GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 13TH JUNE 2017
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
FIRST READING: 2Corinthians 1:18-22
PSALM: Psalm 119:129-133, 135
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-16
THEME: AGENT OF CHANGE
One lighted candle may not be able to chase darkness away completely but it certainly makes a difference in a dark room. The presence of a pinch of salt in a big bowl of soup may not be felt much and yet no matter how little it is, it adds value to the soup.
The entrenching presence of evil in our world can sometimes be so overwhelming that it leaves many good-hearted people discouraged. There are many Christian communities worldwide and yet evil appears to be on the increase daily. Like thick darkness blurring our vision, there are moments when there appears to be no headway in the fight against evil and we succumb to lamentation.
Jesus, in our Gospel text, reminds us of a very powerful truth: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light for the world” (Mt. 5:13-14). He uses salt and light as metaphors to illustrate the effect Christians ought to have on the world. The essence of this saying of Jesus is that our Christianity must count.
A true disciple of Jesus has what it takes to influence the world. Often, we dwell so much on the darkness around us that we ignore the light inside us. Just imagine this: If every disciple of Christ would make the effort to light his/her little candle of holiness, darkness would be chased away completely from our world.
The fear of being ridiculed and rejected has made many of us tasteless in a world that is quickly passing away. Jesus warns that if we lose our taste as Christians, we would no longer be good for anything but thrown out and trampled underfoot (see Mt. 5:13).
The time to stand tall in our faith and let our presence be felt is now. Now is the time to let our light shine in our marriages and families, among our friends, at our workplaces, in the shopping malls and wherever we find ourselves. “A city built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Mt. 5:14). Yes, you are the agent of change for our world.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, make me your instrument of change in a world that stands in need of renewal and transformation. May my words and deeds bring light into every dark situation and flavour into the lives of those I meet daily. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).