GOOD WORKS MUST BE SEEN…

1 Kings 17:7-16,
7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him,9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”12 And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse; and now, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
13 And Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make for yourself and your son.
14 For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not be spent, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'”15 And she went and did as Elijah said; and she, and he, and her household ate for many days.16 The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Elijah.

Matthew 5:13-16 

13″You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING tells the story of  Elijah the prophet who was send by God to test the charity and goodwill of the widow in Zeraphah, who found herself in a desperate situation. Elijah insisted that the woman give him some water and feed him first, before she take care of herself and her son, because God has promised to multiply her food to last for many days!  

Desperate situations, hunger and loneliness are dispositions that can make us easy prey for con artists—false prophets and self-made pastors— who mezmerize us by distorting sacred scripture with kind words and big promises, to rob us from the little money we have. Whilst it is true that we are called to be charitable, we are equally advised to pray to the Holy Spirit to help us discern each situation, so that we may not be robbed of the little faith we have! 

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord use salt as a metaphor to help us understand that our efforts to serve Him, can flavor the lives of those who have lost their sense of love and joy, to the extent that they may be angry, miserable and cut off from the community. 

Christ implicitly order the apostles to not hide from the people, but to stand above the fray, akin to a lighthouse keeper who signal and navigate struggling seafarers and their crew away from foggy treacherous conditions, to calmer waters. Our Lord makes the point that “our good works must be seen,” not so that we may bask in glory, but to be channels of love that convey all glory to God!  

LET US PRAY:Psalms 4:2-5,7-82

O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? [Selah]
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.4 Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. [Selah]5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

7 Thou hast put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.