I invited Fr. Bobby Ebisa, SVD the Station Manager of DYRF Radio Fuerza to celebrate one of the Novena Masses in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. He gave an inspiring and insightful homily. Using a simple illustration, he narrated an example of a chocolate that falls on the dining hall. After several minutes it will soon be surrounded by thousands of covetous ants. You would not know where they came from; but from all over, they come, attracted by the sugar-coated content of the chocolate, to take a bite of its sweetness. He, then, challenged the parishioners to be like chocolates. Our goodness must be attractive and delightful. We are to give flavor to life.
Jesus, in today’s gospel, had been challenging us ever since to be “salt of the earth and light of the world.” In chemistry, salt is known as sodium chloride a mineral substance that is of great importance to the health of both human and animals. Salt lends flavor to food items. I remember a parishioner who gave cupcakes for snacks. But they turned out to be so salty because, instead of sugar, much salt was added into them. Moreover, there are more uses of salt than food seasoning. Salt can also be used to eliminate odors of garbage or fish. It can be used to alleviate discomfort from sore throat by gargling salt with warm water several times a day. Salt can also be used as effective antibacterial and antifungal agent.
When Jesus compared his followers to salt, he challenged us to be “seasoned” by the new life which comes from him. Our faith in Jesus should be like salt that lends flavor and seasoning to our life. In a world full of anxiety and worry, we are to give joy and inspire hope. In a story, two men peered through the window. One saw mud, the other saw the stars. As Christians, we should always choose see the stars. We choose to be hopeful, joyful and full of life. We are to be bearers of the good news of Jesus to improve the quality of life of the world.
Prayer:Lord, like salt, may my life be an effective flavoring that will allow those around me to flourish. Amen.
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