Showing Mercy Makes us Salt and Light.

(Homily for February 5, 2017).

Last Sunday, Jesus preached a Gospel of Poverty, that is; the happiness that comes to us when we practice the beatitudes each of which requires that we give something away. To be poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart, hungry for righteousness, merciful, to mourn, to make peace or be persecuted are not luxury items. They are acts that come at a cost, acts that require us giving something away or letting go of our natural desire for vengeance, material wealth, immorality, and pride. Today’s liturgy comes in that same direction, this time, they challenge us to give to the poor, the homeless, the naked, the hungry and the afflicted.

As a parish community, I was glad when during the week, we went to the hospital and with the little contribution we made, we freed a parishioner who was held captive in the hospital because she could not afford the hospital bill. You needed to see the joy on the faces of her neighbours when we brought her home with the baby she had just delivered. This is just one example of what our first reading today is talking about.

As much as we are used to complaining about things not good for us, let us bear in mind that there are thousands of person around us who are in far worse conditions than ourselves. Being charitable is not something only for the rich. It is for all. If you cannot give when you have little, you would never give even if you have millions.

Just as the beatitudes come with blessings and happiness attached, giving to the needy also comes with blessings attached. Isaiah tells us “Then your light will forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” Going further it adds “then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” To help the poor in the midst of our present economic recession wherein people are being forced to be misers is to truly be a light.

And in our Gospel passage, Jesus tells us that that is exactly what we are – lights and salt. In other words, we have no choice but to help others whenever and wherever we can. We are givers. We don’t see people in need and neglect them. When we are around, people are happy because they know life is better with our presence, like salt which makes food sweet, we improve the lives of others by helping them. We never make life difficult for anyone. Like light which removes blindness, we show people the way to become great in life, we don’t just give out fish; we teach people how to fish.

In our second reading, St. Paul confesses that his success as a preacher was not because of his arrogant display of wisdom, he didn’t brandish a PhD certificate before the Corinthians. In fact, he wasn’t even a good speaker and he lacked self-confidence. What his secret? Actions Speak louder than words. The best homilies are not preached on the pulpit, they are preached on the streets, in market corners, in the banks, in the remote and dirty villages. Salt does not select food and light shines wherever it is kept. We preach with our very lives when we are givers and the sermons of our life convert more souls than we can think of.

On the reverse however, when we don’t help others, when we are cold to the needy and deafen our ears to the cries of the poor, we become tasteless salt and dead lights, in other words, we become useless. Our going to church becomes waste of time and even our prayers becomes hampered. Isaiah says: “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say: Here I am.” If I am stingy to those whom I can help, why do I expect God to help me? If I do not go out of my way to put food on that hungry stomach or free that brother or sister from affliction but instead take delight in gossiping about their plight, why would God hear my prayer? What is my importance in this world if I become heartless, if I live only for me, myself and I, then I am good for nothing; I deserve to be trampled underfoot like salt without taste.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me a compassionate heart that I may be a good leader. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. Bible Study: Isaiah 58:7-10. 1^st Corinthians 2:1-5 and Matthew 5:13-16).

Fr. Abu.