My brother and his wife couldn’t take care of their two young children when they had to isolate due to COVID-19. Online delivery was not possible because their power and Internet were still unstable due to a recent typhoon. They live far from us so we couldn’t bring them supplies. How could we help them?

Then I remember giving a talk to a prayer group in my brother’s area. I barely knew its members. I wasn’t comfortable asking them for a favor, but out of desperation, I contacted one of its members. I said I only needed a supplier and I could take it from there. They said my plan would be difficult, but they promised to get back to me.

The next day, I got a message from one of the group’s leaders. “Hi Alvin, we will send food packs and drinking water to your brother tomorrow. Praying for their quick recovery.” Wow! They personally delivered provision to my brother.

I honor this prayer group for living up to what Isaiah says in our reading. We are called to reach out to anyone in need. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

reflect

“‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’” (Matthew 25:35-36)

Lord, use me as Your hands to provide for others in need. Amen.

Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr, pray for us.

First Reading | Isaiah 58:7-10

We need to develop in our communities a caring culture for the poor. Caring for the poor means taking time to work out how to help them to overcome their poverty. This is challenging and will require sustained attention. The Fathers of the Church remind us that ministering to those who are in need is one of the primary calls of our faith. It is our moral obligation to do so.

⁷ Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; ¹⁰ if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

⁴ Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. ⁵ Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) ⁶ He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. ⁷ An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. (R) ⁸ His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear. ⁹ Lavishly he gives to the poor; his justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

Second Reading | 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul wants the Corinthians to remember why they took on the Gospel in the first place. He wants them to remember their first love for God. Why? Problems divided the Corinthian community and Paul wants to help them resolve these problems. This is possible with the power of the Gospel to change lives anew. A deeper conversion needs to happen in their hearts. Like the Corinthians, God is always calling us to a deeper relationship with Him.

¹ When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. ² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, ⁵ so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Gospel | Matthew 5:13-16

Can you imagine salt losing its taste? When cooking, salt is used to add flavor to dishes. By the example of salt, Jesus makes a point about our Christian life. We cannot call ourselves Christian if we are not living the Gospel and making a difference in the world around us. Discipleship will bring us into conflict with the prevailing fads and fashions, thoughts and beliefs. This counterculture is a good thing as it shows us that we are truly disciples of Jesus.

Gospel Acclamation

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

¹³ 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. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CORINTHIANS 1 - 4 today.

Salt of the Earth, Light of the World

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses two commonplace images—salt and lamp—to illustrate how Christians should engage the world and become relevant agents of social transformation.

Salt was very important during Jesus’ time. It was an indispensable item in every household. It was their natural food preservative. A lamp was indispensable as well. In the absence of electricity and technological sources of energy, a lamp was their only source of light during nighttime.

As “salt of the earth,” Christians are called to continue to “preserve” the Jesus event. By our witness, charity, and evangelization/preaching, we continue to bless the world with the flavor of the Christian ideal.

Yes, let us be salt, but not salty. To be “salty” is a modern expression that means to be annoying, angry, and even intrusive. As everyday evangelizers, let us take care to be known not only for what we oppose but for what we propose. In our zeal to share Christ with others, let us take care to be winsome and not quarrelsome. The Church actually has a term for this manner of evangelization. It is called the Way of Beauty.

Beauty is never threatening. It simply invites; it attracts. And ultimately, it summons.

As “light of the world,” Christians are called to be, for others, a light that will banish the darkness of sin and evil in the community.

Yes, let us be light, but not flashy. Be a flashlight, not a strobe light. A strobe light calls attention to itself; a flashlight does not. It simply lights the way and guides another. As light of the world, Christians proclaim Christ in like manner. The Christian’s motto is always ”More of You, and less of me.” Like John the Baptist, we proclaim, “May Christ increase and I decrease.” Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

“Salt of the earth” and “light of the world” is not an option. It is a baptismal duty.

Lord, I pray that there might be more of You and less of me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________________