Ordinary Time Reflections: Tuesday 10th Week [Archive]

Galatea

06-08-2004, 12:58 AM

I was out of commision the last 10 days and am back to writing these up each night. I will do the ones we are nmissing and add them slowly. Thanks for your pateince.

Reading I
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1kings/1kings17.htm#v7

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
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm4.htm#v2

Ps 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.

Gospel
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew5.htm#v13

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."

Galatea

06-08-2004, 12:59 AM

Homily Reflection:

If we are ever at rights with God it is not because of anything we have done, but because of God's goodness and mercy. Success stories are nearly always riddled with ambiguity and hidden compromise; they are the ego’s work. The only success story that holds any interest for us is that of Jesus - and he was a failure! On the level of ordinary wisdom, yes, he failed. "He saved others but he cannot save himself,” the onlookers said as he died: the three gospels record it (Mt 27:42; Mk 15:31; Lk 23:35). This tremendous failure is the revelation of God in human terms. And (to quote Tugwell) “we who are followers of Jesus Christ are called to be imitators of him, and so should not be at all surprised to find that one of the arts with have to learn is the sublime art of weakness.”
"When I am weak then I am strong,” wrote St Paul (2 Corinthians 12:10). It is fatal (for oneself and for others) to have the wrong kind of strength. “The strong are always the same,” wrote Hemingway, “they face the truth with a bull-whip.” Such people will never be the “salt of the earth”. They may well set the world on fire, but they will never be “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.

This passage very interestingly begins with a reference to salt, “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste with what can it be seasoned?” The passage quickly moves on to the notion of light, “You are the light of the world.” Rather confusing, unless we appreciate the use of salt. The words “taste” and “seasoned” get us off track, leading to food. As there was little or no wood available for fire, animal dung was used as fuel and salt the catalyst for igniting the dung. So if the salt was not doing its job, what could be done to refresh it, to “season” it?

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 form 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?

The passage ends with the very familiar encouragement: “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

In the primitive village of Kole on the island of Santo part of the nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. Natural light is the only source of light. On cloud covered nights when there was absolutely no sky light, you literally can not see your hand in front of your face. On clear, but moonless nights, the stars are of unspeakable brilliance, countless in number, stretching from horizon to horizon. A spectacle of art and drama with shooting stars crisscrossing the sky. An iridescent sheen softly reflected off objects below, giving light, but rarely color. When there is a full, white, mottled, dominating moon heavenly bodies receded while earthly objects were captured in a colorful brightness strong enough to cast distinct shadows. Bright enough to read by!

Perched on a boulder at the ocean’s edge, a man waited for the sun to come up. From the darkness white light slowly crept over the horizon’s edge gradually becoming rainbow colored. The pace quickened until the blazing orange sun popped out of the dark blue ocean waters highlighting the ripples with streaks of white light. The ocean took on definition, degrees of blue-green water dotted with white-capped waves.

In the May 2004 edition of Smithsonian magazine, (pg 29) there is a photograph and very short description of a phenomenon taking place in Bath, England. “A “field” of 1,300 unwired fluorescent tubes were “planted” under electric power lines. Energy from the lines lit up the (unwired) tubes, whose radiance increased as visitors approached. ‘You affect the light by your proximity, because you are a much better conductor than a glass tube.’”

The exciting goodnews of this gospel passage is that we are invited and challenged to risk being our best self, in order that we might be our best self. Our light, our gifts, our graces and talents are given out of Love for us to use and enjoy – and to be a catalyst to ignite, encourage and allow the light, gifts and talents of others. Whether we are one of the multitude of brilliant stars, a powerful moon-like presence, a blazing sun or a “planted fluorescent tube” the light we reflect is the light of the love of the Mystery that is God. We are present to each other, we increase each other’s holy and blessed radiance. We “season” each other as we continue to be “seasoned” by God. We participate with God in the glory and celebration of our individual gifts and those of each other.

It is true in spirit, what is observed in nature. Different degrees of light allow other objects to come more or less into focus; to have shape, color, to take on their own life and vitality. And so it is with us. The more light and love we reflect on each other - our child, our spouse, our partner, our parishioner, our neighbor, our friend or our enemy - the more light and love we generate.

Oh, the pure Mystery, Love, untold Imagination is our God!
“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”.