer to that one.
And why does it matter if we let our love/light shine before others or not? At a recent parent-teacher conference, the teacher told me she had asked the students what was the best thing their father had done for them. I expected the answer to be, he reads to me, he plays with me, he gives me an allowance or whatever. My son answered, he loves my mom. once again, it takes a child to help me see the light.
God loves us with a passion. If I am indifferent to Christ, it shows. God loves us with a passion. If I love Christ with a passion, I will shine. People will see that light and want to know about it. It isn’t always easy to obey Christ’s command to let our light shine. It can be rewarding, but it can also be embarrassing or even result in persecution. My prayer today is for all of us who need strength and encouragement to let our light shine.
by
Daniel Patrick O'Reilly
Registrar's Office
"You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world"
Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths. What does salt and light have to teach us about God and his reign on earth? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded with it, like we trade with gold and stock. Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling. Jesus used the image of salt to describe how his disciples are to live in the world. As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so the disciple must be as salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve, and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of his righteousness and peace.
Jesus also used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood “light” as an ｅxpression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105). God’s grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God’s kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all. There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God’s light and who seek this truth. Those who listen to God and heed his voice will receive more from him. Do you know the joy and freedom of living in God’s light?
“Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed”.
Psalm 4:2-5,7-8
2 O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? [Selah]
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. [Selah]
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
7 Thou hast put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety.
"A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden." If you go to Italy you see towns and cities built on hilltops and mountaintops. Throughout the world, in fact, this is the preferred location. How inconvenient for old people! Was it for the view that people built in such awkward places? Yes and no: it was not to admire the landscape but to get a view of approaching enemies! It would be hard to hide a city, so you make it fully alert instead: full of eyes, full of consciousness.
As you have guessed, this is not only about cities; it is about human beings. The valley is a symbol of sleep and unconsciousness, the hilltop is a symbol of wakefulness and watchfulness. Most religious sites are high places. Croagh Patrick, Skellig, Mont St Michel, Jerusalem, Mount Tabor. .. the list could go on and on. And not only Christians have this instinct. Most people do. Hindus have said that Shiva lives on Mount Everest....
When you choose unconsciousness you descend into the valley of darkness. Sleep is a kind of valley. In sleep you lose your awareness of everything. But our world now finds this kind of sleep no longer enough: it creates TV that enables you (if you use it too much) to turn even your waking hours into a kind of sleep; it creates drugs that send you into even deeper sleep; it creates some strange suicidal instinct in many of the young. Popular culture is addicted to sleep and unconsciousness. Everything becomes a flight and a kind of merging of the self that caricatures the religious merging of the self. Music, drugs, alcohol and sex have all now taken on this significance.
Why all this flight? It is because consciousness is painful. To be on a hilltop in some sense: to have to be awake, to be exposed, to be vulnerable and to know it - all that is painful. Or perhaps what makes it painful for me is that I am only partly conscious, fluctuating say between 5% and 10%, or even less. That is enough to provide a glimpse of the 90% or 95% unconsciousness in me. So I bury my head! I blot out that 5 or 10% consciousness. I am an ostrich! An ostrich buries its head (which, as it happens, looks about 5% of its body size!) when it sees danger, thinking that it is hiding itself completely. (It seems this isn’t true, but it’s a useful image.) But in doing that, of course, it is helping its mortal enemy. Let me look at yesterday, or even this morning, and count all the times I took flight from direct experience into unconsciousness. . . .
A city on a hilltop cannot be hidden. "You are the light of the world," Jesus said. I don't feel like that, do you? Much of the time I'd like to climb under a tub. I can accept it when he says that he himself is the light of the world (John 8: 12), but when he tells me that I too am the light of the world I feel deeply puzzled.
Jesus can hardly have been stroking my ego, saying, "Ah, you're not as bad as you think!" He was referring to something that is lodged in me whether I want it or not, something that is there before I ever perform either badly or well, something that I can never quench: the light that St Paul described as “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.” "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, shining in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
SALT LICKED?
