BE AN AUTHENTIC AND DEDICATED WITNESS
⏰Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time 1 (13 June 2017 – Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua)
????2 Cor 1:18-22; Ps 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135 (R.v.135a); Matt 5:13-16
Immediately after his teaching on the beatitudes, Jesus went on to teach them on how they can be effective in transforming the world, using three important allegories – light of the world, salt of the earth and city built on a hill.
Light has many roles; it dispels darkness and illuminates the world. As Christians, we are expected to also dispel the darkness of evil and hatred in the world and let the light of Christ shine out for the glory of God (cf. Matt 5:16).
Salt provides taste to the food. It is used to wash things free of germs and also used as preservative. In the same way, Christians must add more meaning to life, purging it of all corruption and preserving it from further contamination.
Finally, a house on a hill is normally visible to all and sometimes, offers direction to those who have lost their way. In the same way, Christians must be able to show others good example by living out the details of the beatitudes in a more authentic way.
The most important point here is that we must be able to do all these without an iota of pretence or deception. That is the point of connection between 2 Cor 1:18-22 and Matt 5:13-16. Like Jesus who never lived double lives, we too must stand out as authentic and dedicated witnesses to the Good News of God’s love in the world.
St. Anthony of Padua must be our model on this. He was a man of great learning but who spent his entire rather short life in humility and to the spread of the Gospel as a true witness. He remained submissive to his superiors till death and lived in his life, what he preached to others.
May God give us the grace to shun hypocrisy and embrace authenticity in living out our Christian life. And may Christ, the Light of the world (John 8:12) enlighten our way progress, joy and peace. Amen.
I wish you a glorious day ahead. Peace be with you.
