You are the light of the world.
Dear brothers, peace and good.
Light, it seems, are the readings this week. That light that we need so much to be able to know where we are and where we have to go. The Lord tells us that we are the light of the world as He is the light of the world. And in the first reading, Isaiah tells us how we will be the light of the world: “break your bread to the hungry, shelter the poor without shelter, clothe the naked and then your light will break like the dawn.” car, not running in front of it so that it does not run over us. We have to move and move others, not allow ourselves to be dragged lifelessly like boulders carried away by the river.
We must not forget that loving is demonstrated, above all, in giving. And give not only bread. Because man does not live by bread alone. Other things must also be given. We must give our time, we must give our good words, we must give our smile. And above all we must give our understanding. Place yourself in the other’s position, feel as he feels, see things as he sees them. Judge as one judges a loved one, with benevolence, knowing how to excuse, dissimulate, remain silent… Banish slander, gossip or comments without love, without respecting the good reputation of one’s neighbor… Let’s not fool ourselves. Either we truly love everyone, or God will despise us as hypocrites and Pharisees.
Of course it’s not easy. Some time ago I heard one of my professors at the Seminary, quoting José Luis Martín Descalzo, this fable: A prophet once came to a city and began to shout, in its main square, that a change in the course of the country was necessary. The prophet shouted and a considerable crowd came to hear his voices, although more out of curiosity than interest. And the prophet put his whole soul into his sermon, demanding a change in customs. But, as the days passed, fewer and fewer curious people surrounded the prophet and not a single person seemed willing to change their life. But the prophet was not discouraged and continued shouting. Until one day no one stopped to listen to their voices. But the prophet continued shouting in solitude in the great square. And the days passed. And the prophet kept shouting. And nobody listened to him. Finally someone came up and asked him, “Why are you still screaming? Don’t you see that no one is willing to change? “I keep shouting,” the prophet responded, “because if I kept quiet, they would have changed me.”
The moral of this fable is simple. We already know that we must be salt and light for others. Jesus tells us. Our conscience insinuates it to us. It is a pressing need. There are so many around us so in need of good flavor that gives meaning to their lives! But we have to shine not because we hope that it will produce fruit, but above all because we believe in what we are doing! The usefulness, the effectiveness, the triumph, the results, the pure fruit cannot be the most motivating scale of our being like lit lamps or lanterns.
And if you expect those fruits right away, you are destined for discouragement. Saint Paul felt it in his flesh, when with his pretended oratory he could not convince many. Despite everything, the word of God is powerful in itself and its penetration into the hearts of men does not depend on human mediation but on the “manifestation of the Spirit and his power.” The Apostle does not refer to wonders and miracles that could have convinced the Corinthians to accept the Gospel, but to the fruit of the Spirit: that new way of life, despite misery and human weaknesses, had been adopted by many members of the community.
We have no right to ask God to change the world if we are not willing to allow ourselves to be burned to illuminate, or to get involved and dissolve among others to give good flavor. And do it without looking at the results. The only way to make this world change is to radiate, shine. A man at peace with himself does not need to talk about joy, because it will come out of every pore. A human being with true faith in his ideas will preach them without opening his lips. As Saint Francis said, “always preach, sometimes, with words.” The light will have arrived. And those who see it will be left asking questions. As it happened to those who saw Jesus.
Christians can only be luminaries if we are united, with all the consequences, to that great source of spiritual energy, grace and truth that is Jesus. It is inconceivable to think that an irrigation ditch has its own flow if it is not attached to a river, a dam or a spring. It is difficult, very difficult, to carry out our task, the desire of Jesus, to be light in the midst of darkness or salt in the midst of so much dullness that abounds in our world if we do not remain in full communion with Him.
Only Christ is capable of illuminating, with true light, the shadows that hang over humanity. Only Christ, through the small lamps that we believers committed to his kingdom are, is capable of offering a taste of eternity and happiness to so many men who, on the horizon of their lives, see only failure, boredom or fatigue. Will we be brave to open the salt shaker of our Christian life where the destinies of our society are being cooked? Why – often – do we prefer to go unnoticed without giving a Christian color to so many situations that demand our opinion or active presence as followers of Christ?
This lamp of faith must never be hidden, but must always be placed on the candlestick of the Church, for the salvation of many. Thus we can rejoice in the light of Truth and everyone can be enlightened. God, our common Father, never tires of reminding us of the only thing He wants from us: that we behave as brothers and so that the world understands that our faith is true. Let us each be a little light in the small environment in which we move. Let us be a light of affection and love. It doesn’t matter that that light is small. Let us each give birth to our light and the whole world will be light at noon.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro, C.M.F.
