SALT SHAKERS

“Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.” – Mark 9:50

       Their married life had become stale and they needed something to add spice to their relationship. At my birthday bash, the wife won the overnight stay in Baguio that we raffled off. That was when the Spirit prodded me to use this as an occasion to reconcile this couple.

       But it was not easy. The husband thought that the raffle was rigged and the trip was a setup. Then there were all the difficulties of scheduling. But my husband and I were determined that we had to be with them during the trip and adjusted to their schedules.

       The Spirit started to work on them during the long trip to Baguio when they were by themselves. Their hardened hearts began to soften. During our counseling sessions with them, they committed to a number of resolutions to improve their married life. They chose to extend their stay and bought for themselves a new pair of rings to signify their marriage renewal. When we met them three weeks later, a rainbow appeared to them as if the Spirit was reaffirming their marriage covenant. The Spirit used my husband and me to be salt shakers. Donna España (donna.espana@yahoo.com)

St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

Today’s reading from the Book of Sirach reminds us that we need the grace of God to overcome sin. Let us learn well the lessons from the Renaissance Age when the mind and heart of humanity was drawn away from the Creator. We cannot live as disciples on our own strength. We need God’s grace for our salvation.

1 Rely not on your wealth; say not: “I have the power.” 2 Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart. 3 Say not: “Who can prevail against me?” or, “Who will subdue me for my deeds?” for God will surely exact the punishment. 4 Say not: “I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?” for the Most High bides his time. 5 Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. 6 Say not: “Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive.” 7 For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath. 8 Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day. 9 For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed. 10 Rely not upon deceitful wrath, for it will be no help on the day of wrath.

R: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, 2 but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. (R) 3 He is like a tree planted near running water that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers. (R) 4 Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. (R)

Causing others to sin is worse than other personal sins. Jesus warns that we must respect the weaknesses of others no matter what these may be. Never let others be tempted and fall into sin because of you. Instead, pray that God gives them the strength to avoid sin and live in His grace.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

41 Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. 42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. [44] 44 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. [46] 46 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 “Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

think: What or who do you need to cut off from your life to avoid sin?

Read the Bible in one year  2 Thessalonians 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE

The language of the world speaks about “returns”and “rewards.” The language of the Hindu religion speaks of “karma.” The Buddhists have their teaching about “feng shui.” The Buddhists say that this is not just about arrangement and location of things but it also involves good thoughts, actions, etc.

       Jesus’ words today emphasize that there are two truths to consider about our actions. First, God has created everything to be like a chain — interactive and interrelated. There is nothing really magical about the good or adverse consequences following our behaviors and acts. This is part of the “cause and effect” at play in all creation. Second, God has made the material and earthly to be connected with the spiritual and transcendent. There is no divorce between the earthly and the spiritual. Both come from the same source who is God. In fact, everything in this world has a transcendent value. And so we must view this world and all its realities as a “sacrament” of the divine. Humanity must see everything with a spiritual mind. The Spirit that God has placed in every human’s soul has the capacity to see everything in the light of the Divine will and wisdom.

       The world, with all its goods, is not just a place to work out our material well-being and inheritance. It is also where we must build up our spiritual heritage for our bloodline and generations, and for our personal future with God. Every Sunday, when we celebrate our faith with God, we declare: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible...” Heaven and earth are not two separate creations; they are one, they are a continuum. Everything in this life is moving towards a new heaven and a new earth. We are not citizens of this earth alone, but we are called to share everything that God is creating into the future. We are pilgrims in the here and now, and we are heirs of the new heaven and the new earth. This must be our worldview! Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What are your short-term reasons for doing good? What are your long-term motivations for being good? Pray with the images in Michelangelo’s “Last Judgement.”

Dear Father, remind me always of my eternity with You. May I prepare well while I’m still here on earth. Amen.