Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 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.”
The salt of the earth
1) You are. As Christians, we are called to bring flavour and meaning to life. Whether or not you live your life with relish is up to you. A full and joyful life does not happen by accident; it begins when we take responsibility for the attitude and energy we bring each day. No one else can live your life for you. Waiting for someone to appear and make everything better only leaves you passive and disappointed. Your life is unique, and you’re the one who must choose to live it with purpose, gratitude, and conviction. Growth begins when you stop expecting a perfect person or perfect circumstance to transform your world. Real change starts when you decide to participate actively in the life God has given you.
2) Trampled on. When you move through life without purpose, simply waiting for others to give it meaning, you become vulnerable to being hurt, used, or manipulated, just trampled on. A life without direction can easily be shaped by the desires and expectations of other people. That’s why it’s important to set healthy boundaries. You’re not meant to live at the disposal of whoever happens to need you at any moment. Your time, your heart, and your presence are valuable, and they should not be treated as something available only for the convenience of others. To live with dignity means recognizing your worth and refusing to let others define your value by how or when they choose to use your presence.
3) Light. You’re called to be a light and to share the message of Jesus through the way you live. The peace that God places within you is meant to shine outward and become a source of hope for those around you. Shine through what you’re enthusiastic about in life; what inspires you can also become a way of reflecting God’s presence to others. Remember that God created you for a reason. Don’t allow anyone to extinguish the light He has placed in you.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and guard you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
