You Are The Salt And Light of The World!

Weekly Missionary Reflection
5th Ordinary Sunday, 05 February 2023
Isa. 58:7-10; Ps. 112:4-5,6-7,8a,9; 1Cor. 2:1-5; Matt. 5:13-16

Dear beloved missionaries,

Jesus granted a new identity to His disciples, and of course, the same is given to us of this time too. What is that new identity? Today’s Gospel says, “You are the salt of the earth […] You are the light of the world.” This is the new identity of Christ’s disciples, the salt, and light of the world.

We have known well about both salt and light. Salt is salty and is part of food ingredients that give a good taste to the food. Hence, salt can be easily found in the kitchen. Besides cooking, salt has a multi-function. Salt can preserve food (fish), reduce the bitter taste of coffee, clean the fridge, clean dirt from kitchenware, soothe insect bites, clean water stains, remove odor, strengthen brittle nails, etc. Salt has useful yet positive functions in life.

This should we be too as the “salt of the world”. As Jesus’ disciples, we are sent to be the soother of life, to share good friendship in daily intercommunication. Apart from it, as the salt of the world, our presence in the family, society, or working environment should strengthen the fragile, eliminate and clean up the stains of sin, together strive to clean up the dirt of life that prevents the harmony of living together.

Light is the opposite of dark. Light is illuminating and dispels darkness so it brings out brightness and clarity. In light, we can see and recognize something clearly. In light, everything is revealed, seen, and identified. In light mistakes can be avoided. When walking on a path, we need light to avoid us from taking the wrong way and keep us on the right way. In brief, light is useful to everybody.

This should we be as the “light of the world”. Having this identity, we are sent to bring the light in life together. We strive to contribute to solutions instead of being part of the problem. We are sent to show the correct path, not the misleading one. As the Lord’s disciples, we should be a guide to the lost and give hope and motivating support to the discouraged. Our presence among the family and society should be soothing, not discomforting.

Dear beloved missionaries,

The identity and mission are started from the nobility of man and the glory of God, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly father.” This is what we are striving for. As the sent disciples, we will constantly strive for the nobility of humans and the greater grace of God. May our thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds raise the nobility of human dignity and the grace of God. Amen. ***(NW)

(RD. M Nur Widipranoto- National Director of Pontifical Mission Society)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For parishes
We pray that parishes, placing communion at the center, may increasingly become communities of faith, and fraternity and welcome those most in need.

For Economic Recovery
We pray that government together with the people may work hand in hand in speeding up the economic recovery, so that the result can be used for people’s welfare, especially for the poor and needy.

Amen