Salt and Light

JUNE 13, 2023 TUESDAY
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (White) 
CYCLE A - YEAR I
Lectionary: 360

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.

Alleluia
Mt 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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."

GOSPEL REFLECTION: 

Each of us comes to the light because of love, and each of us is called to love in order to remain in the light.

PRAYER: 

Dear God, by Your grace, let me be Your 'little light' and lead others to You. In Jesus' name. AMEN. 

Salt And Light

JUNE 07, 2022, TUESDAY

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 360

Reading I

1 Kgs 17:7-16

The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry,

because no rain had fallen in the land.

So the LORD said to Elijah:

“Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.

I have designated a widow there to provide for you.”

He left and went to Zarephath.

As he arrived at the entrance of the city,

a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,

“Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.”

She left to get it, and he called out after her,

“Please bring along a bit of bread.”

She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives,

I have nothing baked;

there is only a handful of flour in my jar

and a little oil in my jug.

Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,

to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;

when we have eaten it, we shall die.”

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid.

Go and do as you propose.

But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.

Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.

For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,

‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,

nor the jug of oil run dry,

until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’”

She left and did as Elijah had said.

She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;

the jar of flour did not go empty,

nor the jug of oil run dry,

as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Responsorial Psalm

4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8

R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.

When I call, answer me, O my just God,

you who relieve me when I am in distress;

Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?

Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;

the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.

Tremble, and sin not;

reflect, upon your beds, in silence.

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!

You put gladness into my heart,

more than when grain and wine abound.

R. Lord, let your face shine on us.

Alleluia

Mt 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others

That they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Riches, power and control are valued highly in our world. But Jesus draws on little things to teach deeper values. Salt preserves food: in the hands of a skilled cook it adds flavour to food. But its work is hidden. As salt of the earth we can be effective in bringing more taste to life for others.

Light does not change a room: it enables us to see what is in it. It helps us appreciate what is good and beautiful, just as it facilitates avoiding pitfalls. We are children of the light: our lives are illumined by Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). This light helps us to see the hidden hope of glory that is in us. So we can rejoice even in the darkness of the world.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are telling me something urgent here: in the moral blandness of western culture, you tell me to be counter-cultural, a strong taste, a light on a lampstand, proud not of myself but of the Gospel.

Salt and Light

June 08, 2021, Tuesday
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 360

Reading I
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
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.

Alleluia
Mt 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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."

REFLECTION:

Riches, power, and control are valued highly in our world. But Jesus draws on little things to teach deeper values. Salt preserves food: in the hands of a skilled cook, it adds flavor to food. But its work is hidden. As the salt of the earth, we can be effective in bringing more taste to life for others.

Light does not change a room: it enables us to see what is in it. It helps us appreciate what is good and beautiful, just as it facilitates avoiding pitfalls. We are children of the light: our lives are illumined by Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). This light helps us to see the hidden hope of glory that is in us. So we can rejoice even in the darkness of the world.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are telling me something urgent here: in the moral blandness of western culture, you tell me to be counter-cultural, a strong taste, a light on a lampstand, proud not of myself but of the Gospel.