Whenever I visit different churches, I feel the need to light a candle to offer a prayer to God.Candles are readily available, but oftentimes, there is no match or lighter available to light it. So, what do I do? I look for an burning candle and use it to light my candle. But there are also times when there are no lighted candles inside the chapel.

It takes a lighted candle to light another one. In the same way, we influence others with our actions, words, and how we treat them. But are we shining God’s light to them? Are we bringing hope and encouragement to those who need it the most?

As we fill ourselves with God’s love, may we never get tired in showing the heart of Jesus to them: a simple act of kindness, an uplifting word, or even praying for them. After all, your simple act might be the only thing needed for people to go back to God’s loving presence. 

Gem Mailum (gemrico.mailum@gmail.com) 

reflect

Think of one person today with whom you want to share God’s love, and do one thing for him or her. Pray to God to help you bring His message of love to this person.

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to shine your light to others, so that I can continue to lead more people closer to You. Amen.

Saint Ephrem, deacon and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Generosity in the face of deprivation is the purest form of giving. Let us take time to reflect on this and open our hearts to deeper generosity. God has given us His Son; Jesus gave His life for us. How will we respond to such extraordinary generosity?

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.

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

R: Lord, let your face shine on us. 

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

Gospel | Matthew 5:13-16

Salt brings flavor to the dishes we love. Without it, food becomes bland and unappetizing. Likewise, our lives lose their depth and meaning when we fail to incorporate the Gospel. We cannot truly be disciples of Jesus unless we live out His teachings daily. This is the challenge we face today. Let us pray for the grace to rise to it.

Gospel Acclamation

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

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 KING  15 - 16 today.

The term POV has become mainstream, courtesy of vloggers. TikTok, so far, seems to have been winning hands down. Its “For You” stream has something, well, for you every time you log in and scroll till your finger gets sore or your brain totally fogged. Social media algorithms know exactly what your taste, preferences, and choices are. The algorithms are like salt—it adds not just flavor but zest. It perks up your “For You” stream and keeps your attention glued to the latest POV cut of your most awaited vlogger’s point of view.

Today, we’ve got the core POV of our Christian discipleship: You and I need to be like salt and light.

Salt does not only change the flavor. It affects the taste, the texture, and the totality of food. It adds body. It perks up one’s appetite for more. The newly adopted word umami of Japanese origin would not attain its power without salt as primer, as base. Once infused into food, salt loses its physical characteristics but does its subtle, invisible, yet powerful work in the background. Salt, once used, does not disappear. On the contrary, it uses its innate power optimally and surely.

Light, for its part, though having no innate power by and of itself, empowers and enables. Once lit and made to shine, light exposes reality for what it is and heightens the compelling power of the good. Where there is light, there is life. And yes, as the old song goes, it only takes a spark to get a fire burning. And yes, too, to that famous line that says: It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark.

Make no mistake about it. Christian discipleship’s core POV is for you and me to be salt and light. 

Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB 

reflection question

How can you be salt and light in your family, workplace, and community? 

May I be salt and light wherever You bring me, Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________