Scripture Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16
Last weekend’s gospel for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord shared that there was a prophetess named Anna who never left the temple. But after Anna came in contact with the child Jesus, she not only gave thanks to God, but spoke about the child Jesus to all.
Anna was touched by the “Light,” by Jesus the “Light of the World.” Anna could not keep the light to herself. Anna had to share the light with all she met.
Today’s gospel has Jesus reminding his disciples that they too “are the Light of the World.” He reminds them that “their light must shine before others, that their good deeds should be seen by others, and bring people to glorify God.”
Isaiah in our First Reading today gives us a few examples of good deeds to be considered, where not only our light shines, but the light of Christ shines
Share your Bread, Feed the Hungry
- Contribute food that assists food pantries
- Maybe even help out at a food pantry or food kitchen
- Let children have their school lunch, whether paid up or not
Shelter the Oppressed and Homeless
- Support local efforts that shelter those in need maybe with a donation, maybe with some active help.
Cloth the naked
- We all have too much clothing. Is there something in your closet that you have not worn for a while that another person would cherish? Is there something with a price tag still on it that you could give to a local agency that assists people in need?
Do not turn your back on your own
- Who of our family, friends, fellow parishioners, neighbors could use a helping hand, a listening ear, a random act of kindness?
There used to be a TV show: Touched by an Angel. And the angel touched the lives of others in ways that changed their direction in life, in ways that changed their lives.
Every time we touch the lives of another with kindness, with love, with compassion, in word and deed, our light shines.
Every time we touch the lives of another with kindness, with love, with compassion, in word and deed, the light of Christ shines in the appreciation, in the smile of that person, in the good deed done.
I may have shared this story before, but it is worth repeating. High school football players in Olivet, Michigan had a plan: that if they reached the one yard line, who ever had the ball would intentionally fall down and not score until Keith Orr, a learning disabled player could be positioned to make his first touchdown.
And one game, unbeknownst to their coach, it happened. The team got close to the end zone and then gave Keith the ball, completely protecting him so he could truly be the player who scored. The touchdown made Keith a hero, with the perks of begin congratulated in the hallways and invited to sit with other football players at lunch.
Justin Miller, a wide receiver on the team shared in an interview with CBS News, “We did it to make someone’s day, to make someone’s week, to just make them happy.”
Justin Miller, also shared in the interview, he was changed by the experience, “I kind of went from being somebody who mostly cared about myself and my friends, to caring about everyone and trying to make everyone’s day and everyone’s life.”
Just maybe these high school kids can get us thinking about how we (as a person, family and parish) can:
“Make someone’s day, make someone’s week, just make them happy.”
And Isaiah said, “Do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” And Jesus said, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your heavenly Father.”