'But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.' Matthew 5:13
In ancient warfare, the victorious army took measures to ensure that the vanquished people wouldn't return to vitality and military strength. one practice was for the victorious soldiers to trample salt underfoot into the cropland of the defeated nation (Mt 5:13), rendering the land infertile. If the conquered people couldn't grow crops, they couldn't prosper enough to take revenge.
Spiritual warfare works the same way. Jesus redeems us and transforms us into 'the salt of the earth' (Mt 5:13). Jesus re-creates us to preserve and add flavor to the world. If we remain in Jesus and His word, He remains in us, and we bear abundant, enduring fruit for the Lord (Jn 15:7-8). In fact, we are more than conquerors (Rm 8:37; 1 Jn 5:5). However, if we think we have the Christian life all figured out and stray from Jesus, we lose our flavor. We go flat (Mt 5:13). Satan then uses the same technique as the ancient army. Satan takes our once-thriving, now-flat Christian lives and cruelly grinds them into the memory banks of others. This tactic is aimed at keeping these potential Christians spiritually barren, thus preventing them from bearing fruit. This ruthless cycle is repeated constantly in the media.
If you're feeling like you've lost your flavor for the Christian life, come to Jesus (Mt 11:28). Let Jesus turn the arid salt waste of your life into a verdant, fruitful garden (Ez 47:8ff).
Praise: Albert has gone to daily Mass for forty years.
Prayer: Jesus, keep me from going flat. Help me to realize I can never stop advancing in my life with You.
Promise: 'The revelation of Your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.' Ps 119:130
The life of a faithful Christian is described very simply in today’s Scriptures: Be straightforward and honest: Let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no.” Be salt and be light. A little salt flavors a whole roast. Just so, the virtue of one dedicated Christian permeates all those around him/her. A small flashlight shines brightly on a pitch-dark night. The light of a Christian’s faith radiates to all those around him/her. Christ is the world’s light; he is our light. Because of him, we can have confidence that our light will shine and that our salt will flavor. We must never become discouraged at how small we seem. We might echo the old saying of Confucius: “Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Sad to say, in our times, some Catholics become discouraged and bitter at the state of the Church and society. Instead of letting their light shine, they curse the darkness. Let us renew our faith. Christ is with us. Let us let his light shine through us.
?You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world?
Today, St. Mathew reminds us of those words Jesus said regarding our mission as Christians: to be the salt and the light of the world. on the one hand, the salt is a necessary seasoning to make foods taste good: without salt, most dishes are almost worthless! Throughout centuries, on the other hand, salt has been a fundamental element to keep victuals from corruption. Jesus tells us: ?You must be the salt of your world, and like the salt, you are to be tasty and avoid corruption.
In our time, many have lost the sense of life and claim it is not worth their while; that life is full of disappointments, difficulties and suffering; that it goes by very fast and that it has death, as a final perspective, and a sad one too.
?You are the salt of the earth!? (Mt 5,13). It is up to Christians to give flavor to life: by showing the joyful and serene optimism of he who recognizes himself as the son of God, for everything in our lives can be a path to sanctity; by making difficulties, suffering and pain help us to purify ourselves; and by realizing that, at the end of our lives, life in Glory ?the eternal happiness? is waiting for us.
And, also as the salt does, Christ's disciples, must preserve from corruption: where there are Christians with living faith, there cannot be injustice, violence, ill-treatment of the weak ones... Rather on the contrary, the virtue of Charity must shine in full force: worrying for others, solidarity, generosity...
And, thus, Christians are the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:14). A Christian is the torch that, with the example of his life, shows the path to Salvation, by bringing the light of truth everywhere in the world... Where, before, there was only darkness, uncertainty and doubts, now, there is light, certainty and self-confidence.
You can't be the salt of the earth unless you have first tasted the Lord in prayer. The salt that is Jesus must be experienced in prayer so that others can taste the salt of my love and fervor. You can't be the light of the world unless you first have been enlightened in the process of deep prayer. The experience of Christ as the light in the darkness of my own heart is the basis for letting the light of Christ shine upon the lamp stand. A city atop a mountain cannot be concealed nor can the City of
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