There was a time I convinced myself to post about my breakthroughs and achievements, and caption them that it was all through God’s grace. I thought it was an awesome way to let my light shine and bring back the glory to God. But upon self-reflection, I had trouble with the “glory” part. Was it really about God’s glory or mine?

I caught myself counting the likes, scrolling who liked them, thinking that those who clicked the like button meant they were supporting me and those who didn’t meant I wasn’t worth their click. It became about me, so I had to stop posting.

God reminded me that the number of “likes” would never affect my self-worth. My worth will never decrease or increase because it comes from His love, which will never decrease or increase. I had to tell this to myself every day.

After a few months, I was able to start posting again, hopefully to truly bring Him the glory this time around. Carlo

Lorenzo (carlo orenzo@gmail.com)

Reflect: Your self-worth is based on God’s love. You are precious and priceless. Nothing and no one can add or subtract to your worth.

Father God, grant me humility. Let Your light shine forth through me that You may be glorified.

Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda) of Poland, pray for us.

Can you imagine ingredients that never run out like the flour and oil in today’s reading? This is amazing. Sometimes, God performs miracles that leave us in awe, such as the one He did for the widow. I once witnessed the multiplication of food. There were 100 people to feed and only 80 pies were bought. But at the end of the meal, everyone ate a piece of pie and there were even leftovers.

1 Kings 17:7-16

7 The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. 8 So the Lord said to Elijah: 9 “Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you.” 10 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.” 11 She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” 12 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.” 13 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. 14 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.’” 15 She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well. 16 The jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah.

P S A L M 

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

R: Lord, let your face shine on us.

1 [2] 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! 2 [3] Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart? Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood? (R) 3 [4] Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him. 4 [5] Tremble, and sin not; reflect, upon your beds, in silence. (R) 6 [7] O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! 7 [8] You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound. (R) 

GOSPEL 

Salt is one of my favorite seasonings. I cannot even imagine what it would be like if there was no saltiness in our food. Jesus is right to say that when salt loses its saltiness, it must be thrown away. God must be saddened to see people who were once on fire for Him lose their fervor and walk away from the Church and their faith. Let us pray for the grace to help one another rekindle the fire of our First Love.

TO BE INDISPENSABLE

Reading and reflecting on Jesus’ words in our Gospel proclamation made me recall the story of Genesis 18:16-33. In that story, the patriarch Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The story ends with God’s word of promise: He will not destroy the evil cities if He finds 10 good people in the cities. Ten, according to Bible analysis, was thought to be the smallest number of persons who can constitute a community. God was then willing to spare the cities provided a “core community of goodness” was there to start a renewal for the cities.

By calling Christians to be “salt” and “light” of the world, Jesus wanted us to see ourselves as the necessary core of goodness in our world today. Salt was regarded as a basic necessity for cooking and food preparations. It was meant to season and to preserve food. So necessary was salt that Roman soldiers were paid their wage in part with salt. Hence, the word “salary” (Roman “sal” means “salt”). Light was also regarded as essential for the people of Palestine. Living in square houses made of hardened mud, they needed to keep an oil lamp forever burning inside the darkened interior of their houses even in broad desert daytime. Salt and light, then, were two things that people in Jesus’ time could not do without.

As Christians, we become “indispensable” salt and light, first by our witnessing. The world always needs signposts or points of reference. Jesus says our goodness in words and actions are important to let people be reminded of God... and of the need for transcendence and spirituality. Secondly, we are “indispensable” salt and light by our evangelizing. As salt and light influence everything around them, so must we. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

More than numbers, intensity is more important. Even a pinch of salt with its concentrated taste is enough to change the taste of food. A single light with its intense luminosity can dispel the darkness of its surroundings. How can we be salt and light?

 

Lord, we pray that we may have the intensity of faith and example as we move in our daily life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________